Looking to Finland to learn about education

Principal of Cardiff and Vale College, Sharon James-Evans, on how Wales can learn from the Scandinavian nation’s world-leading education sector

THE Finnish education model is the subject of extensive media commentary and political debate. I was therefore delighted, and honoured, to have the recent opportunity to visit Helsinki and hear for myself just what makes their education model one of the best in the world.

The timing was excellent given that we are about to embark on a programme of change in Wales with the introduction of the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (CTER).

Education lies at the heart of society in Finland. Its reputation as an education powerhouse is proven by its excellent international rankings and achievements.

With a population of just over 5.5 million, it ranks number one in the Worldwide Educating for the Future Index (WEFFI).

This is a country that is on a mission to ensure everybody wants to learn more. Their strategic goals include creating individual learning paths that improve learning results, developing vocational competencies to meet changing job market demands and increasing employability and entrepreneurship.

Vocational education and training (VET) is not the second choice in Finland. A visit to the Finnish National Agency for Education highlighted the role that VET plays in the Finnish education system by providing strong vocational competence and continuous development across a national network of 136 VET institutions.

With 160 vocational qualification requirements spanning some 3,000 units of learning, recognition is based on learning outcomes not learning time. There is flexibility in every step of the process so that competencies can be validated, individualised and developed to meet the changing needs of working life. This flexibility and agility allows learning providers to respond to the needs of both individuals and future skills requirements. It’s a winwin.

One of the basic principles of Finnish education is equity in education: everyone must have equal access to high-quality education and training irrespective of their social or financial circumstances. There are no deadends and support measures are in place to guarantee that every student can reach their full potential. This is evidently an education system that works.

Of course, Finland didn’t get here overnight. It has taken years of change to revolutionise the education system to achieve a learning environment that strives for equity over excellence with tailored learning paths to ensure student success and future employability.

Here in Wales, CTER will be a new arm’s-length body responsible for funding and overseeing post-16 education and research from August. This will include further education, higher education, apprenticeships, school sixth forms, adult and work-based learning and government funded research and innovation.

It will be the first time funding, planning and regulation of post-16 education and research will be managed and coordinated by one body.

The commission will take a wholesystem approach to research and innovation funding with a particular focus on ensuring vocational and academic learning are equally valued and aligning education and training more closely with the needs of employers.

Economic well-being, skills and lifelong learning are at the heart of the vision for CTER that has been informed by the Well-being of Future Generations goals.

Like Finland, our strategic approach will be based on creating a more equal nation with an education system that enables lifelong learning and development for all. It’s a joined-up approach that will strengthen Wales’ economic well-being, encourage collaboration with business, provide the skills that employers and workers need, and grow our research and innovation base.

In Finland, there is a broad national consensus that Finland’s well-being and economic prosperity is and will be based on knowledge and expertise. The high quality of the Finnish education system is based on a clear national ethos that people are the nation’s most important asset. They have the right to receive excellent education, which will help maximise their potential to be who and what they want to be. This philosophy has enabled Finland to rise from one of the poorest countries in the world to the height of technological expertise and become one of the world’s wealthiest countries in its 100 years since independence.

I have returned from Helsinki feeling excited and enthused by the opportunities ahead for our tertiary education and research sector in Wales. CTER will give us the framework that we need to make education a national priority, helping us to become a leading country in education, knowledge and modern learning.

It’s what will ultimately drive a prosperous future for us all.