Mary Wide

Study Visit Report

(group 102)

Innovative Personalized Learning at Secondary Vocational Level for Young and Adults

Jyväskylä Education Consortium (Jyväskylä College, Jämsä College and Institute of Adult Education

12 – 16 April 2010, Jyväskylä, Finland

In the framework of Lifelong Learning Programme (Cedefop Transversal programme) I took part in a study visit in Jyväskylä, central Finland.

The study visit was organized by Jyväskylä Education Consortium.

There were 10 participants of the study visit – specialists in education from 8 different European countries – teachers, headteachers, education counsellors, representatives of organizations promoting vocational education.

Through presentations and discussions we had an excellent opportunity to get a lot information about differences and similarities of education systems throughout Europe.

We all were impressed by Finnish education system which was presented to us as a modern, pogressive way of education based on principles of just and equal access to education for all. They started reform of education in the 60s and brought it to present day successful state.

There is a 9 year compulsory schooling in Finland with an extra 10th year which is attended by pupils who need an additional help to complete the basic school or to decide about their future study. It is a part of personalized approach to the needs of each learner.

The system of personalized learning includes a systematic work of education counsellors working in all schools as  full-time workers, one counsellor for 250 students. They have a specialist qualification (psychology, special pedagogy) and their job is not only to solve the problems of students, but first of all to be proactive – prevent possible problems, give the students advice, career guidance, collaborate with schol psychologist, social worker and mainly with students´ parents.Students with any kind of problems are given help immediately – from their education cousellors, tutors and teacher assistants.

There is a wide range of optional subjets from which a Finnish student can choose according to his/her interests, abilities and ambitions.

One of the most surprising findings for the participants was the fact that Finnish students like going to school. They find school as their second home where they get a lot of understanding and help. The philosophy of Finnish school is to discover each student´s potential, talent, abilities and to develop them in a way to enable young person to find the best place in future life.

Education in Finland is free of charge, each student is given a free meal at school and is paid back  travel expenses to school if he lives more than 5 km from there.

An interesting fenomenon of Finnish educational system is its flexibility. A Finnish student has not only the possibility to choose his own educational pathway, but he can tranfer from one to another at any time. There are bridges between academic and vocational streams and students can even study at both at the same time.

All the participants of the study visit were impressed by a high level of collaboration between vocational schools, entrepreneurs and companies offering practical preparation of students. It is very close, intensive and useful for both sides.

Another surprising finding of the visit is the high social status of Finnish teachers. As the education in Finland is considered a very important value, the interest of young people to become teachers is very high. Only 1/10 of students enrolled at pedagogical faculties are admitted. They get high social and financial rewards. Study recquirements are high, but the result is well-prepared, dedicated and quality teachers.

Programme of the study visit was rich, but balanced and flexible. Any recquirements of tha participants were met immediately.

The work of our supervisor – Ms. Aino Malin was perfect. She offered us possibilities to get acquainted with some aspects of Finnish social and cultural life – visit to Alvaar Aalto Museum, Finnish specialities in restaurants, sauna.

Our way back home got complicated by the volcano ash cloud from Iceland which caused the cancellation of our flights and we had to find another way how to get home (ferry, train, bus). It took me 56 hours to get home to Slovakia.

The study visit in Jyväskylä and getting acquainted with the Finnish education system was an extraordinary experience for me and my colleagues. It is a great motivation and inspiration for my future practical activities.

Contacts I have established with the colleagues from the whole Europe will be used in my practical work with students.

Mária Široká, Slovakia