North Finland, Oulu region and Oulu Vocational College 21.5.2007 Seija Lehto

1. North Finland, Oulu region and Oulu Vocational College 21.5.2007 Seija Lehto

2. North Finland • The City of Oulu is the capital of northern Finland. The Oulu Region has almost 200,000 inhabitants and it is the fastest growing region in Finland. • The Oulu Region also has good opportunities for studying, working and doing research and development, especially in the hi-tech sector. The Oulu Region also has a lively cultural climate. • More about Lapland later….

3. City of Oulu • The city of Oulu was founded by the order of King Carl IX of Sweden at the mouth of the Oulu River in 1605. Oulu, which is located on the shore of the Gulf of Bothnia in Finland, has been the province's capital since 1776. • Oulu has the sixth largest population amongst Finnish towns. In January 2006 the city had 128,962 inhabitants. The area of Oulu is 411,1 square kilometres. • Bigger ones are Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere and Turku.

4. City of Oulu • The history of the internationalisation of the city of Oulu began as early as 1605 with the founding of the city. After the trading embargo in the Gulf of Bothnia was removed, trade became free and the sailing fleet of Oulu grew in the 1860's to be the largest in Finland. • Back then the most important exports from Oulu were furs, salmon and later also tar which was used throughout the world to protect wooden ships. Today the basic idea behind the city's international activities is to develop Oulu into the leading centre of competence for the entire northern Europe. The "tar" of the city of Oulu today, is internationally competitive high level know-how and ability. • Oulu has Finland's second largest university and many public and private research institutes. The region is well known for its rapidly growing high technology industry which sells its products throughout the world. The city is thus also an international growth centre.

5. http://www.fmi.fi/weather/local.html?kunta=Oulu • http://www.ouka.fi/english/webcam.htm • http://www.ouka.fi/english/video/index.html • Oulu – A State of Mind

8. Vocational education in Finland • Vocational schools and institutes offer post-comprehensive vocational education • There are 52 different vocational qualifications with 116 study programs • 8 educational fields • The scope of all vocational qualifications is 3 years, 120 credits • Annually 130 000 students are working for vocational qualification in 290 vocational schools • On-the-job-learning is a part of every qualification and lasts at least 20 credits

9. Oulu Vocational College • Founded 1.1.2005 in its current form • 10 units and an administration unit • Approximately 7100 students • 5200 in vocational upper secondary qualification • 1900 in adult education • Number of personnel approximately 760 • Operating income approx. 54 million euro

10. Founding municipalities • Oulu Vocational College is a part of the Oulu Region Joint Authority for Education (OSEKK). • OSEKK’s founding municipalities include Oulu, Hailuoto, Haukipudas, Ii, Kempele, Kiiminki, Liminka, Lumijoki, Muhos, Oulunsalo, Yli-Ii, Tyrnävä, Raahe and Oulainen.

11. Vocational education provides • Student-inspired, individual studying • On-the-job learning (Instructed studies at real workplaces) • International opportunities • Support services • Educational benefits • Possibilities offered by the Oulu Region Sports Academy

12. Vision • Oulu Vocational College supports growing and evolving into • full-fledged professionals. • Changes in society are reacted fast on and the operations are • economic and of good quality. • Requirements of lifelong learning and working life are taken • into account in education.

13. Number of students 2006 Number of students 20.1.2006 altogether 5158

14. Values • Justice • Honesty • Equality • Tolerance • Humanity

15. 30 vocational qualifications in seven sectors • Social sciences, business and administration • Vocational Qualification in International Business and • Administration Vocational Qualification in Business and Administration • Natural sciences • Vocational Qualification in Business Information • Technology • Natural resources and the environment • Vocational Qualification in Bioenergy • Vocational Qualification in Agriculture • Vocational Qualification in Horticulture

16. 30 vocational qualifications in seven sectors • Culture • Vocational Qualification in Audiovisual Communication • Vocational Qualification in Crafts and Design • Social services, health and sports • Vocational Qualification in Hairdressing • Vocational Qualification in Beauty Care • Vocational Qualification in Pharmaceutics • Vocational Qualification in Social and Health Care • Tourism, catering and domestic services • Vocational Qualification in Catering • Vocational Qualification in Hotel and Restaurant Services • Vocational Qualification in the Tourism Industry

17. 30 vocational qualifications in seven sectors • Technology Communication and Transport Vocational Qualification in Vehicle Technology • Vocational Qualification in Food Production • Vocational Qualification in Chemical Engineering • Vocational Qualification in Metalwork and Machinery • Vocational Qualification in Laboratory Technology • Vocational Qualification in Logistics • Vocational Qualification in Surface Treatment Technology • Vocational Qualification in Wood Processing • Vocational Qualification in Construction • Vocational Qualification in Technical Design • Vocational Qualification in Electrical Engineering • Vocational Qualification in Safety and SecurityVocational Qualification in Clothing • Vocational Qualification in Building Maintenance TechnologyVocational Qualification in Upholstery

18. Structure of studies • Core subjects   20 credits • Compulsory subjects      16 credits • Elective studies      4 credits • Vocational studies     90 credits • Common vocational studies Specialist vocational studies Elective studies • Other elective studies 0 – 10 credits • On-the-job-learning minimum of     20 credits • Free-choice studies 10 credits • In total      120 credits

19. Adult education • The adult education unit offers vocational adult & further education and training and apprenticeship training and co-ordinates adult education offered in different units. • Preparatory education for vocational qualification and special vocational qualification • Apprenticeship training • Labour political training • Management and entrepreneurship training • Personnel training • Short courses • Number of students annually approx. 1900

20. Focus areas of development • Attraction and competitiveness of education • Educational supply is directed according to the demand of work force and national and regional needs. The attraction and appreciation for vocational education will be increased by bringing forth top-level competence. • Furthering of learning • Diverse teaching and guidance methods, which take individuals into consideration, are used in teaching. Development of virtual study environments are expanded into all sectors of vocational education. • Networks and co-operation • The foresight of vocational education is developed together with working life and other education providers. Internationality focuses especially on working life and co-operation projects. • Personnel and Management • The objective is to develop a flexible and clear system for management. In personnel development the emphasis is on increasing the knowledge of working life.