I am a teacher at an adult education centre in Spain. I had the chance to do a job shadowing at Omnia, Espoo Adult Education Centre in February 2023 by means of a programme called “Professional stays” organised by the Ministry of Education in Spain. This type of programme is presented in the form of study visits in which a European educative centre hosts a Spanish teacher for a period of two weeks.
As a teacher of adult education, I was looking for a school with a similar profile. I managed to get in touch with Saara Patoluoto, Adult Education Coordinator at Omnia with whom I devised an agenda of activities to carry out. During these two weeks I have had the chance to meet and have interviews with the teachers and coordinators of the different studies offered at Omnia, I have attended work meetings, I have observed and participated in different classes and I have visited other organizations that provide adult education in the metropolitan area of Helsinki. With the teachers and students I have met, I have exchanged information about methodologies and didactic resources and have also analysed the similarities and differences between the Spanish and Finnish educational systems in adult training. Regarding collaboration in future projects some teachers and coordinators have shown their interest in my school and the possibility of developing/carrying out Erasmus+ projects or similar ones with it.
Free education at all levels in Finland
One of the things that has surprised me is the fact that education is free at all levels, except for the courses offered at Liberal Adult Education, but these also have reasonable fees. In basic adult education, students only pay for materials, even meals are free. Transport and accommodation are subsidized by the State too. The State cares for the welfare and equality of opportunities in education for everyone regardless of their social or academic background.
Possibilities for professional training
For Finns there is always the possibility to improve or change their professional life. The State promotes and subsidizes permanent training throughout life. Professional training centres like Omnia, offer specialization courses and continuous training for employees where they can learn new skills through a flexible system adapted to their needs. Access to the different studies is done through a process in which teachers and counsellors participate and in which the candidate's knowledge and previous experiences are valued. There is always career counselling, students are never alone in their career path.
In relation to the teachings of "Liberal Training for Adults" it is necessary to highlight the spirit of objectivity and independence that pervades the development of institutions in Finland. These teachings do not follow an official curriculum, but each centre is responsible for designing its own study plan in relation to the training demands of its local area.
Surprising things in Finland
I have been surprised by the existence of so many human resources to support students (counsellors, academic support staff, support staff for students with special educational needs) and especially immigrant students. There is a great interest in their integration, both linguistic and social.
Another aspect that has amazed me is the importance of the compatibility of family duties and work or studies / family conciliation in Finland. At Omnia there are courses where parents and their children can participate together on-site or online. Likewise, teachers have flexible hours, being able to carry out part of their workday by teleworking. This reconciliation is visible in all areas of society: in museums, cultural centres or libraries, specific activities for families are offered and there are even physical spaces dedicated to them.
Facilities are top range
Regarding the facilities, both at Omnia and the other centres which I have visited, I have seen a good design of the functional spaces to be shared (staff rooms, common spaces for students).
The centres where vocational training courses are offered have modern workshops where students can carry out their internships at an almost professional level. Some of them collaborate with municipal institutions and offer their services or even sell the products they make to the local community.
Regarding technological resources, virtually all the classrooms I have visited are well equipped with modern overhead projectors connected to interactive whiteboards where texts or images can be projected and enlarged.
Lastly, as a personal reflection, I would like to say that I am struck by the importance of lifelong learning in Finland, which I believe might be an integral part of its culture: there are more than 176 centres dedicated to the lifelong learning of adults, with more than 600 000 people enrolled in a country with barely 5 500 000 inhabitants. This shows the intellectual and cultural level of the Finnish society, something which is worth admiring.
Finland: the happiest country in the world
I understand now why Finland is said to be the happiest country in the world: incredible nature, good quality of life, equal opportunities for everyone and making active use of time.
To sum up, I can only say that my experience of the job shadowing at Omnia has been totally positive and has far exceeded my expectations. It has allowed me to learn about the functioning of an adult educational institution in Finland with a profile very similar to the centre where I work and the possibility of establishing collaboration ties for possible educational projects in the future. Furthermore, I would like to highlight the kindness and hospitality that I have received from all staff members and students at Omnia. I can only say thank you for giving me this opportunity.
Text and photo: Isabel Bonilla
Joy of Learning
This article belongs to Joy of Learning blog series.