Mervi Jansson, CEO of Omnia Education Partnership, describes the seminar as a platform to share research results and the recently developed VET excellence model.
”In the Blueprint for VET Excellence, we have identified and binded together more traditional building blocks of excellence with greening, digitalisation, and innovation. Achieving excellence requires a comprehensive approach addressing versatile dimensions of organising and delivering VET”, she states.
According to Jansson, it is essential to understand that VET excellence is a shared responsibility.
“The aim of the seminar is to provide the participants with an understanding of the Finnish model and education system, which is a combination of public-public and public-private partnerships. Excellence is developed within the local and national ecosystem of VET. Low hierarchy and co-operation with stakeholders are factors contributing to the creation of the genuine partner ecosystem”, she points out.
Horisontal and vertical factors combined
The core idea of the model is that none of the factors contributing to VET excellence can be seen as sufficient on their own.
“In Omnia, for example, one of the sustainability targets is that there is as little waste as possible. Everything that is produced has a purpose: the first wooden stools that are made by joinery students go for sale. Sustainability is present in the daily operation from organisation’s values to teaching”, she says.
Systems and processes, human resources, stakeholder collaboration, pedagocical landscape and infrastructure are placed horisontally in the model, whereas greening, digitalisation and innovation are vertically positioned.
“All these must be in line together with each other in order to create and maintain the VET excellence”, Mervi Jansson says.
Future of excellence
The seminar hosted approximately 35 participants from ten different countries.
“Considering Finland’s commitment to the national and EU Africa strategy, we are happy to receive Kenyan participants, among others. Some of the other participants come from Iceland, Jamaica and Scotland, for example”, Jansson explains.
In the panel discussion, the future of the excellence is addressed by Hanna Autere, Counsellor or Education from EDUFI, Tiina Immonen, CEO of Mercuria, Aape Pohjavirta, Founder and President of Funzi and Mikko Valtonen, Senior Advisor at Finnish Chamber of Commerce.
“As organisers of the seminar, we hope to give the participants the tools by which they can filter what they will see at the Finnish Championship of Vocational Skills and demonstrate the versatility of the VET excellence”, Mervi Jansson says.