Anticipating skills needs in FinlandRiitta JuvonenChemical Industry Federation of Finland

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Content

• Urgent need for anticipating future skills and employment

• Work of National Education and Training Committees

• European sector council on employment and skills needs for the chemical sector

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3

Number of people retiring vs. entering the work market

Retirement

New workforce

2008

Source: Confederation of Finnish Industries

National Education and Training Committees

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Labour market needs as basis for education and training

• Finland has long traditions in tripartite collaboration in developing the national education system.

• Labour market organisations are involved in Building the structure of the VET systemPlanning the contents of VET curricula Anticipating employment and skills needs in co-operation with education authorities

• Government program 2011: ”Links between education and labour market will be strengthened on all levels of education.”

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National Education and Training Committees (NETC)

• Several decades of NETC collaboration between government and labour market

• System revised every three years• Different structures and assignments during the years

• The System of NETCs is based on legislation • Currently: Decree of the Council of State 882/2010 (October 14,

2010)

• NETCs are nominated by the Ministry of Education and Culture for 3 year periods

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National Education and Training Committee System

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NETC Steering group - 14 members

Members: Education sector, central labour market organisationsSecretariat: Ministry of Education and Culture + National Board of

Education

NETC Steering group - 14 members

Members: Education sector, central labour market organisationsSecretariat: Ministry of Education and Culture + National Board of

Education

National Education and Training Committees for 26 Sectors

Tripartite composition: Employers, Trade unions, Education and training sector

(VET institutions, polytechnics, universities)

Max. 16 members + 16 deputy members

National Education and Training Committees for 26 Sectors

Tripartite composition: Employers, Trade unions, Education and training sector

(VET institutions, polytechnics, universities)

Max. 16 members + 16 deputy members

Ad hoc expert groups Ad hoc expert groups

NETCs *

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Automotive and transportFood industryEnergyAviationBeauty careTrade, entrepreneurship, business, administration and finance Chemical, paper and wood sectorMechanical engineering, machine workProperty and building maintenance, domestic servicesSports and rehabilitationVisual artsAgriculture and environment

Tourism, cateringNavigationForestryMusic, theatre, danceEducation, pedagogyConstruction, buildingSocial workElectrical and automation engineeringIndustrial art, designTextiles and clothingHealth careData processingSecurityCommunication

*Translations by the speaker

Tasks of the NETCs

• In generalTo act as an expert body for the Ministry of Education and Culture and the National Board of EducationTo promote collaboration between education sector and working life

• NETCs’ assignment during the current period 2011 – 2013 is

1. To follow, evaluate, anticipate and analyse the development of skills needs on the labour market

2. To make suggestions and take initiatives for the qualitative development of vocational education and training and curricula.

3. To take initiatives for integrating labour market skills needs into higher education programs

4. To carry out other assignments given by the Ministry of E&C or the National Board of Education

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Chemical, paper and wood sector NETC (2011-2013)

• 15+15 members• Committee meetings 3 meetings / year

• Working committee (chairmen+ secretariat+ 1-2 members)Preparatory work for the meetingsCommunication with the Ministry of Education and Culture and National Board of Education

• Results in 2011-2012Analysis of existing anticipation and foresight reports made for chemical sector or paper & wood sector – Consultant report available in April 2012

Pending application for funding for anticipating skills needs and competence profiles for manufacturing professions

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Strengths Weaknesses

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• Commitment by the Government

• All relevant stakeholders involved

• National authorities listen to the labour market

• In-built tripartite collaboration in the VET programmes

• Resources for the NETC work diminshing

• Too broad scopes of some NETC’s

• Lack of liaison between NETCs

• Not enough emphasis on higher education

Challenges getting information for decision making

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Challenges & Opportunities - European sector council on employment and skills needs for the chemical sector• Challenges

• Getting reliable data (previous slide) is a challenge on the national level, let alone on European level

• How to find effective ways to disseminate and deploy the results in practice?

• Opportunities• Raising awareness of industry skills and employment needs is

indispensable for competitiveness • Social dialogue and tripartite collaboration builds trust• Awareness of the industry needs could speed up mobility in the

chemical sector• Education and training based on anticipated needs could strengthen

employability• European sector council could build on success already achieved:

– Framework agreement on competence profiles 2011

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Thank you!

For more information:riitta.juvonen@chemind.fihttp://www.oph.fi/english

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