Finland: Adults with jobs seek out apprenticeships

The apprenticeship agreement is signed by the student, the employer and the apprenticeship office. The following agreements must be met by the parties:

The student

• performs his or her work assignment according to their personal study plan

• gets guidance from a coach familiar with the subject and occupation

• pays a study fee of €58

• takes part in focus days

• performs the assignments, tests and exams demanded by the apprenticeship

• assesses his or her progress 

• learns an occupation through practical learning in the workplace

• can, via an apprenticeship, find a way into working life

• bears the responsibility to make sure studies progress smoothly

The employer

• appoints a workplace tutor who coaches the student in work assignments and who evaluates the learning process

• offers job assignments which support the learning aims

• offers the student the chance to take part in focus days 

• assesses the learning process together with the student

• pays the student a wage during the apprenticeship (minimum wage according to collective agreement)

• gets economic support from the apprenticeship office in the shape of an education allowance

• trains the workers according to the company’s/organisation’s needs

• gets the chance to assess the work performed and work routines

• gets the chance to experience successful recruitment, further training as well as skilled and motivated workers 

• contributes through the apprenticeship to making adult education better tailored to working life 

The apprenticeship office

• designs the written apprenticeship agreement

• offers focus days and exams

• coaches the student (and the workplace trainer) throughout the duration of the apprenticeship

• designs a personal exam plan together with the student and the employer

• follows up the progress in the student’s learning process

• pays education allowance to the employer

• follows up and develops the training to make sure it helps support the student’s professional learning

• provides grading according to the agreed norm

Source: Fortbildningscentrum Praktikum