Recipes for Systemic Change - Helsinki Design Lab

esource—and has shown a strong commitment to building and maintainingan excellent education system. Confirmation of many of these effortshas captured international attention and praise, as measured in Finnishstudents’ superior performance in international standardized tests, thehigh rate of secondary school graduates, and the increasing population ofuniversity degree holders.50%38%27% 20% 18%17% 15%50%62% 73% 80% 82% 83% 85%|1975|1980|1985|1990|1995|2000|2005SourceStatisticsFinlandNo post comprehensive qualificationUpper-secondary or tertiaryShare of completers of post comprehensive qualifications 25-34 year olds in 1975-2005There is a strong argument that by continuing to develop the qualityof education for all its citizens, Finland is simultaneously securing itseconomic survival and future prosperity. Internal pressures include a risein immigration and a diversifying population, an increasing demand fornew skills, tightening budgets requiring government agencies to do morewith fewer resources, and a rapidly ageing population. A more educatedworkforce promotes a rise in GDP by means of higher valued production,more frequent innovation, greater efficiency in business and manufacturing,and a larger population of skilled labour. A stronger economy, in turn,safeguards the ongoing and larger project of Finland, a nation determinedto protect and provide for all its citizens, promoting greater equality andopportunity for everyone.160 bn US$140 bn US$120 bn US$100 bn US$80 bn US$60 bn US$40 bn US$20 bn US$0|1960|1963|1966|1969|1972|1975|1978|1981|1984|1987|1990|1993|1996|1999|2002|2006SourceOECDTotal GDP (constant exchange rate US$), Finland 1960-2006147