Recipes for Systemic Change - Helsinki Design Lab

Basic Education: comprehensive schoolBasic education in Finland is compulsory and takes place in comprehensiveschools. Students begin first grade at age six or seven and leave witha certificate of completion at the end of ninth grade at age fifteen or sixteen.Students typically learn many different subjects from class teachers in thefirst six years of comprehensive school and specific course material fromsubject teachers in grades seven to nine. A small percentage of studentselect to enrol in a “tenth grade” either under academic probation or else foran additional year of preparation for secondary school.Secondary Education: General & vocational upper secondary schoolsSecondary school is divided into two categories: general upper secondaryschool and vocational upper secondary school. Although students mustapply to secondary school, every student is guaranteed a place of study. Tuitionis free, but some of the costs for learning materials and travel becomethe responsibility of the student.General upper secondary school is the more academic route. Studentsare not organized into grades, but instead are required to fulfil a minimumseventy-five course credits, which is the equivalent of three years’ full-timestudy. After completion of the curriculum, most graduates of general uppersecondary school will take the national matriculation examination, a culturalrite of passage in Finland. Passing the examination guarantees a studenta place of study at university.Vocational upper secondary school is the more practical skill-focusedroute, which requires both classroom and on-the-job learning. The curriculum,drafted in cooperation with business and industry, lasts three years’full-time study and prepares students for one of fifty-three different vocationalqualifications within 119 different study programs. After completionof the curriculum, students may earn a certificate of qualifications upondemonstrating mastery in a given skill or trade.Tertiary Education: University & PolytechnicHigher Education in Finland is divided into two sectors: Universitiesand polytechnic institutes. Tuition is free, and various forms of financialaid are available to meet students’ living expenses.Universities in Finland offer bachelors, masters, and post-doctoratedegrees. It is the more academic path in higher education with a long tradition.The first university in Finland was founded by Queen Christina ofSweden in Turku in 1640. Today, universities operate as “independent corporations”under public law, or “foundations” under private law, designedto “educate students to serve the country and humanity” through research.155