Recipes for Systemic Change - Helsinki Design Lab

Polytechnics, also known as institutes of technology or universities ofapplied science, were created in Finland in the 1990's. They are the productof the consolidation of vocational colleges into multidisciplinary institutionsof higher learning, with closer ties to industry and as a means tofoster regional economic development. Their creation, for the first time,allowed graduates from vocational school the opportunity to earn higherdegrees. Polytechnic institutes offer bachelors and advanced degrees basedon applied research.Total Students Drop Outs160.000140.000120.000100.00080.00060.00040.00020.00000800ComprehensiveSchoolGeneralSchool24 % 2,2%VocationalSchool8,9%Polytechnic6,9%University5,2%SourceStatisticFinlandTotal number of students and drop outs per sector of education 2007/2008D1.3 Transitions and ApplicationsThere are two primary transition points in the Finnish Education system:the first, between comprehensive and upper secondary school, andsecond, between secondary and tertiary education.Students nearing the completion of comprehensive school must choosebetween general or vocational upper secondary school. Career counsellinghelps students weigh the options for their next move. Applying to eithergeneral or vocational upper secondary school follows a single joint applicationprocess. Students are able to file applications to multiple institutionselectronically, all at once, including a list of schools by ordered preference.Some schools may also require an aptitude tests and an entrance examination,in addition to the application and academic transcript. Any studentwho wishes to continue onto secondary school is guaranteed a place ofstudy; however, selectivity varies between schools, and not every student ispromised admissions to a specific school or school program.156