2.10 Current debates and reforms
On this page
On this page
Forthcoming policy developments
As mentioned in Youth Wiki/Finland 2.9 Skills recognition, the Digital Competence Disk has been developed by the Youth Work Centre of Expertise Kentauri for the ´studification’ of the accumulated competences gained through some hobbies and volunteering. This means that these can be recognised as credit in some specific studies leading to a qualification. A search engine that finds matches between spare-time courses and studies leading to a qualification was opened. On the webpages of the Digital Competence Disk, it is outlined that ´the education provider is responsible for the identification and recognition of prior learning. Versatile recognition of prior learning helps avoid unnecessary overlaps in education and the assessment of competence. This will also help the student earn their degree faster.’ The service is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Ongoing debates
The Citizen Forum, which is an umbrella organisation of more than 140 organizations and a social influencer for volunteer activities, has published an online statement signed by more than 260 third sector organisations from all over the country. The statement is titled as ‘Volunteering worth more than 3 billion is under the cuts’ (available in Finnish). As those organisations say, ‘the savings the government has planned related to the funding for third sector organisations put the organisations at risk of totally close down, and as consequence, along with it, the volunteer work that benefits the wellbeing of citizens and promotes democracy.