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1. Official guidelines on traineeships and apprenticeships

2. Promoting traineeships and apprenticeships

3. Recognition of learning outcomes

4. Funding

5. Quality assurance

Official guidelines on traineeships and apprenticeships

Finland has a legal basis for apprenticeship training. The Act on Vocational Education and Training (in Finnish) (2017) states that an authorisation to provide education may specify the right to provide any qualification included in the qualification structure and the advanced or supplementary vocational education in the form of apprenticeship training.

Also the responsibilities of each party involved in traineeships and apprenticeships are outlined by the law. The organiser of a traineeship is responsible for the occupational safety of a trainee as specified in the Act on Occupational Safety and Health (in Finnish) (2002) and in the Young Workers’ Act (in Finnish) (1993). The law also regulates the daily and weekly maximum working hours of the trainee and specifies that the contract has to include a precise job description of the work the trainee is expected to perform. If necessary, the public employment and business office can demand separate terms and conditions in traineeship contracts. In addition, the Act on Equality between Women and Men (in Finnish) (1986), the Non-Discrimination Act (in Finnish) (2014) and the Act on the Protection of Privacy in Working Life are also applicable in labour market policy (in Finnish) (2004). 

As described in Key figures on apprenticeship training in Finland (2016) by the Finnish National Agency of Education, the provision of apprenticeship training is based on an authorisation to provide education, which is granted by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The training provider is responsible for the administration of apprenticeship training and the monitoring of apprenticeships. The training provider is also responsible for, among other things, assessing the suitability of the placement workplace, the identification and recognition of the student’s prior education, approving the apprenticeship agreement, drafting the student’s personal study plan, paying training compensation to employers, paying student financial aid and making arrangements for competence-based qualifications. For more information, see for example the Cedefop European Database on Apprenticeship Schemes (reference year 2019) of the European Commission.

Promoting traineeships and apprenticeships

According to the Government Programme 2024-2027, the government 'will promote the use of training agreements and apprenticeship training'. They promise for example 'explore the possibilities to stagger the financial compensation for education and training paid during an apprenticeship training as studies progress.'

There is a lot of information about traineeships and apprenticeships. Job Market Finland is a service developed by the KEHA Centre, which is the Development and Administration Centre for the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre), the Employment and Economic Development Office (TE Office), and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Details of traineeships and apprenticeships are provided on their On the Job Learning website. Traineeships are recognised as important for students, as they can be a mandatory part of vocational education, training programmes, and university or university of applied sciences degrees. 

The Association of Apprenticeship Organisers offers an online database with a search engine for students, employers, entrepreneurs and its members, see apprenticeship.fi. 

Recognition of learning outcomes

Learning outcomes from traineeships and internships are recognised in a variety of ways. The Finnish National Agency for Education's report, Key Figures on apprenticeship training in Finland (2016) states that: 'Apprenticeship training is integrated with the student’s personal study plan, which is drafted based on the curriculum approved by the Finnish National Board of Education (FNBE) or competence-based qualification, taking into consideration the student’s prior learning and the opportunities and requirements of the workplace. The personal study plan is jointly drafted by the student, employer and VET provider.’ (see Key Figures on apprenticeship training, page 7).

‘Youths and adults can complete vocational upper secondary qualifications and specialist vocational qualifications through apprenticeship training. Apprenticeship training can also be provided in cases where a qualification is not being 8 sought. Apprenticeship training gives the same eligibility as other forms of to advance to higher education studies after completing a qualification. The provision of apprenticeship training is based on the authorisation to provide education issued by the Ministry of Education and Culture.’

‘The training provider is responsible for, among others, assessing the suitability of the training workplace, the identification and recognition of the student’s prior learning, approving the apprenticeship agreement, drafting the student’s personal study plan, paying training compensation to employers, paying student financial aid and making arrangements for competence-based qualifications.’ (see Key Figures on apprenticeship training, page 7-8).

Funding

The report continues, that ‘[b]ecause apprenticeship training in Finland is publicly funded, the student and employer will not have to pay any training costs’ and that ‘Municipalities have a statutory funding obligation in the provision of apprenticeship training in vocational upper secondary education and training.’ (see Key Figures on apprenticeship training, pages 11, 40).

Further vocational education and training is entirely funded by the state, without any municipal funding. From the funding received, the provider of apprenticeship training is obligated to pay training compensation to employers for the training provided at the workplace in connection with practical work assignments. In addition to this, if the student suffers any loss of income (i.e. he or she is not paid any wages during theoretical studies), the education provider is obligated to pay social benefits for students in the form of a daily allowance and a travel and accommodation allowance.’ (see Key Figures on apprenticeship training, page 40).

‘Employers taking on students who complete their basic education and begin apprenticeship training in the same year are eligible to receive increased training compensation (...) If an unemployed person is accepted into apprenticeship training, the employer is also eligible to receive a pay subsidy, which is paid by a TE Office. Where an apprenticeship is concerned, a so called pay subsidy can also be paid for the entire duration of the apprenticeship on a percentage basis. This is discretionary aid, which is decided upon by the employment office.’ ( see Key Figures on apprenticeship training, pages 40-41.)

‘During an apprenticeship, the student is paid wages in accordance with the applicable collective agreement and, with some minor exceptions, the student’s employment is subject to the same employment legislation as the collective agreement for that field. If the employer does not pay any wages for training given in the educational institution, the person receives the relevant social benefits given to students.' (see Key Figures on apprenticeship training, page 41.)

Quality assurance

The Finnish National Agency for Education follows the key figures and indicators of apprenticeship training. These figures include, for example, the number of students in vocational education and training, time taken to complete a qualification, and the progress of study. Furthermore, information about gender, language, educational background, as well as the special needs of students in apprenticeship training, are also monitored.