1. johtava rehtori Timo Olli

2. Education system in Finland
All the upper secondary vocational
qualifications lead to a profession and
give eligibility for further studies
in Polytechnics and Universities.
While studying for a vocational qualification,
students can also pass the state matriculation examination.

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Kouvola Region Vocational College - KSAO
Studying at a vocational college has become more and more popular amongst youngsters. More than half of the areas school leavers apply for vocational studies.
We work in close co-operation with the economic markets demands. Changes in the labour market have a direct impact on our education programmes.
International co-operation, development projects and quality frame work are an essential part of our activities and help us to develop our education.
Life-long learning is important for us. In addition to the vocational upper secondary qualifications, we also provide education for adult students.

4. Organisation

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KSAO positions

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Number of students annually

7. Study sectors
Study sectors are Culture - Technology, Communications and Transport - Natural Resources and the Environment - Natural Sciences – Tourism, Catering and Domestic Services – Social Services, Health and Sport – Aircraft Maintenance – Social Sciences, Business and Administration.
Along with studying for a vocational qualification, it is also possible to take the state matriculation examination.
The college also provides good opportunities for further education.

8. Study paths Training for youngsters:
Vocational upper secondary qualifications
Combination studies (vocational + matriculation certificates)
Guiding and preparatory vocational studies
KSAO Adult Education:
Competence-based vocational upper secondary, further vocational
and specialist vocational qualifications
- independent training, apprenticeship, labour market training
- set personnally according to the background of the student
- distance and network learning, independet learning
day time and evening lessons
Short and updating courses

9. Studying is fun
Studying at vocational college is very practical and activity based
We have a restaurant, two hairdressers’ saloons, one beauty saloon and
customer service point Helli for social and health care, where students learn the
profession in practice. Other sectors offers also various kind of services such as
car repair, building and renovation, painting and maintenance services.
Our students actively take part in different kind of events,
exhibitions and shows, competitions and international co-operation

10. Vocational Qualifications
All vocational upper secondary qualifications consists of 180 credits and are completed usually in three years
- Each degree includes vocational studies 135 credits,
core subjects 35 credits and free choice studies 10 credits.
- Workplacement in companies is min. 35 credits (20 weeks)
- Part of the workplacement can be experienced abroad
- All the qualifications lead to a profession
- Eligibility for further studies in polytechnics and universities
Students can also pass the state matriculation examination (gymnasium)

11. Combination studies
At KSAO, it is possible to take not only vocational studies but also studies required for the matriculation examination.
A student may study for:
• a vocational upper secondary qualification
• the matriculation examination
• the entire upper secondary school syllabus, entitling the student
to an upper secondary school leaving certificate

12. Working life co-operation
Working life co-operation is important and on-the-job learning is a part of studies. New courses have been started with an ear to the needs of working life.
Workplacement in companies is minimum 35 credits ( 20 weeks)

13. Adult Education Adults can study for qualifications through e.g.
In-service training; Apprenticeship training; Competence test
system; and Labour market training (adult employment training).
As of 2012 KSAO Adult Education Centre (includes apprenticeship training office)
For adults we offer further vocational qualifications,
specialist vocational qualifications and courses
Number of students ca. 2000

14. International on-the-job training
KSAO is actively involved in co-operation with colleges and employers
internationally. We annually send some 100 students to complete
their workplacement and some 50 teachers for job shadowing abroad.
KSAO holds the VET Mobility Charter.
The partner countries are Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, India, Italy, Malta, Spain, Sweden, Russia and the Netherlands.
The activities are financed by mobility projects like Erasmus+, Nordplus Junior, Finnish National Board of Education and from KSAO’s own funds. Each year KSAO receives some 80 foreign students and 50 teachers to Finland.

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Co-operation with countries outside EU
KSAO also coordinates Russian network of Finnish Vocational Colleges
KSAO is a partner of India, Japan, Malesia and Singapore networks
The aim of the networks is to improve co-operation, workplacement
and job shadowing to countries outside European Union.

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International projects
Flexible European Learning Pathways, Erasmus+ Mobility
European Skills and Competences for Social and Health Care; Erasmus+ Mob.
European Learning Pathways for Social and Health Care; Erasmus+ Partners.
Visual World (ViWo), Erasmus+ Partnership
Vocational Education and Training in the Working World 4.0 – VET 4.0
Learning E-Mobility (LEMO), Erasmus+ Partnership
Erasmus+ for Security E4S, Erasmus+ Partnership
Hospital Cleaners’ Innovative Training, HIT, Erasmus+ Partnership

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Development Activities
Development of education is an important part of the work we do in Kouvola Region Vocational College.
The biggest projects are normally funded by EU-programs like ESF, European Social Fund or ERDF, European Regional Development Fund. Some other projects are funded for example by National board of education and Ministry od Education and Culture
Pedagogical development
The curriculums in vocational education are changing in Finland and many of our ongoing projects aim to help this change.
Flexible study paths
Preventing early school leaving
Work-based VET
Apprenticeship studies
New Learning Environments