Keskuspuisto Vocational College Especially for You KESKUSPUISTO VOCATIONAL COLLEGE www.keskuspuisto.fi
Keskuspuisto Vocational College Especially for You Learning difficulties or disabilities are not a barrier to commencement of studies. Vocational special needs education and training is intended for students who need special educational arrangements or student welfare services due to disability, illness, delayed development or for some other reason. The objectives of qualification oriented education and training may also be adjusted. Keskuspuisto Vocational College is maintained by ORTON Invalid Foundation as an upper secondary vocational special education institution and development centre for special needs education. The College headquarters is located in the Ruskeasuo district of Helsinki and operates 8 additional learning units in the Greater Helsinki area and Province of Southern Finland. Over 000 students participate annually in upper secondary education and adult vocational education and training. The College is focused on the following educational tasks: to provide vocational special education and preparatory and rehabilitative training and guidance for students with special needs. to provide education and training leading to a vocational upper secondary qualification in 8 different study programmes to provide preparatory education for new immigrants to Finland. to provide adult education to serve as a development and service centre for special needs education. We provide each student an Individual Education Plan (IEP), flexible curriculum, low instructor/teacher-to-student ratio in the classroom and small study groups to facilitate learning. All the courses are designed to meet our students individual needs. Innovative and varied teaching and working methods together with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for various study fields ensure that our students obtain up-todate skills and competences that are competitive in today s working life. Our goal is to equip Keskuspuisto Vocational College graduates with individually-tailored vocational skills, the desire for life-long learning, and ability to integrate into society as empowered, active members. In all our study programmes we follow the National Curricula which can be adapted according to the students capabilities.
Preparatory and rehabilitative education and guidance Preparatory and rehabilitative education and guidance are intended for students who need practice in basic skills before starting vocational studies, or who find it too challenging to complete a qualification. The scope and content of the education and guidance are determined by the student s current situation his/her individual needs, capabilities and development possibilities. The objective is to plan suitable further studies or job placement that will enable the student to participate in independent life, employment, and studies to the best extent possible. The core concept is to be located close to our students. We work in close co-operation with our students families/ guardians and home communities. We provide preparatory education in small groups where every student receives attention they need. Preparatory training for vocational upper secondary education (Preparatory I), 20 20 credits The objective of the preparatory I training is to provide the student with a realistic perspective of their study options, the availability of different occupations, and possibilities in working life. The purpose of the training is to support the knowledge and skills required for completing upper secondary VQs. Preparatory I training and guidance is also intended to develop the student s life-management skills and study techniques. Training preparing students for work and independent living (Preparatory Training II), 40 20 credits Preparatory training II for work and independent living is intended for students whose capabilities, study abilities or life situation do not make it possible for them to undertake upper secondary vocational qualification education, although they do have the capacity to do certain individually customized tasks in a work place (usually in noncontractual employment or in a sheltered workshop). Preparatory II training is intended to provide each individual student with the knowledge and skills they need for job placement and working life, as well as the ability to cope with everyday life and work situations. The training content and rehabilitation are individually planned according to student s needs and capabilities working in close connection with student s local networks and authorities (home, municipality etc.). Preparatory education for immigrants The objectives of preparatory education and training for immigrants are to provide immigrants coming to Finland with capabilities to function as equal members of Finnish society and to promote their employment potential. The duration of preparatory education varies between 6 and 2 months. The education improves students Finnish language skills and other capabilities required for their future occupation. At the same time, they
also learn about different occupations and vocational studies. Upper secondary vocational qualification programmes At Keskuspuisto Vocational College, students study towards an occupation in small groups, with emphasis on practical aspects. The scope of upper secondary vocational qualification (VQ) is 20 credits, consisting of core subjects (20 credits), vocational studies (90 credits) and free-choice studies (0 credits). Vocational studies include the minimum of 20 credits of on-the-job learning and a final project with a minimum scope of 2 credits. The completion of a vocational qualification takes approximately three school years though individual variations in the length and scope of studies are possible. As part of on-the-job learning, students complete vocational skills demonstrations, which are work situations designed, implemented and assessed together by the teacher, the student and the representative of the working life. The evaluation of vocational studies is based on skills demonstrations that enable students to show through practical work assignments how well they have achieved the vocational skills required in working life, as specified in curricula. On-the-job learning and skills demonstrations are obligatory and they are preferably completed in authentic working environments. Keskuspuisto Vocational College offers Vocational Qualifications (VQS) in the following fields: Audiovisual Communication (Media Assistant) Building Maintenance Technology (Property Maintenance Operative) Business and Administration (Merkonom) Business Information Technology (Datanom) Catering (Institutional Meal Production, Cook, Institutional Catering) Cleaning Services (Site Facilities Operative) Crafts and Design (Handicraft Design and Production, Artisan) Dance (Dancer) Electrical Engineering (Electronics and Telecommunications Technology, Electronics Assembler) Household and Consumer Services (Household Services Entrepreneur) Logistics (Storage Services, Warehouse Operative) Metalwork and Machinery (Manufacturing Technology, Mechanical Fitter / Machinist) Music (Music Performance, Ensemble/Orchestra Musician or Instrument Maintenance and Music Technology, Piano Tuner) Social and Health Care (Practical Nurse, Study Programme in Care for the Disabled or Study Programme in Rehabilitation) Surface Treatment Technology (Painter) Technical Design (Design Assistant) Upholstery (Upholsterer) Vehicle Technology (Vehicle Mechanic)
Adult Education Services Keskuspuisto Vocational College s Adult Education Services offer various training options for adults wishing to develop, update and supplement their vocational competence. The training options are intended for all adults including those who require extra support in their studies. We provide preparatory training for upper secondary vocational qualifications, further vocational qualifications and specialist vocational qualifications. The purpose of the preparatory training is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the vocational skills requirements of the competency test for the Vocational Qualification. We provide support and encouragement for adult students who need to learn a new profession, seek employment; have reduced working ability or who need to upgrade or complete their vocational skills or competences. We are able to provide all our adult students customized study plans and an opportunity to study while working. The studies are implemented as contact, distant to multiform learning. Keskuspuisto Vocational College s Adult Training Services cater for an average of 50 students every year. Development and Resource Centre Keskuspuisto Vocational College functions as a development and resource centre for special needs education. We offer expert services in special needs education for educational institutions and other co-opera- tion partners. Our service provision covers among other things training, counselling, guidance and consultancy. The aim is to promote recognition of special needs students support needs and to ensure that these are taken into account when planning and implementing studies especially in mainstream education. We take good care of our students We have over 450 professionals working at Keskuspuisto Vocational College. Our teaching staff is well-educated. The qualifications required of teachers at Keskuspuisto Vocational College comprise an appropriate polytechnic or university degree in the field or subject, three years of work experience, complete with pedagogical studies as well as studies in special pedagogy. Our multidisciplinary student welfare team includes psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, guidance counsellors, special needs teachers, nurses, a music therapist, an art therapist and a sexual therapist. They are all prepared to help and support our students with their various challenges. Financing Financing of vocational education and training is based on a unit price calculated per student. The unit price is calculated on the basis of the field-specific student numbers and unit prices by weighting the unit prices by student numbers. Funding is influenced by the number of special needs students and particularly high-cost qualifications.
The education and training we provide is free of charge apart from students in additional training (adult education) are charged reasonable fees. Fulltime students are entitled to a free meal every working day. Orientation period The orientation period is meant for those who want to see and try what a certain occupation is like and what it is like to study in a vocational college. A vocational teacher assesses the trainee s performance level based on tasks typical for the occupation. The trainee s aptitude for an occupation is determined during this period by interviews and, if necessary, aptitude tests conducted by the college s psychologist. The reading and writing skills are evaluated by the special needs teacher. The orientation period may last from two days to two weeks, determined by the financial provider of the orientation. A referral for orientation can be obtained from KELA (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland), the employment office or an insurance company. Student association We have a student association made up of students from various study programmes. The student association functions as a messenger to the school s decision-making bodies. Students have opportunities to participate in and influence development of education and training. We also have older students acting as tutors who introduce the college s operational culture to new students in particular. Experiencing independent life in a student dormitory Students are provided excellent opportunities to practice independent living in our dormitory. The dormitories are located within the college s main campus next to Keskuspuisto Park and in Arla unit and are intended for students who can manage independently. Each
Finland in a nutshell flat has a common kitchen, bathroom and toilet. The accommodation is free of charge. Leisure activities Our students are encouraged to participate in various leisure time activities organized by the college. They have possibilities to use the college s exercise halls, gyms and swimming pools (Arla unit and main campus) several times a week. We also offer various sports activities like floorball and badminton as well as hobby clubs such as papiermâché, image treatment, furniture restoration and upholstery or playing in a band. International co-operation We have been involved in international co-operation since 995. We have lots of experience in various EU-programmes like Comenius, Grundtvig, Leonadro da Vinci, TACIS and Joint Action. Contact info for international co-operation: liisa.metsola@keskuspuisto.fi
The education system of Finland The Ministry of Education is responsible for defining education policy and for regulating, steering and financing vocational education and training. The Ministry of Education also grants authorizations to provide education and training, which include provisions on fields of education, location, special educational tasks and maximum number of students per year as well as other operations. The Finnish National Board of Education is an expert and development body which issues the National Core Curricula and the Requirements of Competence-based Qualifications to education providers, determining vocational skills requirements, objectives of competence and core contents of studies. These documents form the basis on which education providers draw up their local curricula. 6 5 4 3 2 Universities 4 3 2 Polytechnics Polytechnic postgraduate degree trial WORKING LIFE *) Additional vocational training - Further vocational qualifications - Special vocational qualifications 3 2 General upper secondary school 3 2 Upper secondary vocational qualifications *) (0) 9 Basic education, ages 7-6 Pre-school education 6-year olds *) Also ppovided in a form of apprenticeship training KESKUSPUISTO VOCATIONAL COLLEGE Tenholantie 0, 00280 Helsinki, Finland, tel. +358 9 47 48, fax +358 9 4748 2746, www.keskuspuisto.fi