New opportunities for Vietnamese students

Mr. Perttula, do you often come to Vietnam and what is the purpose of this business trip to Vietnam?

Tampere Adult Education Center (TAKK) sends delegations to visit our Vietnamese partners twice a year. The main purpose is to promote our programs to Vietnamese students and continue to build trust between TAKK and our partners.

Mr. Peter Perttula, Director of International Cooperation of TAKK Vocational School (Finland)

Ms. Dieu Tran, what is the reason for a student to choose Finland to study abroad?

Nowadays, Finland is getting more attention from Vietnam. Firstly, Finland has almost no age limit for students, and therefore anyone can study any field they like regardless of their age. Secondly, there are no dead ends and rigidity in the Finnisheducation system, workers can study further (to become "teachers"). In addition, Finland has a "brand" as a country of Happiness and a safe destination.

Ms. Dieu Tran, Director of RAB Academy

Mr. Perttula, can you tell us what the goals of vocational education in Finland are and what policies the country has to attract Vietnamese students?

The aim is to supply skilled workers to the local labour market. For students from outside the European Union (EU) who come to study in Finland, we aim to provide skills for jobs that are difficult to find domestically. Our apprenticeship programmes are practical and hands-on.

Vietnam is one of the strategic countries that Finland aims to attract international talent. In addition to university qualifications, we also need international students to come for vocational training. Vietnam is considered a country where students are hard-working, can learn Finnish, and can integrate into Finnish society.

Ms. Dieu Tran, can you tell us about the current options for vocational training in Finland?

Vocational study in Finland currently has two directions: study programs in Finnish (no tuition fees) and study programs in English (usually with fees).

Finnish language training programs usually require students to study (and achieve) B1 level of Finnish first, after which they can take the entrance exam to vocational schools in Finland. Students do not pay tuition fees during the training period when they arrive in Finland.

For the Vocational Training Program in English, students do not need to reach B1 in Finnish before participating, but they need to have a good level of English to take the entrance exam. Students pay tuition fees when they attend vocational training. This is an official "education export" model recognized by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. This information can be found at: https://www.oph.fi/en/education-and-qualifications/fee-based-or-commissioned-training-leading-vet-qualification

Ms. Dieu Tran recently mentioned two different vocational training paths in Finland. Can Mr. Perttula elaborate on this story?

If a student has sufficient Finnish language skills, there are some opportunities for free vocational training, which is especially possible if the student has come to Finland for some reason. For students seeking free vocational training, learning Finnish in intensive online programs (to reach the required level of Finnish) is not easy for the majority.

Therefore, our vocational programmes are designed to allow students to start their studies in English and learn Finnish while acquiring vocational skills. At TAKK we only offer tuition-based programmes to non-EU students. The tuition-based model allows us to flexibly adapt our programmes to best meet the employment needs of our students.

Ms. Dieu Tran, what is your opinion on this issue of "free tuition" and "collecting tuition fees"?

It is important to note that no program is completely free. For a program that is called “free of tuition,” students still have to invest time, effort, and money in learning Finnish before they can take the entrance exam to a tuition-free vocational school.

Therefore, you need to consider whether this direction is suitable for you or not. To participate in a tuition-free vocational program, you need to have a talent for learning new languages, have a good learning ability, and have time to invest (a lot) in the language. If you do not consider carefully, it is a waste of effort, time and money.

So according to Ms. Dieu Tran, if choosing a program with tuition fees, what should be noted when choosing a program?

Important note when choosing a vocational program: Choose a program that will result in a full degree. This will make you a “degree student” instead of a “continuing education student.” This will affect your benefits upon graduation.

On February 27, 2024, we organized the event "Meeting TAKK Vocational School of Tampere City, Finland" in Phu Nhuan, Ho Chi Minh City. This is one of the annual activities to mark important milestones of the program. Link to register to attend the event: https://s.net.vn/nyDc

To learn more about studying in Finland, you can contact RAB Academy at 29 Huynh Van Banh, Ward 17, Phu Nhuan. Phone: 028 7303 3036.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/hoc-nghe-o-phan-lan-co-hoi-moi-cho-sinh-vien-viet-nam-185240205203525479.htm