Seminars

The National Finnish-language Seminar addresses changes in the labor market from the perspectives of individuals, companies, and education.

The recording of the seminar will be subtitled in Swedish and can be ordered via the registration form.

Click here to sign up and view the programme in Finnish.

The seminar experience includes a guided tour of the Taitaja2025 competition, a self-paid networking lunch for seminar participants, and the seminar session. You can attend the entire experience or join us for a part of it.

Sign up for the tour and lunch by April 23rd. You can also order a link to the seminar livestream or the seminar recording by filling the registration form. Attending the seminar itself onsite doesn’t require registration.

The seminar day schedule:

• At 10–12     Guided tour of the Taitaja2025-competition and event (sign up by April 23rd)
• At 12–13     Lunch Break (self-funded, sign up by April 23rd)
• At 13–15     Seminar session (Turku Fair Center Auditorium / livestream / recording)

The International Welcome Seminar focuses on international education policy and and developing professional skills and competencies through international collaboration.

Seminar session programme at 13–15

Music performance: Turku Conservatory

Opening words – Petri Lempinen, Director General, Ministry of Education and Culture, Department for General Upper Secondary Education and Vocational Education and Training

1. Futureproofing: reflections from a professional struggling with the future – Hiski Haukkala, Finnish Institute of International Affairs
   • Insight into the mindset of an international relations expert on navigating the world – and how it could be applied in the future?
   • Personal and academic reflections on a broader approach to future-proofing one’s career and life.
2. WorldSkills and National Skills competitions’ role in developing #ProfessionalSkillsForTheFuture – David Hoey, CEO WorldSkills International and Maria Ekroth, CEO Skills Finland
   • How do competitions and competing contribute to skill acquisition and educational innovation?
3. Building a better future through education – Li Andersson, Member of European Parliament (recorded speech)
   • European education policy and trends in secondary education and vocational skills development
4. Panel presentation and discussion: International co-operation as a tool
   • Project PAFIIC: from Pakistan to Finland – Tarja Aaltonen, Lecturer, Turku Vocational Institute
   • International study programmes – Ajaya Joshi, Senior Lecturer, Turku University of Applied Sciences
   • Empowering Growth Through Collaboration: Global Reach and Local Engagement – Saija Kuusisto-Lancaster, Vice President, Strategy and M&A, Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology, Load and Haul Division

Closing words