Research On Polytechnic Education In Finland

The Finnish higher education has been developed as a system of two parallel sectors, the university sector and the non-university sector comprising the polytechnics. The Finnish polytechnic system was built during the 1990s. It is founded on the institutions which previously provided post-secondary vocational education and which have been developed to form a nation wide network of regional institutions of higher education—polytechnics. There are 31 polytechnics, most of which are multi-field and operate in several units. Polytechnics carry out research and development which serve polytechnic education and support working life. This dissertation analyzes the background of the reform and the system of polytechnics, including educational provision, administration, funds, quality assurance and evaluation. Meanwhile, from data analysis of outcomes of polytechnics, this dissertation also provides some useful suggestions for higher vocational education in our country.This dissertation includes six parts.The first chapter is an introduction to the dissertation which explains the theoretical values and practical significance of the study. It also analyzes the achievements and shortcoming of the earlier studies on the topic, introduces the ways of thinking and research methods of the study, and defines the chief concepts and terms used in the dissertation.The second chapter reviewed the background of the reform. Firstly, it discussed the impact of International Higher Education Popularization. Then, it emphasizes the importance of the establishment of polytechnics from two aspects: domestic economic and social environment. Meanwhile, the implementation of Internationalization of Higher Education Policy and the sign of Bologna Declaration promote the development of polytechnics.The third chapter introduces the reform process. At the beginning of 1990s, the Ministry's proposal for the reform came as a surprise to the society. There were major doubts about the country's potential for creating professionally oriented institutes of higher education. The Government therefore proposed that the reform should begin with an experimental phase.The forth chapter discussed the system of polytechnics. In terms of structure, the polytechnics are network, regional and multidisciplinary. Polytechnics are maintained by municipalities, joint municipal boards, limited companies and foundations. The polytechnics receive three kinds of government funding: Core funding, Project funding, Performance-based funding. To assure the quality of their educational provision, the Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council evaluates the polytechnics.The fifth chapter elaborates the outcomes of the reform by analyzing the essential data on polytechnic activities from AMKOTA which has been developed by the Ministry of Education.The sixth chapter analyzes current situation of higher vocational education in our country, and the success of the Finnish reform will give us some valuable advice and enlightenment.