Evaluation of the vocational qualification in safety and security and further vocational qualification in the security sector

Objectives of the evaluation

The evaluation was carried out in 2024 and 2025. The aim of the evaluation was to provide information on how well students had achieved the competence requirements and competence objectives of the qualification criteria and what kind of competence they had for working life and further studies. It also examined the quality of the pedagogical activities of education and the VET providers.

Main results of the evaluation

Processes related to agreeing on the responsibilities for drawing up, updating and documenting students’ personal competence development plans were realised well among nearly all VET providers. Processes related to updating personal competence development plans during studies based on the individual needs of students were realised better in the opinion of VET providers than in the opinion of students. The participation of employer representatives in the drawing up of personal competence development plans as regards workplace education and training was identified as an area in clear need of development for both qualifications. Some workplace instructors also felt that educational institutions did not ensure that workplace instructors were aware of the objectives for workplace education and training recorded in students’ personal competence development plans. Several VET providers had room for improvement as regards the individual choices available to students.

Several providers of the further vocational qualification had room for improvement in identifying and taking into account students' prior learning when planning their studies, identifying support needs and designing learning environments suitable for studies. Many VET providers had room for improvement in monitoring, evaluating and developing the effectiveness of the personal competence development plan process in both qualifications.

The implementation of workplace competence demonstrations and the participation of employer representatives in the assessment of competence demonstrations are not realised in accordance with objectives in either qualification. Just under half of the competence demonstrations of the vocational qualification and just over a quarter of the competence demonstrations of the further vocational qualification were held at workplaces. The providers of both vocational and further vocational qualifications justified holding competence demonstrations at educational institutions on the basis of safety factors and the nature of the jobs in the sector. The holding of competence demonstrations at workplaces was also hindered in the case of the vocational qualification by the fact that students were underage and in the case of the further vocational qualification by a lack of suitable workplaces. Almost half of the grades of the competence demonstrations of the vocational qualification and of the further vocational qualification were decided without the input of employer representatives.

The average level of competence of vocational qualification in safety and security students based on grades awarded for competence demonstrations and common units is good. Cases in which assessment had been adapted or vocational competence requirements and key competence requirements had been derogated from were very rare. The key vocational strengths of vocational qualification in safety and security and further vocational qualification in the security sector graduates are versatile basic vocational competence and customer service and interaction skills. On the other hand, some students also have room for improvement in regard to these. There is also room for improvement in graduates' ability to write the various reports required in relevant jobs and in their ICT competence and language skills. Furthermore, there is room for improvement in students’ working life skills.

Dropping out is common in safety and security VET. Of the students who started studying for a vocational qualification in safety and security in 2021, half had graduated three years later. Similarly, of the students who started studying for a further vocational qualification in the security sector, 69% had graduated two years later. In both qualifications, a fifth of those who started studying had dropped out of VET completely.

On average, students are satisfied with the VET they received and felt that it improved their preparedness for transitioning to working life and operating in the labour market or pursuing further studies. Approximately half of the VET providers offering vocational and further vocational qualifications consider graduates to be sufficiently prepared for higher education.

In recent years, the employment situation of vocational qualification in safety and security graduates one year after graduation has been better than the employment situation of initial vocational qualification graduates on average. The employment rate of further vocational qualification in the security sector graduates has been roughly the same as that of further vocational qualification graduates on average. According to VET providers, the employment of graduates is promoted by employer-oriented VET, the good employer networks of VET providers and successful workplace education and training periods, as well as the customer service and interaction skills, attitude and motivation of students.

The end of the evaluation report presents development recommendations based on the results of the evaluation. The recommendations are related e.g. to the development of the working life orientation of VET and cooperation between VET providers and employers. The recommendations concerning student competence focus particularly on ensuring that students have the reporting, language, interaction and customer service skills needed in the labour market.

Publication and press release

• Publication: Vocational competence and pedagogical activities in the vocational qualification in safety and security and the further vocational qualification in the security sector (in Finnish, summary in English)
• Press release: Vocational qualification in safety and security graduates highly employable – but the drop-out rate of the studies is high

Other material produced in the evaluation

As part of the evaluation, FINEEC has produced various summaries. All materials have been published in Finnish and in in Swedish. You can find them here:

• Materials in Finnish
• Materials in Swedish