Evaluation of the Pilot for Operational Steering in Vocational Education and Training (VET)

To develop the steering of vocational education and training, the Ministry of Education and Culture will launch a pilot to be implemented between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2033. The pilot for operational steering is part of the reform of vocational education and training in accordance with the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government.

The aim of the pilot is to improve the quality and effectiveness of vocational education and training through a new steering model. At the same time, the regulatory framework for education provision will be streamlined to reduce the administrative burden and regulatory load for VET providers and education authorities. The pilot also seeks to strengthen cooperation between vocational education and the labour market so that education better meets labour market needs. A total of 40 VET providers will participate in the pilot.. 

FINEEC evaluates the pilot 

The Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) will evaluate the pilot for operational steering throughout its duration, from the start of the pilot until its conclusion in 2033. In spring 2025, FINEEC evaluated and scored the applications submitted by VET providers seeking to participate in the pilot.

In autumn 2025, FINEEC will launch the evaluation of the pilot. The evaluation will monitor and assess the fulfilment of the objectives of the pilot, the implementation of the negotiation procedure between VET providers and the Ministry, and the overall effectiveness and impact of the pilot.. 

Application Process and Evaluation of Applications 

A total of 85 VET providers applied to participate in the pilot.

A pilot permit may be granted to an applicant who, taking into account the purpose of the pilot, demonstrates:

• justification for applying to the pilot;
• the capacity to change and renew its operations;
• operational capability to organise qualifications and education appropriately;
• sufficient cooperation with the labour market and business sector within its operating area; and
• adequate quality management procedures.

In addition, the VET provider must have the financial capacity to organise qualifications and education appropriately.

The evaluation and scoring of the applications was carried out by an evaluation group appointed by the Director of the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC). The panel consisted of experts from FINEEC and external specialists. The members of the evaluation panel were: 

• Pekka Auvinen, Former Vice-Rector (retired), Karelia University of Applied Sciences.
• Riina Nousiainen, Senior Advisor, STTK
• Suvi Pulkkinen, Senior Advisor, Finland Chamber of Commerce
• Jani Goman, Counsellor of Evaluation, FINEEC
• Mirella Harri, Counsellor of Evaluation, FINEEC
• Raisa Hievanen, Senior Evaluation Advisor, FINEEC

The independence of the evaluators was ensured. The members of the group were selected based on their expertise, and they did not represent, for instance, their employer or the interests of their employer in the group.

All applications were evaluated using consistent criteria, and each application was assessed by at least two evaluators, one of whom was always a FINEEC expert. A separate description of the evaluation process has been published.

FINEEC submitted the results of the evaluation – the total score of each application and the scores for each sub-area – to the Ministry of Education and Culture on 19 June 2025. Information on their own results was provided to the applicants during week 26. Based on the scoring, the Ministry decided on the VET providers selected for the experiment on 23 October 2025. In making its decision, the Ministry also had to ensure that the selected providers would constitute a sufficiently diverse network of providers in terms of geographical distribution, number of students, national languages, range of qualifications, and ownership structure.

Further information

• Counsellor of Evaluation Jani Goman, firstname.lastname@karvi.fi, tel:+358 29 533 5505
• Senior Evaluation Advisor Raisa Hievanen, firstname.lastname@karvi.fi, tel:+358 29 533 5542