Optima – the best Vocational Upper
Secondary school in Finland
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Optima was awarded the best Vocational Upper
Secondary Education and Training School in
Finland 2016 for the seventh time by the Ministry
of Education and Culture. Optima has previously
been ranked number one in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013,
2014 and in 2015. Our goal is to be number one
also in the future.
In the ranking evaluation attention is focused
on three measurement indicators: the outcome
indicator, the teacher competence indicator and
the staff development indicator. The outcome
indicator measures the number of completed
degrees as well as the number of students who
continue their studies or have found employment
after graduation. The teacher competence
indicator measures the proportion of formally
qualified teachers among all teachers and the
objective is that this proportion should be as high
as possible. Finally the staff development indicator
describes the education provider’s investment of
financial resources in developing and maintaining
their staff’s professional competence.
The targets of evaluation of performance have
been derived from the objectives that legislation
and the Ministry of Education and Culture specify
for vocational education and training.
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One of the major contributing factors to
Optima’s status as the best vocational institute
in Finland, as evaluated by the Ministry of
Education and Culture, lies in Optima’s good and
smooth cooperation with local enterprises. The
businesses/enterprises have faith in Optima’s
capabilities, and vice versa. The threshold
between education and work is low in the region,
and vocational education and training is highly
appreciated.
Primarily, this cooperation is manifested
through the Vocational Team and contacts
between the teachers and workplace instructors,
and through adult training courses and services
which are carried out together with the
enterprises. Further, Optima’s management and
the leading representatives of the enterprises
keep in touch and there are also networks
created in various development projects.
We believe that the key to a good cooperation
is found in personal contacts, trust, favourable
atmosphere for discussion, and unambiguous
communication. It is important that as many as
possible of Optima’s employees keep constantly
in touch with business and industries, on a
personal level. The same goes for students; they
are not only Optima’s customers but also its
ambassadors and, at the same time, marketers
of themselves and their own capabilities.
Optima’s Good Cooperation
with Business Enterprises
WELCOME TO OPTIMA
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