“Utbilding Nord has a long tradition of offering vocational training
for participants from Finland, Norway and Sweden. It is a unique
cooperation which we protect and which creates preconditions for
cross-border mobility,” says Sweden’s Minster for Labour Alva
Johansson.
On 19 October she signed the new agreement for the foundation
Utbilding Nordkalotten (Education Cap of the North), together with
Finland’s ambassador Jarmo Viinanen and Norway’s ambassador Kai Eide.
It will run until 2019.
The foundation Utbildning Nordkalotten is commonly known as
Utbildning Nord and sprang out of the Swedish labour market training
programme AMU in Övertorneå. The tradition of offering training for
youths coming from all over the Cap of the North runs back to 1970. The
training is offered in three languages, and is recognised in all three
countries. In 1991 the cooperation was formalised and has since been
renewed every four years. The responsibility for running the programme
alternates between the three countries every four years, and right now
Norwegian Sture Troli holds the directorship.
“The new agreement is the best one so far. It is concrete and we
have also gained the right to validate skills, for instance vocational
skills for newcomers. We are also very pleased that the countries still
want to contribute economically on the same level as before, which
gives us confidence to continue our work,” he says.
Each year 500 unemployed youths from Finland, Norway and Sweden
arrive in Övertorneå in Sweden’s Norrbotten region to begin one of the
32 vocational courses run by Utbilding Nord. They can become joiners,
tin smiths, waiters, chefs or electricians. Or assistant nurses,
certified web developers or computer programmers to mention but a few
of the vocations courses on offer. The students live in Övertorneå and
the school offers different kinds of housing depending on what you can
pay.
The courses are individually tailored and fulfil national standards
for the occupations in Finland, Sweden and Norway. Several of the
courses offer upper secondary education and businesses also have the
opportunity to tailor courses. Admission is individual and monthly. The
individuals’ needs and wishes decide which class they are put into.
“This mixes up students who have been attending the school for a
while and newcomers. It is a good symbiosis, where nationality or
language doesn’t matter,” says Sture Troli.
Each class is taught in four languages and students from the three
countries are mixed.
“What’s fantastic is that students from three countries are taught
together. This is unique internationally and it creates synergy because
they have to work together,” says Sture Troli.
Utbildning Nord enjoys an extensive international network, and
exchanges and work placements in other countries are commonplace. One
example is the “Kolarctic ENP” cooperation which recently concluded,
which also involved Russia. Several of the students and teachers spent
time at a Russian construction site.
“They really enjoyed the Russian hospitality and cooperation, and
want to return,” says Sture Troli.
The majority of the students come from the countries’ northern
parts, but more and more Swedes and Finns are now also coming from the
south. Students are also getting younger and the average age now is 35.
Many have little experience with working life. That makes teaching
extra challenging and the school is getting help from Tom Tiller,
Professor of pedagogy from the Arctic University of Norway. He has
written 75 books, and will help develop the adult education and
introduce the concept “learning by doing”.
Utbildning Nord also cooperates extensively with businesses and
trades. Ylva Johansson wants the new agreement to help facilitate this
cooperation further.
“We enjoy a good cooperation with businesses and trades already, but
we want to expand our network. This is a must and it is a way to use
practical work to open up working life to the students. There they can
learn what it means to work, and they get a chance to show what they
can do for potential employers,” says Sture Troli, who is pretty proud
to tell us that 60 percent of the students find work when they leave
the school.
