We are currently developing the documentation of statistics. At the moment, the content is not necessarily up-to-date in all respects.
Vocational education: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: Vocational education
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
The statistics have been discontinued. Statistics Finland produces statistics on vocational education annually. The preliminary statistics for the ongoing autumn that are specific for each educational institution, describe the total number of students at educational institutions offering vocational education on 20 September. The final statistics on vocational education contain data on new students, students and completers of qualifications for the calendar year. In accordance with the Statistics Act, the personal data from which these statistics are compiled are confidential. As a rule, the statistics produced from them are public.
Sector coverage (SIMS 3.3)
Statistical unit (SIMS 3.5)
Statistical population (SIMS 3.6)
Reference area (SIMS 3.7)
Time coverage (SIMS 3.8)
Base period (SIMS 3.9)
Unit of measure (SIMS 4)
Reference period (SIMS 5)
Classifications (SIMS 3.2)
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Curriculum-based basic vocational education
In the statistics on vocational education, curriculum-based basic vocational education refers to education for which a curriculum has been specified (targets, entity and scope of studies, core contents, assessment). Qualifications obtained in the education are initial vocational qualifications for which the required prior education is completion of the syllabus of comprehensive school education.
Education
An organised activity, the aim of which is to produce competence based on teaching. Comment: Education can be divided into education and training leading to a qualification or degree and non-qualification studies.
Educational institution
An educational institution refers to an administrative unit with a principal or other head, which has teachers and other personnel in its service (role of employers), and which is liable to keep books and compile other documentation, in which students are registered, whose activities are regulated by a legal act or decree, which follows a national curriculum, and which is financed and controlled by a public authority. An educational institution does not refer to a school building or facility. A new educational institution is established, an educational institution is abolished or merged with another educational institution at the decision of the organiser of education (maintainer of the educational institution) or a public authority. Statistics Finland has assigned an individualised educational institution ID to each educational institution. Educational institutions are classified according to a classification of types of educational institutions.
New student
New students in vocational education refer to students who become registered at the educational institution during the calendar year studying in initial vocational education, further vocational education and specialist vocational education.
Preparatory education for further vocational qualifications
In the statistics on vocational education, preparatory education for further vocational qualifications means education that is adult education and prepares for an examination for a further vocational qualification. A further vocational qualification can also be obtained without attending preparatory education. In an examination for a further vocational qualification the examinee demonstrates that he/she possesses the vocational skills required of a skilled worker.
Preparatory education for specialist vocational qualifications
In the statistics on vocational education, preparatory education for specialist vocational qualifications means education that is adult vocational education and prepares for an examination for a specialist vocational qualification. A specialist vocational qualification can also be obtained without attending preparatory education. In an examination for a specialist vocational qualification the student demonstrates command of the most demanding tasks in the field concerned.
Preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination
In the statistics on vocational education, preparatory initial vocational education for a skills examination refers to education in which the aim is the attainment of a vocational qualification by means of a skills examination. The scope of studies for initial qualifications is 180 credits, or three years. The education can be shorter than this as the student’s previous skills are taken into consideration. A skills examination can be passed without attending preparatory education for it by demonstrating in skills tests the knowledge and skills required for the attainment of vocational skills.
Programme leading to a qualification or degree; formal education
Programme leading to a qualification or degree refers to education comprising the comprehensive education syllabus, the general upper secondary education syllabus, the matriculation examination, the international diplomas, the Gymnasieexamen diploma, or education and training leading to an initial vocational qualification, a further vocational qualification, a specialist vocational qualification, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, a licentiate, a doctoral degree, or a specialist degree in veterinary medicine.
Provider of education
In the statistics on providers of education and educational institutions and in the statistics on vocational education, providers of education refer to bodies entrusted with the task of providing education. The task of provision of education is defined in law (comprehensive school education) or in a licence to provide education or maintain an educational institution granted by the Ministry of Education or similar public authority. Providers or education are usually municipalities, joint municipal boards, or private corporations or foundations. Statistics Finland has assigned an individual system ID for each provider of education.
Qualification or degree
An accomplishment in accordance with the requirements laid down by the education authority subject to an administrative decision.
Qualification/Degree
In the statistics on vocational education, a qualification refers to vocational secondary, post-secondary or tertiary level qualifications, and further and specialist vocational qualifications. The data on qualifications describe the full calendar year.
Student
Students in vocational education refer to students who are registered at the educational institution during the calendar year studying in initial vocational education, further vocational education and specialist vocational education.
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Legal acts and other agreements (SIMS 6.1)
Data sharing (SIMS 6.2)
Source data (SIMS 18.1)
Data validation (SIMS 18.4)
Data compilation (SIMS 18.5)
User needs (SIMS 12.1)
Overall accuracy (SIMS 13.1)
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information:
Quality assessment (SIMS 11.2)
Timeliness (SIMS 14.1)
Comparability - geographical (SIMS 15.1)
Comparability - over time (SIMS 15.2)
Coherence – cross domain (SIMS 15.3)
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Release calendar access (SIMS 8.2)
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data.
Further information: The terms of use for statistical data
Frequency of dissemination (SIMS 9)
News release (SIMS 10.1)
Online database (SIMS 10.3)
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (eur-lex.europa.eu) and the Finnish Data Protection Act (Finlex.fi) are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (Finlex.fi).
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection
Confidentiality - data treatment (SIMS 7.2)