Perceptions of Vocational Education: Adult Students in Vocational Education 2018

The survey charted the perceptions and opinions of adult students in vocational upper secondary education regarding vocational education and training in Finland. Main themes included, among others, reasons behind the respondents' choice of vocational education or training, perceptions of how general and vocational upper secondary education are appreciated, and opinions on studying. The study was commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Culture and Skills Finland. Data collection was conducted by IROResearch. First, opinions on studying were examined with various statements concerning, for example, whether the respondents thought that studying was interesting, working was more interesting than studying, and their employer was interested in how they succeeded in their studies. Factors affecting the respondents' choice of vocational education or training (e.g. wanting to have a job with good pay, needing additional education in order to stay in the workforce, location of the school/education facility, uncertain financial circumstances) were also surveyed. The respondents were asked how interesting different educational paths had been for them personally when they applied to vocational education or training (e.g. preparatory education for upper secondary vocational education and training (VALMA), competence-based qualification). The respondents' primary field of education (e.g. humanities and arts, natural sciences, information and communication technologies) was surveyed. Finally, the perceived usefulness of the respondents' studies in their future as well as their satisfaction in their education were examined with some attitudinal statements (e.g. whether they thought their upper secondary education would be useful in their future work and whether they would choose a different path of education if they could reapply). Background variables included the language used to conduct the interview, the respondent's gender, age, region of residence (NUTS3), municipality of residence, highest level of education, occupation group, whether they had ever been unemployed and whether they had received any special support in their studies during the past two years.