According to the City Strategy, the City of Helsinki takes an active role in developing upper secondary education. The aim of the City of Helsinki's general upper secondary education, vocational education and training, liberal adult education services and Swedish-language education services is to create structures in 2024 to increase cross-institutional study opportunities for upper secondary school students.
In spring 2024, the City of Helsinki’s general upper secondary school education, Stadin AO, the Helsinki Adult Education Centre and Helsingfors arbis launched the planning of the model for cross-institutional studies. Cross-institutional studies were piloted on a small scale during the spring and summer, and the actual operations have now been piloted in the autumn.
More opportunities for vocational and general upper secondary school students
In cross-institutional studies, students of the City of Helsinki general upper secondary schools and Stadin AO can complete studies and courses that are not included in the study offer of their own educational institution. The aim is for upper secondary school students to be able to take advantage of the learning opportunities offered by cross-institutional studies as part of their own studies.
“The opportunity to influence the content of one’s studies improves students’ well-being and helps them achieve their learning potential. Another aim of cross-institutional studies is to facilitate students’ transition to further studies and strengthen their working-life skills. In the future, we aim to strengthen our cooperation with higher education and develop phenomenon-based study modules in cooperation between general upper secondary school education, Stadin AO and liberal adult education. The aim is to invest in cross-cutting phenomena such as foresight ability, belief in the future, sustainable development and entrepreneurship,” says Tarja Aro-Kuuskoski, Head of General Upper Secondary Education at the City of Helsinki.
A diversified study offer opens new opportunities for developing one’s expertise
General upper secondary school students have already engaged in cross-institutional studies by taking courses related to seafaring, investing and well-being, as well as studies that support working-life skills. Students at Stadin AO, on the other hand, have had the opportunity to choose from more than 400 courses in different subjects offered by the online general upper secondary school and Konepaja Upper Secondary School for Adults. For students of Stadin AO, special emphasis will be placed on offering a wide range of languages and study modules that strengthen further study skills.
In addition, new joint studies have been created for general upper secondary school and Stadin AO students, in which co-teaching is piloted. For example, the Vuosi Yrittäjänä Intro (‘Year as an Entrepreneur’) module is a great example of cooperation and pedagogical co-creation. The module is based on a material package created by Junior Achievement Finland and is implemented by teachers from Konepaja Upper Secondary School and the Stadin AO entrepreneurship education team.
“We consider it important for the City of Helsinki to invest in the development of the accessibility of education and diverse learning opportunities especially now, with the expansion of compulsory education. The city wants to better serve the learners of the city’s educational institutions and their different needs, as well as support learners in integrating into their studies. Enabling cross-institutional studies for upper secondary school students will improve equality and broaden future prospects,” thinks Harri Korhonen, Head of General Upper Secondary, Vocational and Liberal Adult Education at the City of Helsinki.
“Cross-institutional studies are also an excellent way to diversify our study offer and improve the accessibility of education cost-effectively,” Korhonen adds.
Aro-Kuuskoski emphasises the commitment of general upper secondary schools, Stadin AO and the Helsinki Adult Education Centre to the development of cross-institutional studies. A large number of specialists from the Education Division and schools have participated in the development work and made a significant contribution to the creation of the cross-institutional studies model.
“I’m particularly proud that students from both general upper secondary school and Stadin AO have been involved in the planning of the cross-institutional studies offer from the very beginning. A crucial factor for the success of the model has been our enthusiastic and competent staff in general upper secondary schools, Stadin AO, the Helsinki Adult Education Centre and Helsingfors arbis,” Aro-Kuuskoski concludes.
