EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network

The Noste Programme

Introduction

The NOSTE PROGRAMME - eliminating the skill deficit using the "winwin" principle´.

Problem

The Noste Programme is intended as a significant social innovation for gradually upgrading poorly trained adults' chances in the labour market. Important forms of action are outreach services, studies alongside work, and regional cooperation between education and training providers, including advisory and guidance services. Closely associated with the implementation of the Noste programme is research, which will provide stimuli and ideas for further implementation.

Description

In 2003 the Ministry of Education launched a programme for raising the level of education and training among the adult population in Finland in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and social partners. The Finnish acronym for the programme is Noste.

The aim of the Programme, which will be implemented from 2003 to 2009, is to improve poorly trained adults' career prospects and satisfaction at work, to relieve the labour shortages due to the exit of the large post-war age groups from the labour market and to raise the employment rate.

The education and training offered within the scope of the Noste Programme are mainly intended for working adults aged between 30 and 59 who have no post-compulsory qualifications. The Programme can also be used to support people in completing their basic education. This form of action is intended for the age bracket 25 - 59.

There are some 350 000 Finns covered by the Noste Programme.

Approach

The means for achieving the objectives are

to encourage and support the target group in applying for education and training by means of information and other outreach advisory services
to improve their chances of gaining entry to ordinary publicly financed vocational training
to increase intakes in vocational programmes and 'computer driving licence' courses financed from other special funding
to increase provision geared to untrained adults in general and vocational adult education financed from the Noste appropriation.

In Noste training there are no course fees. The mature student only pays for the examination fee, which is € 50.50. There are no costs for the employer.

Resources used

The 2006 state budget includes an appropriation of € 30 million for the Noste Programme. This pays training for some 9300 mature students within the Programme. According to Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen's Government Programme, the aim is to extend the Programme to enable 10 000 students to start Noste training annually. There are outreach information and guidance services for encouraging and enabling the target group to apply for ordinary publicly funded training.

Contact info

Ministry of Education
Finland
Ms. Marja Pakaste (Project Manager)

Project start date

01/01/2003

Links

The Noste Portal (Finnish)

The Noste Programme (PDF, Eng, 62 KB)

The NOSTE PROGRAMME news 30.6.2006 (PDF, Eng, 57 KB)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Training

Keywords

Training for new professions, Vocational training