Prodly Professional – Top professionals meet in Taitaja2024 event

Taitaja2024 secretariat. Competition Director Petteri Makkonen in the middle in the front row.

The annual Taitaja event for top skilled vocational students will be held in Kuopio from May 20-23, 2024. The responsible organizer of the event is Savo Vocational College, Savo Educational Consortium.

We have designed the event in accordance with the principles of a safe event, so that all participants, guests, and staff can participate with a good, joyful, and safe mind. Everyone has the right to mental and physical integrity.

The event themes include the development of virtuality, the green transition and sustainability shift in working life, low-carbon circular economy, and cooperation with regional actors. These themes are incorporated into all event programs and skills from ideation to implementation. The "Try It Yourself" points alongside the competition and the simulator world invite visitors to test their own knowledge and skills.

The Taitaja2024 event consists of many different programs: the Finnish National Skills Competition, the Taitaja9 competition, domestic and international seminars, an event market for partners, and career paths for middle school students and those interested in professions. More information about all of these can be found on the Taitaja2024.fi website.

At Taitaja2024, approximately 50 categories will be competed in for the Finnish championships. In total, there are over 500 competitors, including those in the Taitaja9 competition. There are nearly 40 international competitors, with the furthest coming from Singapore. The interest of international competitors in the Taitaja2024 event pleasantly surprised us.

Competitors can be seen in action at Kuopio-halli and the Savilahti campus of Savon Vocational College. The distance between the locations is about 2 km, which can be covered by a free NonStop bus or by walking along a guided sustainability path. Three categories are implemented remotely, allowing the profession to be explored in the competition area at Kuopio-halli.

For over two years, work has been done for the event, and the slogan"Proudly Professional" has guided our efforts on the shared Taitaja journey. The event has over 300 partners: companies, other educational organizers, associations, and regional stakeholders. All the event partners have contributed their expertise; otherwise, an event of this magnitude would not be possible.

A significant part of the event preparations has been the staff and students of Savo Vocational College. As part of their education, they have been involved in the initial preparations and familiarized themselves with the tasks of the event week. Many negotiations and changes were part of the journey towards the Taitaja2024 event week. We have gained many good experiences and lessons for the future.

Dear vocational education professionals and representatives of stakeholders: you are warmly welcome to the Taitaja2024 event in Kuopio!

Let's be proudly professional!

Petteri Makkonen
Competition Director, Taitaja2024 Kuopio