About competitions

The Finnish national team participates each year in either the EuroSkills or WorldSkills competitions. The Abilympics competition, which is for professionals requiring special support, is held every four years.

Participating in competitions is an excellent way to develop the expertise of the personnel of the education organisers, offer students individual learning paths and also develop the operational activities of the entire organisation. Once the competition activities are recorded in the education organiser’s strategy, implementing them in the daily life of vocational education is flexible and goal-oriented. Vocational skills competitions increase the appeal of and appreciation for vocational education.

WorldSkills

The next WorldSkills competition will be organised in Lyon, France, on 10-15 September 2024.

The WorldSkills competition is an international vocational skills competition for young people that is held every two years. The competition decides the world champion for around 50 different skills categories representing a range of vocational education and training sectors. In most of the skills categories, the competitors must be aged under 23 during the competition year. The rights to organise the WorldSkills competitions are granted by WorldSkills International.

Skills Finland joined WorldSkills International (formerly IVTO) in 1988. The following year, the Finnish team participated in the WorldSkills competition in Birmingham. With the exception of WorldSkills 1989, Finland has won medals every time. Finland hosted the WorldSkills Competition in Helsinki on 26–29 May 2005.

The Official Delegate of Finland is the Chair of Skills Finland, Head of Education Services Marja Vartiainen from Vantaa Vocational College Varia. The Technical Delegate is Skills Finland’s Technical Manager and Turku Vocational Institute's Director of Service District Hannu Immonen.

Finland’s goal in the WorldSkills competitions is the development of Finnish Excellence in Skills and the internationalisation of vocational education and training.

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EuroSkills

The next EuroSkills competition will be organised in Herning, Denmark, on 9-13 September 2025.

Held every other year, the EuroSkills competition is the European vocational skills championship. In EuroSkills, vocational students and those who have already received their qualifications test their mettle in around 50 different skills categories. The competition emphasises team-based skills categories and new professions. Competitors must be aged between 18 and 25. Team Finland has participated EuroSkills since the first competition in 2008.

Skills Finland has been a member of WorldSkills Europe (formerly ESPO) since its establishment in 2007. Finland is one of the founding members of WorldSkills Europe.

Finland's Official Delegate is Skills Finland's Chief Training Manager Teija Ripattila. Finland's Technical Delegate is Lecturer / Project Manager Vesa Iltola from Jyväskylä Educational Consortium Gradia.

Finland’s goal in the EuroSkills competitions is the development of Finnish excellence in skills and the strengthening of European cooperation in vocational education and training.

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International Abilympics

The next Abilympics competition will be organised in Helsinki, Finland, in May 2027.

Vocational skills competitions for disabled people and professionals requiring special support promote worldwide awareness and appreciation of vocational special needs education and increase cooperation between educational institutions and workplaces. There is no age limit for the competition. The international Abilympics competition is held every four years.

Skills Finland joined International Abilympic Federation in 2005. Finland participated in the Abilympics competition for the first time in Japan in 2007. The official representative of Skills Finland at the International Abilympic Federation, and member in Executive Committee of IAF, is Development Director Petteri Ora from Kiipula Foundation.

Finland’s goal in the International Abilympics is the development of excellence in vocational special needs education skills and the strengthening of internationalisation.