Recipes for Systemic Change - Helsinki Design Lab

Academic PressureEven though Finnish students typically attend fewer hours in class andhave less homework than their European counterparts, academic anxietypersists. Students fear the social stigma believed to accompany failure tosucceed.➢ Matriculation examination: 7% failed nationwide in 2007Economic PressureYoung people are not entirely insulated from the pressures felt in wakethe global economic crisis and the increasingly competitive job market.Higher degrees are understood to improve one’s employment prospects andpotential earnings; however extending one’s education beyond the averagelength of time needed to complete a degree or qualification may also havenegative effects on one’s late entry into adulthood.The job market is tight, especially for younger job-seekers:SourceStatisticsFinland,Labour forcesurvey 2009,DecemberUnemployment (Dec 2009) All 15-64 Youth 15-24Total 8,30% 20,30%Men 9,00% 22,40%Women 7,60% 18,40%Despite financial aid, an increasing number of students eighteen andolder are employed seek part-time work while pursuing an educationalqualification or degree:Education by sector (2007) Students Employedstudents% Students % Increase(2006-2007)Upper secondary general education 48.359 15.286 31,6 1,8Vocational education 212.322 131.862 62,1 3,5Polytechnic education 133.264 77.925 58,5 2,7University education 176.298 107.427 60,9 1,8SourceEducationStatistics,StatisticsFinlandTotal 570.243 332.500 58,3 2,7165