Research on Career Planning Education in Finland

Abstract

Since the 1970s, Finland has integrated career planning education into compulsory basic education, establishing a vertically integrated system spanning from basic education to adult education. In the basic education stage, the focus lies on self-awareness, utilizing diversified career exploration activities to achieve career enlightenment. During secondary education, modular courses and a credit system are implemented, emphasizing student autonomy through personalized curricula and diverse guidance systems. In higher education, career orientation is refined through industry-academia-research collaboration and international perspectives. Adult education caters to diverse groups, supporting lifelong development via flexible learning models and a qualification certification framework. The Finnish system, rooted in educational equity, exhibits four key features: systematic early intervention, adaptability to individual differences, practice-oriented relevance, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. This framework has significantly enhanced the appeal of vocational education, optimized resource allocation, clarified individual career goals, and facilitated social mobility. However, challenges persist, including structural shifts in the labor market and societal cognitive biases toward vocational education. Drawing on these insights, China should promote early and lifelong career planning education, strengthen cross-sector collaboration and practical flexibility, integrate information-based resources, and build a modern career planning system tailored to local needs. This approach could alleviate conflicts in academic-vocational streamlining and cultivate interdisciplinary talent.