Promoting the attractiveness of the technology industry
The Federation of Finnish Technology Industries works actively to increase the attractiveness of both technology industry companies and professions in the sector. The goal is to encourage students, teachers, parents and other people already in employment to see a career in the technology industry as a good choice. Students and teachers in primary and secondary education are the main target groups.
The primary objective of the Federation is to increase students’ awareness of the technology industry and improve the image of the sector by using, for example, social media. As a result, the Federation hopes that young people will have a positive attitude towards education for a career within the industry.
Secondly, the Federation aims to encourage students to choose a technology related study path and ultimately a profession in the technology industry.
Activities
The Federation:
- Provides information on professions and related study paths for teachers and young people. See e.g. www.opiskelijaboxi.fi, www.openet.fi
- Promotes collaboration between companies, schools and universities and provides material and methods to support this.
- Promotes young people´s interest in science, mathematics and technology education by producing teaching/learning materials and supporting industry-university co-operation in teacher education and training. See e.g. www.helsinki.fi/luma, www.scifest.fi
- Works to enhance the image of the sector.
One example of a learning method for teaching technology in primary schools is the This Works! technology competition, which provides students in primary schools with the opportunity of learning through innovation. In small teams, students invent and design a moving toy, keep a diary of their work and create advertising for their invention. In 2011 nearly 21 000 students participated in the competition.
The winning team from Kirkonkylä elementary
school, Ylihärmä, in the This Works! technology
competition.
Further information:
Pirkko Pitkäpaasi, adviser, tel. +358 9 192 3372 or +358 40 569 2485.
Birgitta Ruuti, adviser, tel. +358 9 192 3365 or +358 40 581 8603.
The e-mail address is in the format: firstname.lastname@techind.fi
