Visit to Ylivieska

On the second day, we visited the JEDU vocational training center in Ylivieska. This center is currently expanding its facilities to relocate the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) program from Nivala.

The construction work is being carried out with the involvement of students from various vocational fields, including construction, interior design, electricity, plumbing, and ICT.

We were accompanied by Hannu Haikara, who explained the purpose of the expansion and showed us students performing tasks related to network cabling in the new facilities.

Next, we met with faculty members from Centria University, including Marja-Liisa Kaakko, Hanny Leppälä, and Henry Paananen.

This university is located within the same facility owned by JEDU, which rents the space to them.

Henry Paananen, a professor of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), explained the Finnish educational system and how the different ICT specializations are integrated into this framework.

He described the various specialties they offer, their common subjects, and the specific ones related to each specialization.

After that, Liisa Kaakko and Henry Leppälä guided us through the ICT facilities, where professor Sami Sarlin led a tour and showed us the different sections and projects related to robotics, computer vision, and drones at the university.

Finally, Hannu Haikara took us to the Koulutuskeskus building of JEDU, where we visited the facilities for studies in nursing, private security, and audiovisual production.

On the third day, early in the morning, we met Kirsi Peltola, the Erasmus+ coordinator at JEDU.

Next, we took part in a class with Timo Junnila, where he showed us the specific materials used for each of his English lessons, adapted to the different vocational training branches he teaches.

Afterward, together with Eliisa Pihlaja-Vihelä and Timo Junnila, we visited one of the construction sites where students carry out their practical training.
They explained that the center either purchases or rents a plot of land, on which students build houses that are later put up for sale. The proceeds are then used to buy new materials and continue the cycle.
Design students draw up the plans, machinery students lay the foundations, construction students build the structure, interior design students do the painting and finishes, and students from the electricity and plumbing programs take care of the electrical systems, plumbing, and ventilation, etc.

This working method allows students to engage in a real-world project, while also benefiting both the center and society. The buyer of the house pays a price below market value, and students see how their work has a direct and practical purpose.

After lunch, we met with Tina Kiviranta, coordinator of JEDU’s entrepreneurship project. It was a very interesting talk in which she explained how students are encouraged to become entrepreneurs.

The system works as follows:

• Students launch a business with an initial capital ranging between €10 and €100.

• They are responsible for purchasing the materials they need for their activity.

• They can use the school’s facilities and machinery to carry out their business.

• They are covered by liability insurance.

• For one year, if they generate up to €20,000 in revenue, they are exempt from paying taxes.

• Their invoices are not subject to VAT, which simplifies paperwork when declaring earnings.

Finally, we held a video conference with Kirsi Peltola and Anna-Lisa Kangas-Rautio, an information systems engineer, who is responsible for the design and maintenance of JEDU’s internal applications. Her work is closely linked to the definition of document and information processes, as part of the internal and external quality management system.

On the fourth day of our visit, we went to the JEDU center in Haapajärvi.

At this center, we were welcomed by the director, Timo Seppälä, and Maija Salminen, an English teacher.

Mr. Timo gave us a tour of the center, explaining that this campus offers vocational training programs in forest management, livestock management, information technology, web application design (what we would call DAW), and business administration.

He showed us the area where they manage the cattle farm, which is largely automated (milking, cleaning up, and animal health monitoring).

Afterward, we were shown the hardware simulators used for forestry management. Finland is a major consumer of wood, and the demand for domestic timber has increased due to the war in Ukraine, as Finland no longer imports Russian wood.

Next, we visited the IT facilities, where professor Janna Rautio explained the projects that students were working on at that moment. We then exchanged views on the most suitable technologies for web development. They are currently using a PHP environment with Laravel and native JavaScript.

Finally, we attended a class where we gave a presentation, explaining where we came from, the cultural features of Ibiza, its most important beaches and coves, the location of our school, and the type of students we have.

In the afternoon, we went on a hiking excursion and roasted sausages—a very typical activity in the local culture. We were accompanied by Hannu Haikara, who showed us the area's features and local wildlife.

Visit to Kalajoki with Kirsi Peltola
Kirsi kindly accompanied us on a visit to this tourist destination.
She explained that the bay usually freezes over, and icebreakers are used to clear the way for commercial ships.
In the photos, we can see some remaining chunks of ice in the background.

With this activity, we concluded our Job Shadowing experience in Nivala (Finland).
We would like to express our gratitude to all the people who have guided us, informed us, listened to us, and looked after us during this incredible experience.