Keskuspuisto Vocational Institute

Keskuspuisto Vocational Institute is maintained by ORTON Invalid Foundation as an upper secondary level vocational special education institution and development centre for special needs education.

The Institute is located in the Ruskeasuo district of Helsinki and operates 22 additional learning units in the Greater Helsinki and Uusimaa region. Over 620 students participate annually in upper secondary education and adult vocational education and training.

The Institute has four educational tasks:

• We provide special education, rehabilitative instruction, and guidance for students with special needs.

• Keskuspuisto Vocational Institute is accredited by the Ministry of Education to provide instruction leading to a vocational upper secondary qualification in twelve different fields.

• We offer preparatory education for new immigrants to Finland.

• The Institute also serves as a development and service centre for special needs education.  

All of our activities further respect for life and enhancing human dignity. We are committed to providing individual service to our students and supporting our students’ goals in rehabilitation, life-long learning, and better management of their independent lives.

We provide each student an Individual Education Plan (IEP), flexible curricula, low instructor-to-student ratios in the classroom, and small study groups to facilitate learning.

Our goal is to equip Keskuspuisto Vocational Institute graduates with individually-tailored vocational skills, the desire for life-long learning, and ability to integrate into society as full, active members.

Rehabilitative instruction and guidance

An Individual Education Plan is drafted for each student taking into consideration the students’ strengths and interests. The IEP is intended to develop and support the students’ special education needs. The scope and content of the instruction and guidance are determined by the student’s current situation—their physical, mental, and social rehabilitation status—and their development possibilities. The objective is to plan suitable further studies or job placement that will enable the student to participate in independent life, employment, and studies to the best extent possible.

Preparatory training for vocational upper secondary education
(Preparatory 1), 40–120 credits

The aim of Preparatory 1 training is to provide the student with a realistic perspective of their study options, the availability of different occupations, and working life. Preparatory 1 instruction and guidance is intended to enhance the whole student by developing the student’s abilities in everyday life and life-management skills, learning how to acquire goal-oriented information, and improving their study techniques.

Training preparing for work and independent life
(Preparatory 2), 40–120 credits

Preparatory training for work and independent life is intended for students whose study abilities or life situation do not make it possible for them to undertake vocational education and training, although they do have the capacity to be placed in a job.

Preparatory 2 training is intended to provide each individual student with the knowledge and skills they need for job placement and working life, as well as the ability to cope with everyday life and work situations.

Education leading to a vocational upper secondary qualification, 120 credits

Vocational qualifications consist of vocational and general education studies and include compulsory, optional, and elective study modules in accordance with the curriculum of each sub-field, a minimum of 20 credits of on-the-job training, and a final project. The completion of a vocational qualification is expected to take three years. The evaluation is partly based on skills demonstrations.

The Keskuspuisto Vocational Institute offers Vocational Qualifications in the following fields:

• Audiovisual Communication, Media Assistant

• Vehicle Technology, Vehicle Mechanic

• Catering, Cook, Institutional Catering

• Metalwork and Machinery, Machinist Mechanical Fitter

• Household and Consumer Service, Household Services Entrepreneur

• Surface Treatment Technology, Painter

• Cleaning Services, Site Facilities Operative

• Technical Design, Design Assistant

• Electrical Engineering, Electronics Assembler

• Building Maintenance Technology, Property Maintenance Operative

• Dance, Dancer

• Upholstery, Upholsterer (traditional upholstery/vehicle upholstery)
  

Adult education

We offer adults basic, further and supplementary vocational education especially in the fields of upholstery and surface treatment technology. All the courses are designed to meet our students’ individual needs.

Preparatory training for vocational qualifications

The Institute also provides preparatory training for upper secondary further vocational qualifications and specialist vocational qualifications. The purpose of this preparatory training is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the vocational skills requirements of the competency test for the Vocational Qualification.

The orientation period may last from two days to two weeks, determined by the financial provider of the orientation. A referral for orientation can be obtained from KELA (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland), the employment office or an insurance company.

The student’s aptitude for an occupation is determined during this period by interviews and, if necessary, aptitude tests conducted by the institute’s psychologist. A teacher also assesses the student’s performance level based on tasks typical for an occupation. The psychologist drafts an assessment of the student during the orientation period based on the interviews, tasks and test results.

Experiencing independent life in a student dormitory

Students are provided excellent opportunities for independent living in our dormitory. The dormitory is located within the institute’s main campus next to Keskuspuisto Park and is intended for students who can manage independently. Each flat has a common kitchen, bathroom and toilet.

Leisure activities

Students are encouraged to participate in use various leisure activities. They have possibilities to use the school’s exercise hall, gym and swimming pool. The Institute also offers hobby clubs such as papiermâché, image treatment, surface treatment, upholstery or playing in bands.

Information about international co-operation, please contact:
liisa.metsola@keskuspuisto.net