Evaluation of the vocational qualification in natural and environmental protection and the futher vocational qualification in nature-based services

Objectives of the evaluation

The evaluation was carried out in 2023 and 2024. The aim of the evaluation was to provide information on how well students had achieved the competence requirements and competence objectives of the qualification criteria and what kind of competence they had for working life and further studies. It also examined the quality of the pedagogical activities of education and the VET providers.

Main results of the evaluation

The majority of VET providers evaluated that their processes related to pedagogical activities are being realised well in their education and training. Processes related to agreeing on the responsi­bilities for drawing up, updating and documenting students’ personal competence development plans and the updating of personal competence development plans during studies based on the individual needs of students are realised well among nearly all VET providers in both qualifica­tions. However, there is room for improvement in the development of the personal competence development plan process on the basis of monitoring and evaluation in both qualifications. Furthermore, several VET providers have room for improvement in terms of involving employers in the drawing up of personal competence development plans as regards learning during employ­ment, especially in the context of the vocational qualification.

The objective of having the student, the teacher and the workplace instructor agree on the goals of workplace education and training before it begins is realised no better than moderately among just over one tenth of vocational qualification providers and a quarter of further vocational qualification providers. Education and guidance that corresponds to the needs of the student is realised well in vocational units by all the VET providers. However, just over a quarter of vocational qualification providers and over a third of further vocational qualification providers evaluated that guidance and support that corresponds to the needs of the student during workplace education and training is realised only moderately. There is also room for improvement in the monitoring of the development of students’ competence in different learning environments in the context of both qualifications. 

In the context of both qualifications, there is variation between VET providers, competence areas and qualification units as to how many competence demonstrations are performed at the work­place. In both qualifications, more than half of competence demonstrations are carried out at the workplace, with a third being carried out at educational institutions. The VET providers justify carrying out a relatively high share of competence demonstrations at the educational institution particularly by a shortage of workplaces suitable for competence demonstrations. According to the VET providers, qualification units are very broad in scope, making it difficult to find suitable workplaces for competence demonstrations. Although legislation requires the grades of compe­tence demonstrations to be primarily decided collaboratively by a teacher and an employer repre­sentative, more than one third of competence demonstrations performed in the context of the vocational qualification and approximately one fifth of competence demonstrations performed in the context of the further vocational qualification have been assessed without an employer representative.

The competence of vocational qualification in natural and environmental protection students is very good when measured based on grades awarded for vocational and common qualification units. In both vocational and common units, the most commonly awarded grade is excellent (5). Competence related to sustainable development was evaluated as one of the key competences of both vocational qualification and further vocational qualification graduates. The graduates of both qualifications have room for improvement especially in entrepreneurship, digital skills and communication and interaction skills. 

On average, students were very satisfied with their education and training, with the majority also feeling that their education and training improved their preparedness to enter the employment market or pursue further studies. However, just over a tenth of the students of both qualifica­tions were dissatisfied with their opportunities to study at the workplace. According to the VET providers, the factors that contribute the most to students finding employment are employment experience, successful work experience periods and broad field-specific competence.

Publication and press release

• Professional competence and pedagogical activities in the vocational qualification in natural and environmental protection and the further vocational qualification in nature-based services
• Press release: Calls for closer cooperation with employers in VET in the field of natural and environmental protection and nature-based services

Other material produced in the evaluation

As part of the evaluation, FINEEC has produced various summaries. All materials have been published in Finnish and in in Swedish. You can find them here:

• Materials in Finnish
• Materials in Swedish