In a globalising world internationalisation and international competences are a basic factor for regional development. International competence can be strengthened through close cooperation at regional level and vocational education and training (VET) institutions play a key role in this.

There is broad demand for Finnish VET know-how. Aspects for which there is wide international interest are: reforming VET systems, use of educational technologies, development of vocational teacher education, field-based curricula and cooperation with the world of work. The biggest markets are in countries with developing economies in the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.

These are some of the conclusions that emerged from the conference on internationalisation in VET organised every year by the Finnish National Board of Education and the Centre for International Mobility and Cooperation (CIMO).

The 2013 event was organised in Jyväskylä with the Jyväskylä educational consortium on 5 and 6 November. The seminar gathered together more than 350 international coordinators, teachers and principals of VET institutions to learn, exchange ideas and network.