Multi-disciplinary cooperation solves matching sustainably - language-supported apprenticeship model

This article series presents cases of innovations built here in Espoo that strive for a better tomorrow for all.

There is a critical shortage of labor in early childhood education in Finland. Even though different languages and cultures are seen as an enrichment and resource in early childhood education, the lack of a common language poses challenges to interaction-oriented work. We emphasize our goal: to find employers interested in language-conscious employment. Thus, a language-supported apprenticeship model was implemented in multidisciplinary cooperation and Omnia and the City of Espoo piloted it in 2023 with successful results.

A new implementation round starts in autumn 2024. In the model, foreign-language speakers complete a basic qualification in education and guidance in the field of early childhood education and family work as apprenticeship training. With sufficient and timely support, the model helped bring a group of 15 foreign-language speakers with language proficiency level A2.2 (lower than the commonly required) to daycare centers sustainably and effectively – all participants in the group found employment as planned. The model also eases the employer’s workload as a 14-week orientation period is organized before the apprenticeship and the City of Espoo provides language training also during the apprenticeship.

A significant goal of the model is to increase language awareness in work communities and to improve the employer’s ability to hire foreign-language employees in the future. The language-supported apprenticeship model has been designed so that it is also suitable for other sectors, both in the public and private sectors, for vocational education and training level tasks.