The Finnish system of education has for the past ten years offered adult students an opportunity to complete vocational qualifications in the form of practical, competence-measuring examinations. At the moment there are about 350 vocational qualifications available, and these are divided based on standard of demand: basic vocational qualification, vocational qualification and specialised vocational qualification.

For companies the vocational qualifications offer a sound option of developing the competencies of personnel. Also, they serve as a channel for recruiting new employees. The basics and substance of these qualifications are created in cooperation between employers, employees and educational specialists. A typical feature of the vocational qualifications of the chemical industry is that the substance of training leading to a degree is individually defined. This way the needs of both the company and the student are given due attention.

From the viewpoint of the chemical industry the following vocational qualifications are among the most important ones:

- basic degree in laboratory science, laboratorians
- basic degree in chemical technology
- vocational qualification in chemical industry
- specialist vocational qualification in chemical industry


For companies in the plastics industry the necessary competencies are provided for example by the following qualifications:

- basic degree in plastics and rubber technology
- vocational qualification for plastics mechanicians
- specialist vocational qualification in plastics technology

The chemistry-related vocational qualifications have received positive feedback. Various companies in the chemical industry have launched training projects with the aim of giving the employees a chance to demonstrate and enhance their competencies. For funding many companies have made use of the apprenticeship model. The number of basic and qualification-based degrees in the chemical industry is over 1,300 and rising. Some 500 plastics technology degrees have been completed, and the number of degrees completed in laboratory sciences is about 100 and growing steadily.