EDUCATION
Finland is a well-educated country. Finland has almost a 100% attendance rate for the nine years of compulsory education. Twenty universities and twenty-two poly-technical institutes (or experimental AMKs) provides higher education. In 1995 Finland had 135,000 students attending the universities. 9,800 master's degrees and over 1,500 doctorates were conferred in 1995. Fifty-three percent of the students are female. The literacy rate is just shy of 100%.
Distance education became a central point of adult education after the mid-eighties. Twenty percent of students in open learning courses participate in distance learning. This percentage is constantly increasing. Education is seen as an integral part of Finnish society as it enables advancement in research. Research and technological advances are viewed as the driving factors for prosperity in Finland.
Link to some of Finland's Universities here: EDUFI
EMPLOYMENT
The work force of Finland numbers 2.5 million. Unemployment has been a problem in Finland, falling at about 17% in early 1996. The employed work force of two million is distributed through the following sectors:
COMPUTER MAGAZINES AND TRADE FAIRS
Computer technology magazines: Tietokone, Prosessori, Mikrobitti, Tietoviikko
Commercial Newspapers: Kauppalehti, Tekniikka ja talous
Associations: Tietotekniikan Liitto, Tietojenk sittelyn Palveluyritysten Liitto
The latest in communications technology is presented every other year at the HiTech Trade Fair in Tampere. The Elkom-Eltek trade fair for electronic components and electronic industry products is held every two years. The latest in information technology is presented every two years at the Kt-Data Fair, an international event.
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Last Update: 2 May 1997