Study title

Vocational School Student Survey 2024 (VET Student Survey)

Dataset ID Number

FSD3953

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3953
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3953

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Research Foundation for Studies and Education (Otus)
• National Union of Vocational Students in Finland

Abstract

The Vocational School Student Survey (VET Student Survey) 2024 is a total study charting experiences of young people studying in Finnish vocational education institutions. The survey was conducted by the Research Foundation for Studies and Education (Otus) in collaboration with the National Union of Vocational Students in Finland (SAKKI), which also funded the study with funding received from the Ministry of Education and Culture. Main themes of the survey included applying for studies, experiences relating to studies and teaching, financial circumstances, plans for the future and working life, and wellbeing and leisure time.

First, the respondents were asked about their studies at present with questions concerning, for instance, their field of education. Questions also surveyed how the respondents had entered their studies and also the respondents' decision to apply for vocational studies was examined. The respondents were also asked how they had performed in earlier education.

Next, respondents were asked about their experiences of studying. Among other things, they were asked about the time spent studying and the amount of different aspects of their current studies, such as face-to-face teaching, distance learning and on-the-job learning. Students were also asked about the challenges of studying, the teaching and guidance they received from the institution and their general experiences of the institution. In addition, respondents were asked questions about their personal competence development plan and views on study facilities and learning materials.

This was followed by statements about on-the-job learning and questions about progress and obstacles to studies and reasons for considering dropping out of studies. Next, respondents were asked about their employment during their studies, their financial situation and their living arrangements. In terms of leisure and well-being, respondents were asked about their health, friends and family, experiences of being bullied and sexual harassment. As regards to working life and future expectations, the survey asked about views on the time after graduation and the transition to working life. Respondents also assessed their own career aspirations. They were also asked about their intentions to continue studying after their current studies.

Background variables included the respondent's field of study, age, gender, mother tongue, as well as, parents' employment status and education level.

Keywords

education; educational institutions; expectation; labour and employment; leisure time; living conditions; occupational life; occupational training; students; teaching; upper secondary education; vocational education; well-being (health); well-being (society)

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Vocational education and training (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Vocational School Student Surveys

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Data Collector

• Research Foundation for Studies and Education
• National Union of Vocational Students in Finland

Funders

• Ministry of Education and Culture (OKM/2/521/2023)
• Industrial Union

Time Period Covered

2023 – 2024

Collection Dates

2023-11-27 – 2024-03-04

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Students in upper secondary level vocational education living in Finland (excluding the Åland Islands)

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Total universe/Complete enumeration

The study did not form a sample of individual respondents, but the questionnaire was shared with all vocational institutions providing education and training in continental Finland. The questionnaire was addressed to all young people and adult students who, at the time of the data collection, were completing a degree programme, further vocational qualification, specialist vocational qualification, preparatory education, other vocational education (e.g. TUVA, TELMA), or part of a degree or a shorter study module. Responses were received from a total of 83 education and training providers (58%) and 89 educational institutions (57%). In total, 15.580 students responded to the survey.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Data Version

1.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

Due to a technical error in the questionnaire, the year of birth filters and skips did not work. Respondent losses due to this error are shown in the Background information file.

The variables t_toimipaikka_kuntaryhma, t_toimipaikka_maakunta and t_toimipaikka_avi have been calculated on the basis of the location of the educational institution and do not have a direct match in the questionnaire.

A slightly shortened questionnaire was sent to the teacher or educational institution on request. In addition, the questionnaire was considerably shortened if the respondent indicated that they were completing preparatory studies (e.g. TUVA, TELMA). 181 students responded to the shortened questionnaire and 728 to the preparatory studies questionnaire. The full questionnaire was answered by 14.671 students, but in addition, the questionnaire was skipped according to: being 18 years or less in the year of data collection 2023, having started current studies in the autumn after primary school and having been in on-the-job learning. All questionnaires are combined in one file.

The researchers have anonymised the data. For identification reasons, the variable describing the mother tongue (a7_luokiteltu), the variable describing the duration of study (b15_luokiteltu), the variable describing the age (a5_luokiteltu), the variable describing the average of study grades (c28_luokiteltu) and the variable describing the field of education (Koulutusala1) have been classified.

All open-ended responses were removed from the data at FSD for identification reasons.

Weighting

The data contains a weight variable (paino_ika3_sp_kieli), which weights the data by age, gender and native language of the respondent.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Research Foundation for Studies and Education (Otus) & National Union of Vocational Students in Finland: Vocational School Student Survey 2024 (VET Student Survey) [dataset]. Data version 1.0 (2025-03-17). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3953; URN: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3953

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Materials

Amisbarometri 2024. Poimintoja tuloksista [Web document]. Cited 25.3.2025.

Related Publications

Varjo, Janne, Helander, Jaakko, Kalalahti, Mira, Murto, Virve (toim.) (2024). Elontila : Elinikäisen ohjauksen kansallinen arviointi 2023-2024. Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriön julkaisuja 2024:42. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-327-774-8