Pandemic gives rise to a new kind of Taitaja competition

The coronavirus pandemic changed the way the national skills competition Taitaja is implemented. The semifinals were organised in a new, divided way and so will be the competition finals in May. Unfortunately, we cannot include international competitors in the finals, but it is possible to participate in the online seminars and events from abroad.

Taitaja2021 semifinals have been organised in vocational institutes around Finland. 1520 vocational student registered for the semifinals and accomplished their semifinal tasks in their own schools. The best of the semifinals will continue to the finals in May. Competition results will be published in Taitaja2021 website during February, as soon as they are confirmed.

–The skills shined in semifinals despite the pandemic. The semifinal conditions in different skills varied quite much, but every vocational institute gave their best in organising the semifinals. Competitors were motivated and the fairness of the competition was carefully considered, estimates the competition director of Taitaja2021 Oulu, Sauli Jaara.

Taitaja2021 Oulu event is available online

Due to the pandemic, Taitaja2021 Oulu event will be organized in a new way on May 18^th to 20^th. Instead of one big public event, the competition will be organised in vocational institutes around northern Finland. The audience is welcome to participate in the livestream event virtually from Finland and abroad.

Taitaja competition is Finland’s biggest event in vocational education and training where under 22-year-old students compete Finnish championships in vocational skills. There are 46 different skills, including three TaitajaPLUS skills for students with special needs. The event also features Taitaja9 competition for students in upper comprehensive school to compete in craftmanship. Taitaja9 will be organised as a virtual game. In addition, the program includes a webinar in Finnish, an international webinar and other side events.

Taitaja2021 Oulu event is organised by Educational Consortium OSAO together with Vocational College Lappia, Luovi Vocational College, Brahe Education Centre, Vocational Education Centre JEDU, Lapland Education Centre REDU, Oulu College of Services OPAO and Diakonia College of Finland. In addition, there are several other partners. The organisation behind the Taitaja brand is Skills Finland.