About YA!
Yrkesakademin i Österbotten, YA!Vocational Education and Training ( in Swedish shortened as YA!) was formed on the 1st of January, 2009 when three earlier educational organizations (The Swedish Vocational Institute, Korsnäs Kurscenter and Vocana) merged into one. Our non-profit organization is the biggest vocational school in the Swedish-speaking parts of Finland. The strength of YA! is that we have good and sound knowledge within the field of vocational education (for both young people and adults). Our educational programmes are planned and developed together with labour market specialists to give our students a sound base for the labour market.
We educate youngsters as well as adults within the following educational programmes:
- Technology, Communications and Transport
- Natural Science
- Natural Resources and the Environment
- Tourism, Catering and Domestic Services
- Social Services, Health and Sports
- Culture
- Humanities and Pedagogical Skills
- Social Science, Business Economics and the Administrative Area
Our school arranges education in 10 different locations in the region of Ostrobothnia. Currently we have 2500 students doing their studies and 300 people as our staff.
YA! has been and still is taking part in many international networks. Before the three organizations merged together the Swedish Vocational Institute had a successful international department with long project experience within the ‘Lifelong Learning Programme’ and the ‘Nordplus’ programmes. We have co-ordinated and been part of different European and Nordic projects such as ‘Visually Impaired Masseurs’, ‘SUNRISE’, ‘Culture in Nursing’ and Green Values (Gröna rum).
We see our international activities as a spring-board for our vocational students
to help them become more skilled and professional in their work. Our staff can also
gain more experience in their line of work via our international contacts.
