Wishing you success with your studies, future professionals!
Summer is drawing to a close. Primary and secondary school students have returned to school this week, and the academic year at higher education institutions will begin a little later. The start of the school year is particularly exciting for those embarking on something new: first grade, middle school, upper secondary education, or entirely new studies.
Learning and education are important to us in the chemical industry for many reasons. We have actively ensured that every young person graduating from any level of education or studies gains the best possible skills and enough support to progress toward working life. We place particular emphasis on STEM skills, especially in science and mathematics.
The chemical industry is committed to becoming a carbon-neutral and nature-positive sector by 2035, and achieving this goal requires skilled professionals. For example, we need process operators and laboratory technicians to produce materials for batteries and medicines. We need engineers to lead the constantly evolving processes of the industry. We need researchers to explore how fuel production can become even more sustainable and where we can source enough electricity for hydrogen production. At the core of all these industrial tasks are STEM skills, often specifically in chemistry or physics.
As an industry, we also want to offer practical learning opportunities in the form of summer jobs and internships. We have been proud that many companies this summer have had not only traditional student summer workers but also young people gaining their first experiences in the workforce. We also actively collaborate with schools, vocational institutions, and higher education. Essential professionals for us graduate from a variety of educational institutions, and the expertise required in chemistry is top-notch, whether it is vocational or academic.
It is crucial that we are willing to invest sufficiently in developing STEM skills. It is great that the additional math class for second grade was implemented and that the STEM strategy is included in the government program. On the other hand, the practical investments outlined in the strategy, such as those for teacher training, are still lacking. We are also concerned about the cuts to vocational education, which have especially limited the opportunities for adult students to quickly develop into skilled professionals for the industry. It is important that we work together to ensure that Finnish expertise remains world-class and that Finland has every opportunity to succeed in global competition with the best possible skills.
At the beginning of the school journey, however, the most important thing is that every learner finds their place and a field of interest that matters to them. In this, we adults—parents, teachers, guidance counselors, mentors, and other significant educators—play a key role. Let’s help every child and young person find their own meaningful interests and explore future options together. These might be found in surprising fields.
Wishing all learners joy in their first days of school!
