Tuusula Municipality and Keuda sign strategic partnership agreement – education guarantee for young people without qualifications 

– The partnership with Keuda gives Tuusula a whole new level of capability, ensuring high-quality and smooth educational paths for every young person and adult. Our common goal is clear: more skills, more opportunities and less exclusion. Through this collaboration, we are building Tuusula’s vitality, which is reflected in both the well-being of its residents and the attractiveness of our region. Education is one of the most powerful factors in strengthening well-being and inclusion. When we work together to build effective learning support models and service paths, the effects extend far beyond education. They are reflected in young people’s confidence in the future and their stronger attachment to society, says Marianne Liimatainen, Director of Education and Culture in Tuusula. 

The agreement is based on objectives defined jointly by Keuda and its member municipalities. The objectives are to ensure high-quality and effective educational pathways, to increase the employment rate in the region through joint measures, strengthening the vitality of the region through a skilled workforce, and increasing participation and well-being, particularly by supporting young people and foreign-language speakers in education and working life.   

One key measure in the agreement is the implementation of a training guarantee for young adults aged 20–29 who are no longer covered by compulsory education. In the Central Uusimaa region, 22 per cent of young adults have only a basic school education. This phenomenon is significant not only for the future of individuals but also for the vitality of the region. In Finland, a secondary education qualification is the minimum requirement for the labour market, and without it, the risk of becoming unemployed or ending up in low-paid, insecure jobs increases significantly.  

There is a strong link between educational attainment and well-being. Completing a degree increases employment opportunities, boosts self-confidence, supports mental health and promotes inclusion. At the same time, companies in the region need an increasingly skilled workforce – with a broad need for people who have mastered basic professional skills.  

– It is crucial for the future of the entire Central Uusimaa region that as many young adults as possible obtain a secondary degree. Not having a degree increases the risk of marginalisation and unemployment. The education guarantee gives these young adults the opportunity to complete a secondary degree, for example through an apprenticeship, comments Riikka-Maria Yli-Suomu, Director of the Keuda Municipal Consortium.    

The implementation of the partnership agreement is guided by a steering group consisting of officials from Keuda and its member municipalities. The group’s task is to monitor the implementation of measures and the progress of objectives, as well as to assess the impact of cooperation and, if necessary, update the action plan. The steering group will meet annually to discuss these matters.  

– It is extremely valuable that a clear and shared operating model has been established for the partnership. Regular dialogue, the work of the steering group and a shared overview of the situation ensure that decisions are based on information and that we are able to respond quickly to changing needs. Tuusula and Keuda have enjoyed a long history of strong cooperation, and this agreement will take it to the next level. This is not about individual measures, but about a long-term, effective partnership, says Liimatainen. 

Cooperation between Keuda, its member municipalities and employment areas is crucial. Only by working together can we reach young adults who might otherwise not find their way into education or services. At the same time, we can reduce long-term unemployment and, as a result, the penalty payments imposed on municipalities. The common goal is clear: more skills, less unemployment and a better future for the whole of Central Uusimaa, Yli-Suomu concludes. 

Further information:  

Director of Education, Tuusula Municipality, Marianne Liimatainen, +358 40 314 3406, marianne.liimatainen@tuusula.fi
Director of the Central Uusimaa Education Consortium (Keuda), Riikka-Maria Yli-Suomu, +358 50 348 6544, riikka-maria.yli-suomu@keuda.fi  

This content has been translated using AI