Securing the work capacity for future workers – basis for developing the Work Capacity Certificate

Objectives set in the Government Programme, policy programmes and the development plan ”Education and Research 2007–2012” include:

• making better use of the resources of the working-age population
• increasing the productivity of work
• promoting occupational health and lengthening work careers
• promoting the health and well-being of children and young people
• promoting work capacity.

Research and practical experience have shown that young people's functional and work capacity is threatened by physical inactivity, overweight, unhealthy eating and sleeping habits, heavy smoking and alcohol use, and growing health problems.

The Work Capacity Certificate

The Ministry of Education and Culture and the National Board of Education have together developed a Work Capacity Certificate. The Cultural and Sports Association of Finnish Vocational Education and Training SAKU is responsible for coordinating the Work Capacity Certificate, supporting the work done by education providers and disseminating best practices developed by different organisations.

The starting point for the work capacity certificate is that

• parts that promote health and functional and work capacity are included diversely in the different phases of vocational studies (this is also taken into account in the national requirements and the contents of the curricula of VET qualifications)
• parts that promote functional and work capacity are incorporated into the demands of and work tasks in each occupation (this is also taken into account in the national requirements and the contents of the curricula of VET qualifications)
• it is possible for all students to complete the work capacity certificate, including students who are physically inactive, students who need special assistance, and mature students who are over 18 years old when they start studying.

The objectives for the work capacity certificate are

• to motivate and lead the student towards engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining his/her functional and work capacity and taking care of his/her health.
• to support vocational growth and to respond to the work capacity demands of each occupation (e.g. work safety and ergonomics)
• to stimulate students to take part and activate others and to support responsible work as individual and as members of a group.

Other objectives are

• to activate education providers to offer free-choice studies that support functional and work capacity; to activate education providers to organize extracurricular activities for students and to include students in the planning and organization of activities.
• to accommodate physical and health education to the needs of each occupation and incorporated it into vocational studies.
• to involve everyone working in the school in promoting work capacity and to develop the organizational culture of the school to support functional and work capacity.
• to help students to secure a job. With the work capacity certificate the student can show the employer that he or she is taking care of his/her functional and work capacity.

The certificate is voluntary for both the students and the education providers. 

The categories in the work capacity certificate

The work capacity certificate comprises five categories, each equalling to 40 hours of studies. 

1. Physical activity that promotes functional capacity and work capacity

The student understands the importance of physical activity for functional capacity and for work capacity. The student recognizes occupational physical load factors and is physically active in order to maintain or promote his/her work capacity. The student learns about physical activity that promotes health, well-being and psychological alertness.

In practice: compulsory physical education and free-choice physical education (e.g. courses like “What would be the best sport for me?”)

2. Health knowledge and skills

The student understands the links between physical activity, nutrition, rest, sleep, recreation and social relationships and takes them into consideration in his/her actions. The student is familiar with the main load factors to health and work capacity in his/her occupation and takes these factors into consideration.

In practice: compulsory health education and free-choice courses (e.g. courses like "How to quit smoking”, “Healthy living habits”, “Stress management”, “How to avoid back pain”)

3. Occupational work capacity

The student recognizes the main load and risk factors in his/her future occupation and is able to develop his/her own work and work methods accordingly. The student also understands safety and ergonomics as a part of his/her function capacity and work capacity.

In practice: Courses are planned according to the demands of each occupation, which requires co-operation with vocational teachers.

4. Hobbies and social activity

The student is active in hobbies and also takes initiatives in planning activities. The student understands the value of hobbies for work capacity and takes advantage of his/her hobbies.

In practice: hobby clubs organized by vocational schools (e.g. dance, music, bands, sports) and hobbies outside the vocational school

5. Strengthening of occupational work capacity

The student develops and deepens knowledge and skills in the categories. The student acquires more skills and information and takes part in activity that concretely improves work capacity and transforms his/her learning into praxis.

In practice: e.g. on-the-job learning periods

The Ministry of Education and Culture and the National Board of Education have together developed a Work Capacity Certificate. The Cultural and Sports Association of Finnish Vocational Education and Training SAKU is responsible for coordinating the Work Capacity Certificate, supporting the work done by education providers and disseminating best practices developed by different organisations.