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Training in Finnish Customs

Riitta Paalanen, Head of Training

Finnish Customs Training

August 2011

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Finnish Customs Training/Customs School

• Finnish Customs Training provides services to Finnish Customs and its customers.

• Services contain different customs training courses, supportive events and electronic learning materials.

• As a part of its international task the Training supports to develop Customs training activities outside Finland. These activities are based on bilateral, multilateral and other project agreements.

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Current changes in Customs

National:• Governmental efficiency program (decreasing the

number of employees in the public sector)• Regionalisation program (public sector working places

moved outside the capital area)• Structural change of the public sector (new ministries,

restructuring of current administrations)• Organisational change in Customs administration

EU:• E-Customs (new working methods and instruments)

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• Staff (22 employees)– Head of Training unit– 4 Training designers– 1 regional training coordinator– 8 Teachers (with Customs background)– 4 Training secretaries– It-support– Copying services– Janitor(in addition to 8 full-time teachers numerous part-

time teachers are involved in training activities)

Finnish Customs Training

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Organisation

Head of Training

3 Training designers 1 Training Designer

8 Teachers

4 Training secretariesIt-supportCopying servicesJanitor

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Managing competences

Core tasks of Customs

Strategic objectivesChanges in the

working environment

Map of Competences

Where are we aiming at?

What is going to change?

What competences are needed?

Role of managers/leaders

Tasks remain the same

New tasks evolve

Tasks not needed anymore

Retirement-> skills still needed?

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What is Customs Training?What is Customs Training?

1.1. Basic Vocational Training (2 ½ years)Basic Vocational Training (2 ½ years)

2.2. Vocational further education Vocational further education

3.3. Training for the Qualification in Customs OperationsTraining for the Qualification in Customs Operations

4.4. Management Training Management Training

5.5. IT TrainingIT Training

6.6. Foreign languagesForeign languages

7.7. Consultation of b-Learning coursesConsultation of b-Learning courses

8.8. International TrainingInternational Training

9.9. Customer trainingCustomer training

1.1. Professional customers / companiesProfessional customers / companies

2.2. Support for Training institutes delivering Customs trainingSupport for Training institutes delivering Customs training

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Management Training in Finnish Management Training in Finnish CustomsCustoms

Training for Result and Development Discussions, 2 daysManagement and Leadership Training, 2+3+2 days

Specialist Qualification in Management,

1,5 yrs

Public Sector Management,

1,5 yrs

Management Training in the area of Crime

Prevention3 weeks

Training for Steering Group Members,

6 months

Public Sector Strategic Management

1 yr

FINWIN (Ministry of Finance),

1,5 yrs

Career path for managersValue, quality and strategy processes

Managing occupational well-beingDevelopment Projects Training for project leaders

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Statistics 2010

(1) Training for own personnel:

Centralized course production • 136 courses

Total amount of courses in Finnish Customs• 650 courses

Trainee days (days of trainees in formal customs education)

• 16 291 days

(2) Customer training organised by Training Unit:– about 300 h– about 1400 persons

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Statistics 2010

In addition to face-to-face teaching:

Days in guided-self studies and on-the-job learning in Basic Vocational Training

Electronic Learning materials• Basic vocational training 3000 pages, which are

delivered also to the whole organisation for daily work support material (generic support)

• Advanced vocational training about 10 000 pages. Course contents produced by substance matter experts under the guidance of Training unit (specific support).

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Classroom teaching

Distance learning byE-Learning

Guided self-studies

On-the-job learning

Teamwork etc. methods

Blended learning in Finnish Customs

Methods

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“New” Learning environments

• fixed curriculum• objectives• teacher-directed • classroom-based• closed learning settings• teacher-centred

• flexible, problem based curriculum• processes• self-directed • real life• open learning settings• learner centred• importance of guidance and support• difficult to evaluate (individual,

procedural & qualitative outcomes)

Traditional New

Source: Jyri Manninen University of Helsinki, FINLAND

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Aims of Blended Learning

• Learning a profession (with skills)• Adult as a learner (implementation)• Different learning styles (auditory, visual etc.)• More efficient induction• A Learning organisation• Collection of innovations• Generic working life skills

Methods

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Future changes

• Changes in working modes and methods

– Mobility of work has increased with b-Learning = local needs are better taken into account

– Learning process takes often place outside the Customs School = need for process management has increased

– Networking has become a lot more important = Tutors, Inductors, shift superiors and colleagues

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Contact Information

Finnish Customs Training P.O.Box 512 (Hollantilaisentie 11)

FI-00101 Helsinki, Finland

Riitta Paalanen, Head of Training Tel. + 358 20 492 3504Gsm + 358 40 332 3504

E-mail: riitta.paalanen@tulli.fi