Stories
13.4.2025

Road Map to Sustainability Solutions in Finnish VET

A few years ago, Salpaus, together with over 60 vocational colleges in Finland completed an overall road map to sustainability solutions in Finnish VET.

A few years ago, Salpaus, together with over 60 vocational colleges across Finland, co-created a comprehensive road map to sustainability solutions in Finnish Vocational Education and Training (VET). This roadmap serves as a strategic tool to guide and support sustainability efforts in all VET institutions nationwide.

Today, this important work continues through the Kartalla – på Kartan network, which actively implements the roadmap. The network provides practical tools, peer support, and opportunities for shared learning among VET providers.

In 2024, a national programme paper titled “Responsible and Sustainable Vocational Education and Training in 2030” was published, outlining the key focus areas and goals of the roadmap. These include:

Leadership and Operating Culture
VET leadership is committed to building a sustainable future in collaboration with staff and students.
Pedagogical Solutions and Learning Environments
Sustainability is embedded in teaching practices, learning content, and environments.
Personnel Competence and Professional Identity
Continuous professional development ensures that staff skills meet the needs of future work, society, and the planet.
Partnerships
Together with partners, VET institutions are transforming education and working life to be more responsible and future-oriented.
Carbon Neutrality
The shared goal is for Finnish VET to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. A dedicated tool helps measure and reduce the carbon footprint of VET institutions.

Sustainability Is a Way of Life at Salpaus

Sustainable development is integrated into all vocational studies in Finland.
At Salpaus, students can also complete several optional qualification modules or follow a study path focused on sustainable development. At our Asikkala campus, we train future professionals in the environmental sector — equipping them with the skills and mindset to build a more sustainable world.

At Salpaus, sustainability is not just a goal — it’s a guiding principle that shapes everything we do. From education to everyday operations, we are committed to building a more sustainable future through social, environmental, and economic responsibility.

These are examples of our commitment to sustainability in action:

🌱 Social and Cultural Responsibility
We believe that well-being and equality are the foundation of a thriving learning community.

We prioritize both student well-being and staff occupational health.
We foster a culture of care, inclusion, and community.
Equal opportunities for all are at the heart of our values.
We embrace cultural sensitivity and celebrate diversity.
Our multicultural learning and working environment is supported by language-aware and clear communication in teaching and guidance.

🌍 Environmental Responsibility
We take concrete steps every day to reduce our environmental footprint and inspire others to do the same.

We favor organic and locally sourced food in our restaurants.
We continuously innovate and enhance our vegetarian offerings in our student and staff restaurants, promoting delicious and sustainable dining choices.
Over the years, we have significantly improved energy efficiency across our facilities.
We encourage sustainable modes of transportation, such as cycling, walking, and using public transport.
We actively participate in environmental events and awareness weeks to engage our community in climate action.

💡 Economic Responsibility
We ensure that our operations are not only sustainable but also economically responsible.

We promote responsible procurement practices.
Our space optimization program helps us use and renew our facilities efficiently.
We support digital accessibility through our laptop and tablet lending services.

Update notice:
This content was revised on June 30, 2025. Updates include improved English phrasing, and additional examples of Salpaus’s sustainability actions. AI-assisted tools were used in the content creation process, with human review ensuring quality and clarity.