Recruiting vocational training for early childhood education teachers as a joint procurement for Bachelor's and Master's graduates in Education

Recruiting vocational training for early childhood education teachers as a joint procurement for Bachelor's and Master's graduates in Education The employment areas of Helsinki, Espoo-Kauniainen, Vantaa, Tampere Region, Turku, and Oulu (hereinafter C6 employment authorities / Client / Clients) are jointly procuring separate studies for early childhood education teachers organized as recruiting vocational training. The studies to be procured will be organized as vocational training that enhances professional competence and skills, arranged by the employment authority in accordance with the Act on the Organization of Employment Services (380/2023, Sections 61–62), implemented as a joint procurement. This is a procurement in accordance with Annex E of the Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts 1397/2016 (Procurement Act). The Act on the Organization of Employment Services (380/2023) and the Universities Act (558/2009), as well as decrees clarifying these acts, will be applied to the student selection, organization of teaching, and administration of the training to be procured. The harmonization of laws and decrees will be negotiated separately with the Client and the selected Supplier if necessary. Objective The objective of the training is the rapid employment of participants in early childhood education teacher positions. The planned duration of the studies is approximately 14–16 months, and the scope of the studies is approximately 70–75 credits. The studies to be completed will be organized as a blended learning format. The studies will include a maximum of 2–5 contact teaching sessions, totaling no more than 10 days of contact teaching. Contact teaching included in the studies must be organized in the early part of the studies. In addition to contact teaching, the studies include real-time distance learning starting no earlier than 4 PM, independent study and group work, as well as practical on-the-job learning and internships in an early childhood education unit. The studies to be procured are studies that provide professional qualifications for early childhood education and pre-primary education tasks, in accordance with the Government Decree on University Degrees and Specialization Training (794/2004, Sections 19–20), to be completed as separate studies. The right to study for individuals selected for the pilot will be limited solely to the separate studies covered by the procurement. These separate studies, together with a suitable background degree (at least a Bachelor of Education), will qualify individuals for the position of an early childhood education teacher (Early Childhood Education Act 540/2018, Section 26). The aim is for unemployed and at-risk Bachelor's/Master's graduates in Education participating in the training to be employed in early childhood education tasks approximately 3–4 months after starting the studies and to complete the studies in a fixed-term employment relationship. If individuals already in fixed-term employment in the early childhood education sector of the C6 cities participate in the studies, they must be able to complete the studies in their entirety alongside their work. Once qualified, participants in the training can be permanently employed in the early childhood education sector of the C6 cities. The training is described in more detail in Annex 1, Description of the Procurement Object. The contract period is valid from 1.1.2027 to 31.12.2030. The contract includes the possibility of re-implementing the training if the C6 employment areas deem it necessary after the first implementation. The clients will agree on potential re-implementations and their scope with the selected service provider. Prices are fixed for the entire contract period. The distribution of the estimated total value of the procurement among the C6 employment areas is based on city-specific estimated student quota allocations. Payment terms and prices are specified in more detail in the draft contract, Annex 2, Key Contractual Terms. The client does not commit to specific procurement volumes during the contract period.