Classifications

OEF classification​

The Finnish National Agency for Education develops and maintains the national OEF classification of vocational fields and competences. The classification includes a total of 134 vocational fields (level 3) and more than 2,000 related competences. The correspondence between the OEF classification and the ESCO classification, maintained by the European Commission, can be examined by vocational field in the education administration's public reporting portal Vipunen.

Classification of transversal skills

The Finnish National Agency for Education created a classification of transversal skills covering all levels and forms of education in Finland. Published in 2025, the classification is continuously maintained and further developed. It comprises nine competence categories and approximately 80 competences within them. The classification draws on the current national core curricula and grounds, competence badges, recommendations issued by organisations in the education sector, the framework for higher education qualifications, and international frameworks for transversal competences (ESCO, OECD, EU, the Council of Europe, the World Economic Forum). Education sector experts representing all levels and forms of education are involved in developing the classification. The work also utilises AI-assisted analyses of research, patent and innovation databases to identify emerging competence needs.