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General upper secondary school and vocational education

Kajaani General Upper Secondary School and Kainuu Vocational College (KAO) together form the City of Kajaani’s Municipal Educational Enterprise.

Kajaani General Upper Secondary School

The Kajaani General Upper Secondary School is the largest of its kind in Kainuu and one of the largest in northern Finland. It has nearly 600 students, plus about 50 students in upper secondary school education that leads to a double degree. Additionally, there are about 30 students in the adults’ programme. Kajaani General Upper Secondary School is located on the Vuorikatu campus. It shares premises with Kainuu Vocational College’s departments of business, hairdressing and music. The building serves a total of some 900 students every day.

The General Upper Secondary School continues the educational task started in basic education.  Kajaani General Upper Secondary School offers a wide range of courses in its general programme and also has a special programme focusing on music. It has a broad language programme and offers students the opportunity to study fascinating speciality courses in many subjects in addition to the national curriculum.

Kajaani General Upper Secondary School collaborates with the Kainuu Vocational College, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences and the University of Eastern Finland. Students at the school can supplement their studies with vocational studies and studies offered by the two universities.

Upper secondary school education strengthens students’ extensive general knowledge and gives them the readiness to begin studies at a university, university of applied sciences or a vocational college, as well as engage in lifelong learning. At the completion of general upper secondary school studies, students take the Finnish national matriculation examination. If successful, they receive a matriculation examination certificate. The skills and knowledge they have gained are also proven with a general upper secondary education certificate, general upper secondary education diplomas and corresponding other certificates.

Kainuu Vocational College

Kainuu Vocational College (KAO) organises upper secondary vocational education and training for young people and adults. Its education and training are available nationwide. It has permanent premises in Kajaani, Kuusamo, Vantaa and Vuokatti. Kainuu Vocational College has some 3,000 students every year.

Its multidisciplinary supply of education and training includes more than 60 vocational upper secondary qualifications, further vocational and specialist vocational qualifications and more than 100 training programmes through continuous admission. In addition to complete programmes leading to a qualification, you can study a part of a programme to develop your competence in a specific field. KAO also offers the opportunity to take studies that lead to a double degree (vocational upper secondary qualification and certificate of matriculation). It also has development projects which involve various kinds of short and further training courses.

A vocational upper secondary qualification completed at the Kainuu Vocational College makes a student eligible for further studies at a university, university of applied sciences and vocational further education and training. In accordance with its basic duty, KAO offers everyone the opportunity to continue developing their competence and skills. Kainuu Vocational College actively promotes the development the region’s economic life and supports growth industries in cooperation with other organisations. Over the decades, Kainuu Vocational College has grown and developed into a multidisciplinary actor whose influence can be clearly seen in business life.