Study of the state of police education completed

Police education produces the skills needed in working life, and those who have completed their education enjoy long careers. The study on the state of police education published on 29 February 2024 shows that there is room for improvement, for example, in the onerous selection process for admission to study for the degree of Bachelor of Police Studies.

In spring 2023, the National Police Board of Finland commissioned HAUS Finnish Institute of Public Management to assess how well the police education system produces the skills needed in working life and responds to the needs of societal development. The study examined the degrees of Bachelor of Police Services and Master of Police Services and continuing education for police.

The study shows that police degree education meets the needs of working life. Students selected for police training complete their studies within the deadline and enjoy their careers for a long time. The police's systematic surveys of the operating environment provide good conditions for skills development.

Among the things HAUS assesses in the study is whether to separate the degree of Bachelor of Police Services into lines.

“Based on the study, the so-called general police model still seems to be effective, as the police officers graduating are employed for a wide range of tasks. We do not recommend changing the structure of education,” says Kyösti Väkeväinen, Managing Director of HAUS Finnish Institute of Public Management.

The report presents ten development proposals related to, among other things, the coordination of continuing education and the streamlining of the selection process for basic education.

“Developing the selection system and enhancing student recruitment have been our performance agreement goals since last year. We have already achieved results: we are well on our way to filling this year's 500 starting places,” says Marko Laitinen, Director of the Police University College.

The National Police Board of Finland will next examine and analyse the observations raised in the report.

“The comprehensive report by HAUS provides a good basis on which to assess the development needs and opportunities for police degree training and continuing education,” says Anne Aaltonen, Director of Administration at the National Police Board of Finland.