A national forum for study counselors is arranged every year in Finland.
The 2025 National Study Councelor days “Opopäivät” event was held in Vaasa at the beginning of February. The theme for the Vaasa Opopäivät was “New Energy in Guidance.” The main organizer of the event was the Pohjanmaa Study Counselors Association (Pohjanmaan opinto-ohjaajat ry). The event was organized in cooperation with the City of Vaasa, Vamia Vocational College, the University of Vaasa, Vaasa University of Applied Sciences (VAMK), and Yrkeshögskolan Novia. Over 600 career counselors from all levels of education and from all over Finland attended the event.
“Opopäivät “provided a comprehensive overview of the world of study counselling. The event offered an opportunity to explore schools, businesses, and cultural sites in the Vaasa region. Notable visiting locations included Vamia’s vocational education in machine and production technology at Vaasa Regional Prison, as well as the special needs vocational school Luovi.Companies in the technology and energy industries, such as Danfoss and Wärtsilä, beauty and cleaning company Dermosil, and brewery and restaurant Bock´s Brewery, which rely on strong professional expertise, were also popular destinations.
The program included lectures, workshops, and a career fair. Participants were able to choose activities based on their interests, attending various workshops and presentations. The topics covered in the speeches ranged from coping with studies and career opportunities in the space industry to the situation of LGBTQ+ youth (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning) and the impact of artificial intelligence on future job prospects. A special seminar on renewable energy was also held during “Opopäivät”. The seminar focused on the theme of energy from the perspectives of education, business, and government.
In Vamia’s workshop, the school’s own students shared how their voices have been better heard in the school’s everyday life and events. In recent years, the school has actively organized various events where students have been involved in both the ideation and execution stages.
Feedback from attendees praised the diverse program of “Opopäivät”. For many participants, the Vaasa region was relatively unknown. The opportunity to learn about the region’s diverse educational opportunities, innovative companies related to clean and renewable energy, and career prospects were highlighted as the best aspects of the event.