Vocational education and training (VET) in the Faroe Islands

Vocational education and training (VET) has a long history in the Faroe Islands, and has over time provided thousands with the vocational skills that they need. 

A vast amount of VET programs are accessible on the Faroe Islands. These range from technical and hands on vocations such as electrician, carpenter and car mechanic to cooking chef, business, office education and shipping.

Yrkisdepilin, "The National Vocational Careers Service - administration, guidance and assessment", administers VET education on the Faroe Islands on behalf of the Ministry of Children and Education and the social partners responsible for VET. 

All VET contracts have to be legalized through The National Vocational Careers Service. 

 

How do I start a vocational education training program?

The general entry requirement to undertake a VET program is that one has completed primary school. But to start and complete a VET program in the Faroe Islands, one must obtain an official learning contract with a company that has been authorized to provide learning in a certain trade.

The learning contract then must be submitted to the National Vocational Careers Service in order to achieve legality.

It is also possible to start a VET program with a school-based course, but to complete the program, one must obtain a learning contract with an authorized company.

Beyond this one must consider the language requirements, Faroese and Danish (if the school is based in Denmark).

How do the VET programs work?

In general, a Faroese VET education consists of an apprenticeship at a workplace as well as mandatory school-based education at the upper secondary education level.

A cornerstone of the programs is the continous exchange between learning in the workplace and the school courses.

The VET program then finishes with a certificate (a journeyman’s proof) that certifies that one is now skilled in a certain trade.

In some cases, the school-based part is available in the Faroe Islands while in other instances, such as in the trade of painting or within the IT area, the schools are in Denmark.

Which Vocational educational programs exist?

All together there are over a hundred specialized vocations that are recognized within the system.

Programs where both apprenticeship and school courses are offered in the Faroes:

  • Electrician 
  • Car Mechanic
  • Carpenter
  • Machine worker
  • Plumber
  • Plumber, plumbing and heating installer
  • Sheet metal worker
  • Metalworker specializing in stainless metals
  • Welder
  • Hairdresser
  • Office Clerk
  • Commercial/sales Assistant
  • Health Care Cook helper
  • Assistant Gourmet

At the moment Faroese companies are able to offer VET's in around 80 different fields. The difference between the educations mentioned above and the rest, is that the school part has to be taken in a school outside the Faroe Islands. Up until today only Danish schools have been used.

Where can I get more information?

The National Vocational Careers Service can provide you with more information and guidance. We are open on weekdays between 9 am to 3 pm. You can also reach us by phone on +298-306560 or by mail: yrkisdepilin@yrkisdepilin.fo.

We have the responsibility to oversee learning contracts as well as the administrative responsibility of the educational programs themselves and provide guidance accordingly.

The National Vocational Careers Service acts as a link between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Culture (which oversees education in general), the social partners (labor unions as well as employers unions) and the schools.

Starvsfólk
Randi Frederiksberg Leiðari randif@yrkisdepilin.fo
Hallbera West Fulltrúi hallberaw@yrkisdepilin.fo
Hjørdis Zachariassen Vegleiðari hjordisz@yrkisdepilin.fo
Linda Michelsen Skrivstovufólk lindam@yrkisdepilin.fo