Maatalousyrittäjien opintorahapäätökset Etelä-Pohjanmaan TE-keskuksessa vuosina 2002-2009 ja maatalousyrittäjien opintoraha-asetus 2010

Abstract

Suomi liittyi Euroopan unionin jäseneksi vuonna 1995. Liittyminen näkyi maataloudessa niin tilarakenteen muutoksena kuin vaatimuksena kohonneesta ammatillisen osaamisen ja tietotaidon tasosta. Nykyisin teknologian ja talouden hallinta ovat näkyvämmässä roolissa maataloudessa suurten kone- ja tuotantorakennusinvestointien myötä.

Tässä opinnäytetyössä tarkastelin maatalousyrittäjien opintorahan käyttöä 2000-luvun alkupuolelta vuoden 2009 loppuun. Opinnäytetyössä kartoitettiin kyselytutkimuksen avulla viljelijöiden mielipiteitä maatalousyrittäjien opintorahan hakemisesta, suuruudesta, tiedonsaannista sekä kehittämiskohteista. Lisäksi tarkasteltiin päätöksenteon perusteena ollutta maatalousyrittäjien opintoraha-asetusta ja muiden julkisten tahojen sekä hallinnon antamia mielipiteitä maatalousyrittäjien opintorahaa koskevan asetuksen uudistamiseksi. Uusi opintoraha-asetus astui voimaan 1.5.2010.

Finland joined the European Union in 1995, which had a big influence on Finnish agriculture. Farms are bigger; there is a lot more technology used as well as economical management. Farmers have made a lot of investments and the risks are bigger than ever before. Farmers have to take care of their professional skills and knowledge levels. These requirements have not appeared in the use of the farmer`s student grants.

In this thesis I examined how farmers have used the farmer`s student grant between 2002 and 2009. Using a questionnaire I discovered what farmers opinions are about the old student grant, its amount, as well as information and opinions on what would make it better. I examined public bodies and the government`s opinions about the things that you have to realize in the new student grant options.

There are many good things in the new student grant option. But there are still something`s which haven`t changed, although the changes were hoped for. Now you can get a student grant if you have studied for three days, earlier you had to study for five days. But there still has to be six lessons in each study day. Many had wanted that the study days are shorter. Also they wanted that it is possible to make an application for the student grant in electronic form, to make it quicker, and also per farm, not personal. Then you could decide who goes to study, taking better account of the work situation on the farm. The grant isn`t big, but it is a support for farmers and lowers the cost of studying. Knowledge and skills are important on farms today and that is why the student grant is not the only reason to take part in studies. Farmers want to take care of their professional skills and knowledge as well.