Development of Legal Competence in Municipal Administration

The project aims to develop a specialized legal training program for municipal officials in Eastern Finland. After the social and health services reform, the focus for municipalities has shifted towards vitality and educational services, reducing emphasis on administrative governance and legal expertise in recruitment, even though regulation has significantly increased. This project addresses the need to enhance municipal officials’ legal expertise to meet current demands.

The project has been prepared in collaboration with regional councils and municipalities in Eastern Finland. During the preparation phase, data on municipal training needs has been collected, but the development of the training program will be carried out as part of the project. The project will develop a 30-credit specialized training program covering municipal law, employment law, environmental law, information law, educational law, and legal decision-making, as well as assessing impacts on municipal vitality.

The primary goal of the project is to create and pilot a comprehensive training program that addresses the needs of the municipal sector. The university’s expertise spans various legal fields and impacts, ensuring the relevance and utility of the training. The quality requirements set for university education guarantee the high standard of the training.

Results and experiences will be published on the University of Eastern Finland’s website, and the training will be integrated into the university’s offerings after the project’s completion, ensuring continued availability for all interested parties.