Although technology may seem like a contemporary development, humans have been using technology since they began converting natural resources into tools. For example, the understanding of fire and its use in prehistoric cooking could be considered a facet of technology.

The formal higher education system of Finland is the 7-3-2-2 pattern. The university takes two years in vocational or technical education and finally two-year pre-tertiary education. Finland also has several public as well as private universities that have enabled accessibility of higher education to students.

Students who hold some secondary education credentials and wish to enter a specific profession might find themselves best served by a graduate diploma program. These courses often take a focused look at a subject over the period of one or two years.