The objective of language studies in Finnish polytechnics is to provide the student with language and communication skills which meet the needs of working life and the student's professional development in future. To ensure high quality and to provide uniformity in foreign language education in Rectors' Conference of Finnish Polytechnics has given polytechnics the recommendations for common national goals and practices in language education. The recommendations are based on the results of a national survey carried out in 2003-2004 to identify the practices used in implementing polytechnic language education. This article describes the development work of polytechnic language education. (Contains 1 footnote.)