The extent to which vocational education and training policy is nurturing lifelong learning in Finland was examined. The analysis focused on the following issues: the political and structural framework of education in Finland; mechanisms supporting lifelong learning; and pedagogical solutions and learning environments facilitating lifelong learning. The following were among the major conclusions: (1) during the 1990s, lifelong learning became a central part of Finland's educational policy discourse; (2) commitment to implementing lifelong learning in Finland is strong; (3) lifelong learning has genuinely become an integral part of all levels of Finland's education system; (4) Finnish education planning has invested heavily in planning personal study plans; (5) strong decentralization has been a general trend since the 1990s; (6) in recent years, investments have also been made in developing cooperation between educational institutions; (7) access to lifelong learning and learning outcomes have been inferior in rural areas; and (8) the basis of lifelong learning in Finland is in line with the objectives set by the European Union. (Ten tables/figures are included. The following items are appended: a list of 15 pertinent legal provisions; a glossary of acronyms/abbreviations and terms; and the questionnaire and selected findings of a lifelong learning survey. The bibliography lists 42 references.) (MN)