Public services and e-services: learning materials

Work in pair and think up and list the situations in which a young person may need the following government services. Invent situations that are as realistic as possible!

• Tax Administration’s MyTax
• MyKanta pages
• Kela
• Agency for Education’s Studyinfo
• Digital and Population Data Services Agency
• Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority

If the authority is unknown to you, check the services available on the authority's website.

After working in pairs, the students combine the situations invented by the class.

• Which authorities and services are already familiar?
• Which authorities provide clear and easy to access electronic services? And which seem more complicated? 

First, familiarise yourselves in pairs with the Instructions for Suomi.fi e-Identification pages on the Suomi.fi Web Service. Then answer the questions:

• What different options are available for digital identification or so-called strong identification in Finland?
• Why, for example, is a self-created login profile or identification with a phone number not sufficient for logging in to the authorities' electronic services?

On your bank's website, search for how to activate the bank's e-identification. Can a minor use e-identifiers?

Create an instruction table on how to avoid online scams. Use the Instructions and manuals of the National Cyber Security CentreOpens in a new window. as a basis for the assignment.

In-depth assignment: Search for the latest news about online scams on a news website, such as Yle News. How have the scammer’s operated? Why have some people taken the scammer’s bait? Present the cases you found!

Official mail (such as decisions on Kela’s benefits) is primarily delivered digitally to all adults who use the services of the authorities electronically. If you are an adult and identify yourself strongly in an e-service of public administration (such as MyTax or MyKanta), you will be directed to activate Suomi.fi Messages. From then on, you will receive the mail sent by the authorities as digital mail in Suomi.fi Messages.

You can also create an electronic mailbox for a minor in Suomi.fi Messages. If you are a minor, you can do it yourself or your guardian can do it on your behalf.

First, familiarise yourselves with the Instructions for Suomi.fi Messages pages on the Suomi.fi Web Service. Then answer the questions:

• What kind of messages can you receive in Suomi.fi Messages? Think of examples!
• How will you receive the information that you have received a Suomi.fi Message?
• How can you access your Suomi.fi Messages?
• Your guardian has activated Suomi.fi Messages for you when you were a minor. Will your guardian be able to read your messages when you have reached the age of 18?

First, familiarise yourselves with the Instructions for Suomi.fi e-Authorizations pages on the Suomi.fi Web Service. Then answer the questions:

• What does authorisation mean?
• How do you make a mandate?
• In what kinds of situations could you authorise someone close to you to handle your affairs? Come up with an example!
• Can the authorisation be cancelled?