Adult education for everybody

Over the past decades, adult education has emerged as an increasingly important component in national educational policy and planning in Finland.

Adult education is arranged by:

• universities and polytechnics,
• public and private vocational institutions,
• adult education centres and summer universities,
• adult upper secondary schools, study centres, sports institutes, and music institutes.

Adult education is provided at all levels. Adults can study for a general education certificate or for a vocational qualification, or modules included in them. They can take other courses developing citizenship and work skills, or pursue recreational studies.

These educational establishments provide adult education and training to about one million students each year, amounting to some 10 million classroom hours.