Helsingin aikuisopisto awarded a sustainable development certificate

The OKKA Foundation for teaching, education and training has assessed that Helsingin aikuisopisto meets the requirements of the Sustainable Future Indicators for Educational Institutions. In recognition of this, we have been awarded a sustainable development certificate.

Helsingin aikuisopisto is an adult education centre within the scope of the Act on Liberal Adult Education. Our wide range of courses is planned according to the principles of lifelong and continuous learning and a sustainable way of life, for adults of different ages and in different life situations. A sustainable future is taken into account in our operating culture and in our course offering, which covers subject areas such as languages, sports and dance, art and handicrafts, and music and digital skills.

Our staff celebrated the certificate

Our staff gathered to celebrate the certificate at the beginning of November. Principal Anne Leinonen opened the event by listing the strengths of our work that contributed to receiving the certificate. These include the breadth and accessibility of our course offering and our environmental responsibility. Social sustainability and our management style can be seen in the development of skills and in staff satisfaction. We have a sustainability programme that brings together our sustainable development practices.

“The work set out in our development plan continues,” Anne reminded us in her speech. “We are examining our practices related to digitalisation and considering how to make them more visible to our students. We have calculated our carbon footprint and are looking for ways to minimise it. We encourage our teachers to create courses and content on sustainable development. We are paying attention to making our internal and external communication more effective.”

Erkka Laininen, Planning Manager responsible for sustainable development training and projects at the OKKA Foundation, praised our sustainable development work before presenting the certificate.

“The process has been good for the adult education centre,” Erkka said. “Practices for a sustainable future already exist, but it is important to maintain and strengthen them. Interaction, community and encounters create the basis for eco-social education.”

“Seize the opportunities of the future! Keep the torch of education burning and breathe life into it,” Erkka said as he handed the certificate over to our representatives.

After the ceremony, the certificate was hung on the wall of our lobby. It reminds our staff and students of the recognition we have received, and also of our duty to act even more responsibly to uphold the principles of a sustainable future.

Find out more about the OKKA Foundation’s certification system

The sustainable development certification for educational institutions is a system maintained by the OKKA Foundation. It offers assessment tools, materials, advice and training to support the sustainable development work of schools and educational institutions. The system also makes it possible to have an external assessment and to apply for the certificate.

The OKKA Foundation assesses the work of an educational institution with three Sustainable Future Indicators: teaching, operating culture and management. The self-assessment of the indicators is carried out through a preliminary survey for administrative and teaching staff and an assessment discussion based on its results. In addition, the foundation assesses whether the basic level of sustainable development work has been achieved. To receive the certificate, the educational institution must commit to implementing a future-oriented development plan.

In the picture (from left): Erkka Laininen, Planning Manager at the OKKA Foundation, and Kristiina Hentunen, Marketing Manager, and Anne Leinonen, Principal, from Helsingin aikuisopisto.

Text: Kristiina Hentunen