Helsingin aikuisopisto
Helsinki Adult Education Centre is one of the largest private adult education centres in Finland and a centre for learning and wellbeing open to all. The principal of the centre is Anne Leinonen.
The college is a community college covered by the Liberal Educational Work Act and receives statutory government subsidies.
Helsingin aikuisopisto is a member of The Finnish Association of Adult Education Centres (KoL). There are a total of 181 Adult Education Centres in Finland. They operate in almost every municipality with 650 students and 000 million teaching hours.
The purpose of liberal education is to organize education that supports the integrity of society, equality and active citizenship based on the principle of lifelong learning. The aim of education organized as liberal education is to promote the versatile development and well-being of people and the realization of democracy, pluralism, sustainable development, multiculturalism and internationalism. Liberal education emphasizes independent learning, community spirit and participation. Act on Liberal Education, Section 1 (29.12.2009/1765)
Extensive teaching offering
Citizens' college courses are open to everyone, and cover a variety of subject areas (including languages, physical education, dance, well-being and health, visual arts, handicrafts, music, theatre, digital skills).
Open university education is implemented in collaboration with the Universities of Helsinki, Eastern Finland, Jyväskylä, Turku and Vaasa in the form of contact and blended learning.
Custom training is aimed at personnel in companies, organizations and the public sector. The training can be individual courses or larger packages tailored to the client's wishes, at workplaces or at college premises.
College in numbers 2022
- approx. 780 courses
- approx. 8 students
- approx. 16 teaching hours
- approx. 2500 part-time teachers
- 24 full-time employees
Long history
The college was founded in 1961 by the central organization for professional advocacy TVK. From 1967, the college operated in the then completed property on Töölöntullinkatu and was one of the founding organizations of the building. In 1962-1996, the college was called Virkailijain kansalaisopisto (Civil Service College for Civil Servants) and in 1996 it changed to its current form, Helsinki Adult College. The college moved to a new college building at Runeberginkatu 22-24 in June 2020. Read the 2011 publication To the anniversary book of the Helsingin aikuisopisto.
Operating philosophy and values
The college operates as a learning community open to all, where everyone can advance their learning, spiritual growth, and goals. We adhere to the following values in our operations:
Customer orientation is about taking customer needs into account and being learner-centered.
Collaboration is about respecting people, open interaction with stakeholders, and working together.
Pluralism is the observation, experience and analysis of different views on life, ways of acting and realities, and the understanding of diversity.
Internationality is about examining the global and multicultural environment based on our own national cultural heritage.
Purposefulness is the pursuit of set learning goals using both traditional and innovative methods.
Equality and non-discrimination is that everyone is treated equally at the college, regardless of age, gender, nationality, ethnic or political background, language, worldview, religion, health status or sexual orientation.
The school building is an old maid's house
Explore the building completed in 1923 history and renovation.
Awards and commitments
In 2007, the Ministry of Education awarded the Helsinki Adult Education Centre the quality award for adult education centres, becoming the first adult education centre in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
The college has declared itself a Discrimination-Free Area in accordance with the Ministry of the Interior's campaign.
The college has signed the diversity commitment of the national corporate responsibility network FIBS.
The college is maintained by the Finnish Student Union of White-collar Employees (TJO)
Aktiivi-Instituutti, Helsingin aikuisopisto ja Basic Education belong to the same organization.