Seinäjoki Adult Education Centre
Seinäjoen kansalaisopisto
is an adult education centre offering non-formal inexpensive general interest courses mainly for adults. However, there are courses also for children and even babies with their mother/father.
Seinäjoen kansalaisopisto was established in 1945 and is now among the largest adult education centres in Finland. In 2008-2009 there were 6282 different students and 24115 lessons. The main aims are to activate the citizens and support the students´ life-long learning process.
The academic year is divided into two terms. The autumn term begins in September and ends at the end of November. The spring term begins in January and finishes in April. Anyone can attend the courses irrespective their age, profession, gender, religion or educational background. Most of our courses begin in September or in January, but not all. There might be a course starting tomorrow.
Check out our study programme. It is delivered in every household in Seinäjoki region in August. You can always get one at the library or our office, too. In our study programme you can find a wide range of courses. The courses are of varied duration: one year, one term, one week, few days. Courses, lectures and special events are provided in many subjects:
- Languages
- Literature and drama
- Music and dance
- Visual arts: painting, lead-glasswork, icon painting, pottery, sculpture
- Handicrafts: patchwork, needlework, dressmaking, weaving, embroidery, lace making, woodwork, ceramics
- Computing
- Digital photography
- Health and fitness
- Navigation
- Social and community studies
- Open university courses/lectures
Many of the courses are in the evenings but some groups meet in the mornings or in the afternoons or at weekends. Every course has its own fee. You do not have to pay big sums, for example a course of 50 lessons costs normally 35 euros. You can sign up by phone, by e-mail or by visiting our office. We take our students for the courses in order of the registration. You can join many courses even if your Finnish skills are not very good or non-existent- you can learn Finnish by doing on lessons like cooking, arts, handicrafts and other. We have also special courses for immigrants where you can learn Finnish and computer skills.
An information session for students taking Finnish language courses for foreigners is held on autumns at the main building Vapaudentie 83. The teachers of Finnish will give course counselling to help to choose the course that best corresponds to the student’s language level. Students will also be informed about how the courses will help them pass the national certificate of language proficiency test (Yleiset kielitutkinnot) at the elementary/ intermediate level. For info on language proficiency testing, see www.oph.fi/english/
Our administrative office is situated at Vapaudentie 83. We are open from Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 7 pm and on Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. Courses are mainly held at Vapaudentie 83 but also in more than 100 different places in the Seinäjoki region. Perhaps right next to you.
Call us (06 - 416 2893) or send email, please, and find out more.
