Sipoon opisto – The Adult Education Centre of Sipoo

Sipoon opisto – The Adult Education Centre of Sipoo

Sipoon opisto is maintained by the Municipality of Sipoo and supervised by the Ministry of Education and Culture. Instruction is offered in Finnish, Swedish, or bilingually. The courses are open to everyone.

At the centre, you can develop your knowledge and skills. You can take courses for a specific purpose or simply for fun. Some courses also offer the possibility to earn study points, which are recorded in a national register. This register is used by educational institutions, employers, and public authorities.

The Story of the Institute

The first adult education centre in Finland was the Tampereen työväenopisto (Tampere Workers’ Institute), founded in 1899.
In the 1920s, the government passed laws to support adult education centres.
By the 1930s, these centres became permanent institutions. Initially, courses were lecture-based, with teachers speaking and students only listening. Today, courses are interactive, with dialogue between teachers and students.

Originally, adult education centres were only in cities, but a 1963 law allowed them to be established in rural areas as well, which increased participation.

The story of Sipoon opisto began over 60 years ago.
In the early 1960s, Sibbo ungdomsförbund proposed establishing an adult education centre in Sipoo.
In 1965, the municipal council began preparations.
In 1968, the municipal board proposed founding two centres: one Finnish-speaking and one Swedish-speaking.

The municipal council approved the proposal on April 9, 1968.
The Ministry of Education approved the Swedish-speaking centre on June 8, 1968, and the Finnish-speaking centre on June 20, 1968.
The Finnish-speaking centre was named Sipoon suomalainen kansalaisopisto, and the Swedish-speaking one Sibbo svenska medborgarinstitut.

These two centres operated side by side for over 30 years until they were merged into one bilingual centre on August 1, 1999, under the name Sipoon kansalaisopisto. The name was changed to Sipoon opisto / Sibbo institut in 2018, when the centre celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Adult education centres have always offered courses that meet the current needs and interests of people. Initially, they were intended only for adults. Since 1974, music has also been taught to children, and since 1985, arts and crafts as well.

In the 2000s, the centres began focusing more on collaborative development and various projects. Sipoon opisto participates in several such initiatives. You can read more about them on the Sipoon opiston hankkeet page.

In 2021, the system for study points was renewed. Now, study points can be earned at adult education centres and are recorded in a national register used by educational institutions, employers, and authorities. Sipoon opisto offers courses that award study points. These are included in the course fee and are available to everyone. You can also attend these courses without needing the points. The teacher will explain the requirements for earning study points during the first session. You can view your study points through a separate service called Opintopolku, maintained by the Finnish National Agency for Education.

The goal of Sipoon opisto is to make learning appealing and accessible to as many people as possible.

Sipoon opisto is:

  • bilingual
  • flexible
  • inclusive – everyone is welcome to learn

Sipoon opisto supports:

  • the personal development of students
  • lifelong learning

The centre also aims to develop itself. You can help by attending courses and giving feedback. You are also welcome to suggest course ideas or even teach a course yourself.

You are warmly welcome!

Open-minded visionary

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