About us

This is Finnish Adult Education Centre of Helsinki 

The Finnish Adult Education Centre, Työväenopisto or colloquially ‘Työvis’ has been providing leisure education for Helsinki residents for over a century. We are officially a liberal adult education institution and a cultural operator that offers local residents independent learning opportunities and cultural experiences in languages and theoretical, practical and art subjects. The mission of the centre is to provide adults with opportunities for self-improvement and lifelong learning – knowledge, skills, experiences – and to promote the wellbeing of the individual and the community based on the principles of liberal adult education.

The operations and curriculum of the centre are based on the values of liberal adult education, which emphasise lifelong learning, the integrity and equality of society, sustainable development, diversity, active citizenship, participation and the autonomy of studies. The operations are partly guided by the City of Helsinki’s values and ethical principles.

Our students appreciate us because the adult education centre

• has excellent teachers and inexpensive courses,
• is a pleasant and flexible place to learn and study,
• offers a selection of thousands of courses and a lot of unique ones, and 
• is also a community for learning alone and together.  

The Finnish Adult Education Centre in Helsinki is more than just a place, an educational institution or a selection of different courses – we are a community that learns and develops together.  We provide opportunities for lifelong learning with thousands of courses, teachers and students. In addition to courses, you can attend free lectures and a vast number of events. 

Registration for courses is centralised to the joint Ilmonet service of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area’s adult education centres. Check the courses at the Finnish Adult Education Centre in Ilmonet and join us at Työvis for some inspiring learning! 

The History of the Finnish Adult Education Centre

The City Council of Helsinki established the Finnish Adult Education Centre in 1914. The aim was to provide especially the working class with opportunities for general education, personal development, and active citizenship.

The first principal of the Helsinki Työväenopisto was Zachris Castrén, a significant cultural figure and pioneer in adult education. Castrén emphasized the openness of education, equality, and the importance of lifelong learning. Under his leadership, the Centers quickly developed into a respected educational institution offering courses in languages, social sciences, arts, and crafts.

The center´s own building, the Opistotalo, was completed on Helsinginkatu in 1927. The building received a much-needed extension in 1959, after which the center had its own hall for plays, concerts, and celebrations. Helsinki has rapidly grown over the decades, and the center has also expanded into new districts. The most significant expansions included the city’s regional cultural centers: Stoa, Malmitalo, Kanneltalo, and Vuotalo, each of which provided the center with its own classrooms.

The course offerings of the Finnish Adult Education Centre have evolved alongside the changing needs of city residents, be it reinforcing basic skills, engaging in cultural and craft activities, or updating IT skills. In the 2000s, there has been a particular increase in Finnish language instruction for immigrants. By 2024, 19% of the center´s students spoke a mother tongue other than Finnish or Swedish.

The Finnish Adult Education Centre is a versatile adult education institution serving tens of thousands of students annually. Its history reflects changes in Finnish society, but the core idea—accessibility of education for all—has remained the same for over a hundred years.