Higher Education for Adults

Adult education is also provided by universities, polytechnics and continuing professional development centres.

Polytechnic adult education started gradually alongside education provided for young people. Activities have expanded on an annual basis as polytechnics have become an established form of operation. Adult education is provided on the same degree programmes as education for young people and it leads to the same polytechnic degrees. In addition, polytechnics offer professional specialisation studies as a form of continuing education as well as open polytechnic education.

Polytechnic degree programmes may be completed as adult education. The time spent completing a degree is usually slightly shorter than the corresponding education for young people, since adult students’ previous studies and work experience may be accredited.

In addition to degree-oriented education, permanent polytechnics may provide professional specialisation studies with a scope of 30-60 ECTS credits. The specialisation studies are extensive continuing education programmes supplementing the degree system, which are provided for people with a university degree, a vocational post-secondary qualification or a vocational higher education degree, or for others with sufficient aptitude for study. The polytechnic in question grants certificates to people who have completed the specialisation studies to an acceptable standard.

In recent years, polytechnics have developed their provision of open education. Open polytechnics offer the opportunity to study individual study units included in polytechnic degrees. Polytechnic postgraduate degrees provide practically oriented education and training aimed at mature students. Polytechnic master degree programmes provide practically oriented education and training aimed at mature students. The Polytechnic Master’s degree is of equal level with the University Master’s degree.

Adult education at universities is provided by their own continuing education centres, the first of which were founded in the 1970s. Nowadays all universities have their own continuing education centres. Commercial services provide most of their financing. In addition, these centres may have several affiliates operating outside the university town.

Continuing education centres organise vocational continuing education for individuals already holding an academic degree and provide and co-ordinate open university education in co-operation with university departments and different adult education organisations. In addition to continuing education centres, some universities have separate open university units.

At open university students may complete different modules, but they cannot take a degree. However, students may gain the right to study for a degree after completing usually at least 60 credits’ worth of studies included on a degree programme at open university. However, the required number of credits varies by university and subject.