Current state of sustainable development in liberal adult education institutions

According to the Act on Liberal Adult Education (632/1998), one of the key objectives of education provided within liberal adult education is to promote sustainable development. Educational institutions providing liberal adult education include adult education centres, folk high schools, summer universities, sports institutes, and study centres.

This publication is based on the results of a survey conducted by the Finnish National Agency for Education in 2025 on assignment from the Ministry of Education and Culture. The survey broadly examined the current state of sustainable development measures in liberal adult education institutions. The dimensions of sustainable development explored in the study were environmental sustainability, social sustainability, cultural sustainability, as well as administrative and economic sustainability. Based on the responses, key areas for development in promoting sustainable development within liberal adult education were identified, concerning both educational institutions and public administration.

A total of 263 liberal adult education institutions responded to the survey, resulting in a response rate of 92%. The response rates for different types of institutions ranged from 82% to 100%. Of the responding institutions, 157 were adult education centres, 68 were folk high schools, 18 were summer universities, 9 were sports institutes, and 11 were study centres.