We are currently developing the documentation of statistics. At the moment, the content is not necessarily up-to-date in all respects.
Liberal adult education: documentation of statistics
Basic data of the statistics
Data description
The statistics on liberal adult education contain data on education and training organised by liberal adult education institutions. Until 2021, the name of the statistics was adult education of educational institutions and included data on adult education and training arranged by vocational institutes, universities of applied sciences, music schools and colleges, sports institutes, folk high schools, adult education centres, summer universities and study centres. From 2024 onwards, the statistics are produced only on liberal adult education. The statistics include data on the volume of adult education provided by educational institutions, the number of students, and the teaching hours provided by teachers according to the principal content of the education.
The data are used in the planning of education and for research and evaluation purposes.
The data are used in the planning of education and for research and evaluation purposes.
Statistical presentation
The statistics on liberal adult education contain data on education and training organised by liberal adult education institutions. The data in the statistics on liberal adult education are based on data collected for Statistics Finland by organisers of liberal adult education.
Statistical population
The data in the statistics on liberal adult education are based on data collected for Statistics Finland by organisers of liberal adult education from sports institutes, folk high schools, adult education centres, summer universities and study centres of educational associations. In addition, starting from 2024, data are produced for the statistics concerning compulsory education arranged by folk high schools as liberal adult education (folk high school year for those of compulsory education age) from the KOSKI database. The data represent total data.
Statistical unit
The observation units in the section describing liberal adult education are education and training, students and lessons provided by teachers.
Unit of measure
The number of trainings, students and the number of lessons provided by teachers are published.
Base period
No indices are used in the statistics.
Reference period
The reference period is a calendar year.
Reference area
The reference area is the whole of Finland, both Mainland Finland and the Åland Islands.
Sector coverage
The statistics contain data on liberal adult education organised by music schools and colleges (61), sports institutes (62), folk high schools (63), adult education centres (64), summer universities (66) and study circle centres (65).
Time coverage
The compiling of the statistics on the adult education of educational institutions, based on the data collection concerning educational institutions’ education not leading to a qualification or degree, began from 2004. Starting from the data for 2024, the data for the statistics are collected in the data collection on liberal adult education and basic art education and the name of the statistics was changed into statistics on liberal adult education. At the same time, the contents of the statistics changed to apply only to liberal adult education. In addition, starting from 2024, data are produced for the statistics concerning compulsory education arranged by folk high schools as liberal adult education (folk high school year for those of compulsory education age) from the KOSKI database. The statistics are final.
Frequency of dissemination
The statistics are published once a year between November and December on the website of Statistics Finland.
Accuracy, reliability and timeliness
Overall accuracy
The statistics represent total data. Reminders are sent in terms of missing and inaccurate data.
Timeliness
The data on liberal adult education are published approximately 11 months after the reference period. There are no delays between the release calendar and the actual release date.
Punctuality
There are no delays between the release calendar and the actual release date.
Comparability
Comparability - geographical
The statistics on liberal adult education cover the whole of Finland.
Comparability - over time
The compiling of the statistics describing the adult education of educational institutions began in the early 1990s. The statistical population has expanded over the years from vocational institutes to general educational institutions and universities of applied sciences. The statistics previously also included adult education leading to a qualification or degree. There is a comparable time series on the participants and lessons provided by teachers for the years 2004 to 2022. From 2024 onwards, the statistics cover only education and training organised by liberal adult education institutions.
Coherence - cross domain
The data contained in the statistics on liberal adult education are based on the same data sources and they are compiled according to the same principles as other education statistics of Statistics Finland. These statistics can be used in parallel, provided that the specific characteristics of the statistics are taken into account.
Coherence - internal
The data are internally coherent.
Source data and data collections
Source data
The data of the statistics on liberal adult education are based on the data collection on liberal adult education and basic art education directed at educational institutions, which is implemented through the organisers of the education. The data on compulsory education arranged by folk high schools as liberal adult education (folk high school year for those of compulsory education age) derive from the Koski data resource.
Data collection
The data concerning liberal adult education are collected from the organisers of the education, who organise the data collection from their respective educational institutions (sports institutes, folk high schools, adult education centres, summer universities and study centres). The data collection is implemented as a web inquiry.
Frequency of data collection
The data collection on liberal adult education and basic art education is carried out once a year.
Methods
Data compilation
The data are checked by preparing verification lists and tables from the unit-level data (educational institution), which are reviewed. If necessary, the organisers of education are contacted to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
Data validation
The data of the statistics on liberal adult education are validated at many stages during the statistical process. During the processing of the data, the high quality of the data is ensured through various statistical verification programs, data requests addressed to data providers as well as by comparing the data with previous comparable statistics and other data sources.
Principles and outlines
Contact organisation
Statistics Finland
Contact organisation unit
koulutustilastot@stat.fi
Legal acts and other agreements
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Confidentiality - policy
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed in accordance with the requirements of the Statistics Act (280/2004), the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999), the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act (1050/2018). The data materials are protected at all stages of processing with the necessary physical and technical solutions. Statistics Finland has compiled detailed directions and instructions for confidential processing of the data. Employees have access only to the data essential for their duties. The premises where unit-level data are processed are not accessible to outsiders. Members of the personnel have signed a pledge of secrecy upon entering the service. Violation of data protection is punishable.
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
Confidentiality - data treatment
The statistics do not include data at an individual level. The data are collected and released at the level of educational institutions.
The tables in the database are more standardised and more specific than the tables used in the statistical release. Background variables are also typically more detailed than those used in the tables of the statistical release. The classifying variables are type of educational institution, field of education and content of education, year and type of education.
The tables in the database are more standardised and more specific than the tables used in the statistical release. Background variables are also typically more detailed than those used in the tables of the statistical release. The classifying variables are type of educational institution, field of education and content of education, year and type of education.
Release policy
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data are public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Data sharing
Data of the statistics are made available to the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish National Agency for Education in accordance with the H9098-OKM-OPH information service agreement.
Accessibility and clarity
Statistical data are published as database tables in the StatFin database. The database is the primary publishing site of data, and new data are updated first there. When releasing statistical data, existing database tables can be updated with new data or completely new database tables can be published.
In addition to statistical data published in the StatFin database, a release on the key data is usually published in the web service. If the release contains data concerning several reference periods (e.g. monthly and annual data), a review bringing together these data is published in the web service. Database tables updated at the time of publication are listed both in the release and in the review. In some cases, statistical data can also be published as mere database releases in the StatFin database. No release or review is published in connection with these database releases.
Releases and database tables are published in three languages, in Finnish, Swedish and English. The language versions of releases may have more limited content than in Finnish.
Information about changes in the publication schedules of releases and database tables and about corrections are given as change releases in the web service.
Data revision - policy
Revisions – i.e. improvements in the accuracy of statistical data already published – are a normal feature of statistical production and result in improved quality of statistics. The principle is that statistical data are based on the best available data and information concerning the statistical phenomenon. On the other hand, the revisions are communicated as transparently as possible in advance. Advance communication ensures that the users can prepare for the data revisions.
The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before.
Quality assessment
The principles of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM principles) are employed by Statistics Finland as its the overall framework for quality management. The quality management framework of the field of statistics is the European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP). The frameworks complement each other. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are also compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
The quality of the statistics on liberal adult education is assessed in several different stages of the statistical process.
During the processing of the data, the high quality of the data is ensured through various statistical verification programs, data requests addressed to data providers as well as by comparing the data with previous comparable statistics and other data sources.
The quality of the statistics on liberal adult education is assessed in several different stages of the statistical process.
During the processing of the data, the high quality of the data is ensured through various statistical verification programs, data requests addressed to data providers as well as by comparing the data with previous comparable statistics and other data sources.
Quality assurance
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The quality management framework of the field of statistics is the European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP). The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information: Quality management | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
User access
Data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may only be handled at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise separately stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer of the data and the owner of the copyright. The terms of use for statistical data.