The professional competence of adult population is maintained through lifelong learning. Adult education is available in all sectors of education, providing basic qualifications and also as vocational further education and training and upgrading and continuation education. The education is complemented by comprehensive liberal adult education provided for people of all ages around the country.
Liberal adult education services include, for example, open higher education, language proficiency certificates, personnel training, vocational continuation education, training for immigrants and general upper secondary education. Liberal adult education is provided by adult education centres, located in nearly all municipalities, and by summer universities. Adult education centres are mainly run by local authorities.