The Swedish Study Centre (SSC) is a service organization for more than 50 non-governmental organizations (NGO:s) in the swedish-speaking parts of Finland, spread mainly along the coastal region.

The basic aim of SSC is to “…support and stimulate the Finnish-Swedish civil society through activities for learning individuals and organizations, and a sustainable local and regional development.” Our slogan is Voluntary

Host organization for SSC is the Swedish Folk School Foundation (SFV), an organization promoting education and culture, founded already in 1882. The SSC was established as part of SFV in the year of 1919.

SSC works to support and promote active citizenship through the member NGO.s in their local and regional activities, such as youth, handicap and cultural organizations, adult education and rural development. Since the late 1990s SSC has been involved in empowering unemployed young and adults through workshops in Helsingfors (SVEPS – Swedish Production School), Vasa (Föregångarna) and Åbo (Åbo Kringlan).

Current strategy measures for SSC until the year 2010 are the following:

- Method skills&practice for Education and Development: A new Method Centre (MC) has been established in Finland, delivering educational courses, a method library and a European-wide network for professionals on methods. Read more in English: www.methodcentre.com
- Active citizenship&social responsibility empowering citizens and civic organizations with learning practice and influence on policy-making within the framework of democracy,
- Small-scale interregionalisation in a global world with closer networks across borders.

SSC has a lot of experience of European Union- related project activities, for instance within the field of rural development (Leader-like programmes, Interreg). We also enhance employability through project related to the European Social Fund, as well as educational cooperation within the Grundtvig-programme.

SSC works closely in networks with other adult education organizations:
Bildningsforum, which a the Swedish umbrella organization for liberal Adult Education in Finland,
FAEA – Finnish Adult Education Organization,
Förbundet Nordisk Vuxenupplysning, FNV in the Nordic countries,
European Association for the Education of Adults, EAEA.

SSC has three permanent offices in Helsingfors (Helsinki), Vasa (Vaasa) and Åbo (Turku). Please contact us for more information:
Björn Wallén, director
Swedish Study Centre
Head office
Post Box 235 FIN – 00121 Helsingfors