About Us

About Us

Helsinki Summer University is open to anyone interested, regardless of age, education or other study rights. Every year about 8,000 participants study in more than 700 courses at the Summer University.

In addition to open university and open polytechnic education, our diverse curriculum includes language teaching, information technology, art courses, high school graduate courses, in-service training and open public events.

There are 20 summer universities in Finland that provide teaching in 130 locations. Summer universities operate in collaboration with Finnish universities and other institutions of learning, and offer an opportunity for both personal and professional development. Despite the name the activity is year-round.

Helsinki Summer University is a high-quality educational institute arranging university-level, non-formal adult education. It is founded in 1966 and maintained by the Helsinki Summer University Foundation. The founders and members of the foundation are the municipalities of the Helsinki metropolitan area, and the University of Helsinki also participates in its administration.

Extensive and high-quality teaching of the Finnish language has been organized since the foundation in 1966. There are over 25 foreign languages ​​in the curriculum with courses ranging from beginners to university-level teaching.

Board from 2025 to 2029

Marika Koski (COB)Deputy member: Risto KolanenCity of Helsinki
Ozan YanarDeputy member: Sini KaartinenCity of Helsinki
Konstantin Kouzmitchev Deputy member: Christina KareikkoCity of Helsinki
Katja YlisiuruaDeputy member: Susanna KoistinenCity of Helsinki
Henna Karppinen-KummunmäkiDeputy member: Muzaffardjon KhudoikulovCity of Espoo
Siiri TurunenDeputy member: Jessica Lerchen (City of Kauniainen)City of Espoo
Jenni NorrenaDeputy member: Elina PaakkonenCity of Vantaa
Jenni KrapuDeputy member: Minna HernoUniversity of Helsinki