Integration training is a key service that promotes the integration and employment of immigrants who have completed compulsory education and improves their social, cultural and everyday skills. Integration training also serves as a pathway for other education and entry to the open labour market.
Finnish or Swedish language studies and, if necessary and other instruction that promotes access to the labour market and further education are provided as integration training. The actual teaching of literacy is mainly organised separately from integration training, but integration training may include studies that strengthen literacy. The training may also include the recognition of prior learning, recognition of degrees, as well as vocational planning and career guidance. Integration training in Swedish is provided in the regions of Uusimaa and Southwest Finland and in the Swedish-speaking areas of Ostrobothnia.
The implementation of integration training mainly as labour market training supports an immigrant’s orientation towards the labour market. However, integration training may also be provided as independent study, which offers various options for studies and meets the educational needs of immigrants in different life situations. Teaching of literacy in predominantly provided in liberal adult education institutions and as part of basic education for adults.
The majority of integration training provided in Swedish is organised as independent study.
Read more:
National core curriculum for integration training (in Finnish)
Integration training organized as labour training (in Finnish or Swedish)
