Administrative branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture

The administrative branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture comprises 11 agencies and two limited liability companies in addition to the Ministry itself. Furthermore, there are various corporations, foundations and expert bodies within the Ministry’s administrative branch.

Issues related to education and science policy are dealt with by the National Board of Education, the Matriculation Examination Board, the Student Financial Aid Appeal Board, the Research Council of Finland, the National Archives of Finland, the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre, the Institute for the Languages of Finland, and the National Repository Library.

Issues related to cultural policy are dealt with by the National Board of Antiquities, the Governing Body of Suomenlinna, the National Audiovisual Institute, the national library for accessible literature and publishing Celia, and the Arts Promotion Centre Finland.

Regional administration and local decision-making

Within regional state administration, issues related to education, culture, sports and youth services as well as EU structural funds and regional development are dealt with by the Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) and the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY).

Local authorities and joint municipal authorities are responsible for education and cultural services. Universities, which are either corporations under public law or foundations under private law, operate in different parts of the country. Museums, theatres and orchestras produce cultural services both locally and regionally.

Furthermore, there is an abundance of different civil society activities going on especially in the fields of culture, sports and youth work. The Ministry of Education and Culture supports these activities.

Government agencies and public bodies within the administrative branch of the Ministry of Education and Culture:

National Archives of Finland
National Audiovisual Institute
Institute for the Languages of Finland
Finnish Heritage Agency
Finnish National Agency for Education and under it Finnish Education Evaluation Centre and Matriculation Examination Board and The Service Centre for Continuous Learning and Employment
Student Financial Aid Appeal Board
Research Council of Finland
Governing Body of Suomenlinna
Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Central Arts Council, national arts councils, and regional arts councils
National Repository Library
Accessibility Library Celia

Limited liability companies

CSC-IT Center for Science
Equine College

Other Actors

Regional State Administrative Agencies and Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment in education-related duties
Universities of applied sciences
Universities and their teacher training schools
National institutions for culture and arts
Organisations and foundations
Various councils, advisory boards, committees and boards