About the site

What is multilingual civic orientation?

Multilingual civic orientation is a service provided at the early stages of integration. In it, an immigrant receives information about Finnish society in their own mother tongue or in another language they know well. The aim is to provide an overall picture of how Finnish society functions and to help immigrants participate in society more quickly and smoothly.

Municipalities or employment authorities are responsible for providing this service to all integration clients. Multilingual civic orientation complements other services that support integration.

The instructor’s role and competence requirements

Multilingual civic orientation is taught by a person who:

• has a strong command of the language of instruction as well as Finnish or Swedish
• is familiar with Finnish society, its service system and culture
• is able to explain matters clearly and comprehensibly

It is considered an additional advantage if the instructor is familiar with the societies and cultures of participants’ countries of origin. This helps in comparing and explaining the special features of Finnish society from the participants’ perspective.

Native language and dialogue as support for learning

The key pedagogical principles of multilingual civic orientation are:

• native language – the possibility to learn in one’s own language
• dialogue – the opportunity to ask questions, discuss and reflect on what has been learned
• This supports deeper learning and strengthens participants’ inclusion and agency.

Multilingual civic orientation cannot be replaced, for example, with videos watched alone or information sessions that only present local services. The training as a whole must be interactive and participatory.

Legislation and organisation of instruction

The scope, duration and languages of instruction in multilingual civic orientation are regulated by a government decree. The decree defines what content must be included in civic orientation and how it should be implemented.

Scope and methods of instruction

Multilingual civic orientation includes a minimum of 70 hours of instruction and independent study. Teaching must primarily be interactive and take place in a learning setting.

The methods of implementation are:

• in-person instruction
• remote instruction
• combinations of the two

Training must be carried out in person if the individual situation of the integration client requires it. In addition, an interpreter may be used in teaching if a participant’s language skills so require.

Further information on multilingual civic orientation

The following pages are available in Finnish and Swedish:

• Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration (finlex.fi)
• Government Decree on Multilingual Civic Orientation (finlex.fi)
• Multilingual civic orientation (kotoutuminen.fi)

Updated learning materials

Finnish Refugee Council and the Finnish National Agency for Education produced the online learning materials for multilingual civic orientation in 2023–2025. The project team included civic orientation expert Anni Harmaala (Finnish Refugee Council) and senior specialist Lilli Rasilainen (Finnish National Agency for Education).

The development of the learning materials was based on Finnish Refugee Council 2017 textbook Suomi – Yhteiskuntaorientaation oppikirja. The development project for the learning materials and online platform was funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).

The illustrations for the learning materials were drawn by illustrator Jutta Kivilompolo.

The online platform, content and its development are managed by KEHA Centre.

In cooperation

The new learning material concept and texts were commented on by authorities, integration experts, instructors, NGO representatives and integration clients:

• Bildningsalliansen
• CareeriaPlus Oy, civic orientation instructors
• Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu)
• Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Digi- ja väestötietovirasto)
• Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres) / ELY-keskusten hallinto- ja kehittämiskeskus
• Helsinki Adult Education Institute (Helsingin aikuisopisto)
• City of Helsinki, InfoFinland
• City of Helsinki, Urban Information Services (Kaupunkitietopalvelut)
• Helsinki Employment Services
• City of Hämeenlinna, Integration Services (Hämeenlinnan kaupunki, kotoutumispalvelut)
• Emergency Response Centre Administration (Hätäkeskusliitto)
• National Audiovisual Institute (Kansallinen audiovisuaalinen instituutti)
• Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kansaneläkelaitos, KELA)
• Kanta-Häme Wellbeing Area, Strategy and Integration (Kanta-Hämeen hyvinvointialue, strategia- ja integraatiotoimiala)
• Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (Kuntaliitto)
• Federation of Child Welfare Associations (Lastensuojelun keskusliitto)
• Mainio Immigrant Info, City of Tampere (Maahanmuuttajainfo Mainio, Tampereen kaupunki)
• Finnish Immigration Service (Maahanmuuttovirasto, Migri)
• Moniheli ry, DigiUp programme
• Ministry of Justice (Oikeusministeriö)
• Finnish National Agency for Education (Opetushallitus)
• Pirkanmaa Wellbeing Area, Social Services (Pirkanmaan hyvinvointialue, sosiaalipalvelut)
• Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland, Occupational Safety and Health Authority (Pohjois-Suomen aluehallintovirasto, työsuojeluviranomainen)
• Sámi Parliament, Learning Materials Secretary (Saamelaiskäräjät, oppimateriaalisihteeri)
• Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö)
• Springhouse Oy, integration training teachers and students
• Finnish Refugee Council (Suomen Pakolaisapu ry), Järjestöhautomo
• Finnish Refugee Council (Suomen Pakolaisapu ry), Reilu työelämä project
• The Finnish National Rescue Association (Suomen pelastusalan keskusjärjestö)
• Takuu Foundation, “Integrative Household Skills” project (Takuu-säätiö, Kotouttavat taloustaidot -hanke)
• Tampere Adult Education Centre (Tampereen Aikuiskoulutuskeskus)
• Tampere Region Vocational College Tredu, City of Tampere (Tampereen seudun ammattiopisto Tredu, Tampereen kaupunki)
• Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos, THL)
• Mainio Immigrant Info, City of Tampere (Maahanmuuttajainfo Mainio, Tampereen kaupunki) [mainittu kahteen kertaan alun perin]
• Finnish Immigration Service (Maahanmuuttovirasto) [mainittu kahteen kertaan alun perin]
• Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Labour Migration & Integration Unit (Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö, Työvoiman maahanmuutto- ja kotoutumisyksikkö)
• Uusimaa ELY Centre (Uudenmaan ELY-keskus)
• Finnish News Media Association (Uutismedian liitto)
• Hilma Support Center for Immigrants with Disabilities (Vammaisten maahanmuuttajien tukikeskus Hilma)
• VeggArt’s Oy
• Finnish Tax Administration (Verohallinto)
• Family Federation of Finland (Väestöliitto), project “Equality and Sexual Rights Information for Integration Clients and Professionals”