Skip to content

Please Note: Machine Translation
This is a machine translation made using Google Translate. Its purpose is to give the Reader a general idea of ​​the content of the page. You can check the original language text to verify the content.

Familiarize yourself with Finnish society

Social orientation is a course during which you and other immigrants will learn about Finnish society. In this course, we will tell you about, for example, the following:

  • living and working in Finland,
  • the functioning, values ​​and rules of Finnish society,
  • your rights and responsibilities.

What language is the teaching in?

In civic orientation, we teach you in your native language or another language that you know well.

Where is the course held?

Participants in civic orientation usually meet in Riihimäki at Hämeenkatu 14. However, we organize some courses entirely remotely, i.e. online. It is also possible that the same course includes meetings both at Hämeenkatu 14 and online.

How long does the course last?

The course includes at least 70 hours of teaching or independent study. The amount of independent study depends, for example, on

  • how long the participants have lived in Finland and
  • what the participants' own culture is like,
  • how well the participants know how to use a computer or telephone.

To whom and on what terms

You can participate in social orientation if:

  • you have just moved to Finland,
  • you are at least 18 years old and
  • We have made an integration plan for you and have noticed that the course could be suitable for you.

Do the following

Would you like to participate in multilingual social orientation? If you want to, register as a job seeker.

In some cases, we receive information that you have moved to Riihimäki, Loppe, Hausjärvi or Janakkala and we also see your native language. In this case, we may invite you to a course that we organize in your native language.

How can you register as a job seeker?

Register as a job seeker in the Työmarkkinattori Asiointi service if you have a Finnish personal identity number and the ability to identify yourself electronically.

Come visit Kotola in Riihimäki or the South Häme employment area office in Janakkala if

  • you do not have a Finnish personal identity code or
  • you cannot register as a job seeker in the E-services at Job Market Finland.

You can get help using the E-service from the Job Market Finland's E-services advice.

You can register for a course, information about which we publish on our website.

We sometimes publish information about civic orientations on our website, Ehtapalvelut.fi, and on social media. You can register for such a course if

  • you live in Riihimäki, Janakkala, Loppi or Hausjärvi,
  • you know the language of instruction of the course and
  • you have not previously participated in social orientation.

More on the subject: For an immigrant

Participate in integration training!

In integration training, you will study the same subjects in Finnish as in social orientation. At the beginning of the training, we will plan together with you how you can integrate into Finland.

Read about integration training.

Read more about social orientation

What is South Häme employment area?

South Häme employment area, or EHTA, is a labour authority covering the areas of Riihimäki, Janakkala, Hausjärvi and Loppi. It began operations in early 2025, when the Häme TE Office was closed down.

Read more about the employment area on the page South Häme employment area.