With us, everyone gets to shine
Spesia Vocational College is a Finnish vocational special education institution. We are the second largest of the five vocational special needs education (SNE) colleges in Finland.
As a private institution, Spesia is an integral part of the Finnish education system and is primarily funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
What Spesia does and where?
Spesia provides vocational qualifications as well as preparatory education and training for around 1,500 students who need special teaching arrangements and support. We operate in a total of 13 cities, including four main campuses with dormitories and nine smaller branches. Spesia’s main locations in Finland are Jyväskylä, Järvenpää, Pieksämäki, and Turku.
We are also an expert organisation with a mission to offer expert services, courses, consultancy and guidance for professionals, organizations and families. We are also strongly into developing education, teaching and methods.
For whom?
Our students are a wonderful group of young people and adults who need individualized support in their studies. The need for special support can be related to learning difficulties, physical limitations, or social challenges. Special education and support are not based on a diagnosis but on individual needs.
Fields of study?
Students can complete an upper secondary vocational qualification or individual qualification modules. Before that, they can start with preparatory education (TUVA). For those who need the most support and are not pursuing vocational studies, we offer preparatory education for work and independent living (TELMA).
How we teach?
Our teaching is very practical and work oriented. Studies are planned individually and groups are small. Students learn by doing and we take enough time for practicing.
Learning does not take place only at our own learning environments and classrooms, but also at real workplaces, performing real tasks.
Our multiprofessional working community is there to support students and networks and guidance complements teaching.
Roots?
We are a modern organization with strong roots. College is maintained by a corporation carrying its name, owned by two organizations: The Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities and S. and A. Bovallius Foundation sr, both with long SNE history starting in 1942 and 1905.
History on Spesia
Spesia Vocational College, founded in 2018, is a modern institution built on a rich, long-standing history. It was formed through the merger of two respected educational institutions: Bovallius Vocational College (est. 1905) and Validia Vocational College (est. 1948).
The organizations behind these institutions, the Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities (FPD, Invalidiliitto) and the S. and A. Bovallius Foundation, have brought their extensive legacy to Spesia, shaping it into the progressive educational institution it is today. These two entities own and operate Spesia Vocational College through Ammattiopisto Spesia Oy, the company established to oversee their merger.
Roots in rehabilitating war-disabled individuals
Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities (FPD), Founded in 1938, has long been a leader in advocacy and service provision for people with physical disabilities or functional impairments. Originally established to support and re-educate war-disabled individuals, FPD has always emphasized the importance of education in promoting self-reliance. Over time, on the field of education its mission expanded to support individuals with various special needs.
A visionary mission for deaf girls’ education
The S. and A. Bovallius Foundation sr, established in 1905, was born from the testamentary vision of two pioneering sisters, Sofia and Angelique Bovallius. Coming from a noble background, the sisters were determined to empower deaf girls by providing them with education and the means to become financially independent. Their visionary commitment, realized through their savings and legacy, has expanded in the 21st century to support individuals with communication disabilities, staying true to their belief in education as a tool for independence.
Contact us
Principal
International coordinator