About us
Business College Helsinki is a vocational institution that educates professionals for working life – particularly in the fields of business and information and communications technology.
Get to know Business College Helsinki
Business College Helsinki (BC) is a strongly working life-oriented and international upper secondary vocational institution. It offers vocational qualifications in business as well as information and communications technology in both Finnish and English.
Students completing a vocational qualification can also pursue a double qualification, organised in cooperation with Töölö Upper Secondary School for Adults.
In addition, we provide further and specialist vocational qualifications for individuals and companies, particularly in fields such as sales, management, and financial administration.
Our campus in Pasila has around 3,500 students each year, representing many different cultural backgrounds.
Business and working life services and RDI
Helsinki Business College Ltd provides commercial training and working life services for businesses, and develops services and products as part of its RDI (Research, Development and Innovation) activities, mainly funded through external project financing.
Helsinki Business College Ltd
Business College Helsinki is operated by Helsinki Business College Ltd (HBC). HBC is a non-profit limited company jointly owned by the Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce and the Foundation of the Finnish Business College.
More information about our owners can be found via the links below:
HBC
- Students: approx. 3,500
- Number of qualifications: 2 vocational qualifications, 3 further vocational qualifications, 3 specialist vocational qualifications, and continuing education
- Completed qualifications (2023): 795
- Completed qualification units (2023): 6,168 (Vipunen)
- Student profiles: approx. 50% compulsory education students and 50% continuous learners
- Student feedback at graduation:
Would you recommend the institution? (NPS)
Whole BC: 49
Specialist vocational qualification graduates: 88 - Employer feedback:
Cooperation with Business College is smooth: 4.52/5 (08/2024) - Number of RDI and international projects: 35
- Staff: 150, of which approx. 57% are teachers
- Revenue: approx. €18 million
- Ownership: Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce and the Foundation of the Finnish Business College
- Year founded: 1881 (originally Helsinki Business School)
Mission, vision and operating principles
Our mission
We develop the professionals of the future.
Our vision
The best learning partner for your future.
Our way of working
At Business College, we are committed to customer orientation, taking responsibility, renewal and continuous development, and collaboration.
Our strategy
Our working life-oriented strategy is based on three themes: holistic wellbeing, continuous learning, and internationality.
Read more about how we promote internationality for our institution, students, and staff:
Board
Markku Lahtinen, Director, Chair of the Board
Hanna Ekdahl, CEO
Antti-Pekka Hulkko, Director of Service Business
Mikko Kinnunen, Education Policy Specialist
Arja Martikainen, Senior Consultant
Jarmo Oksaharju, Master of Science in Economics
The Board is presented by CEO and Principal Jaana Lehto.
Management team
Ville Mattinen, Director of Finance and IT, Shared Services
Jaana Lehto, CEO, Principal
Heli Huotari, Vice Principal
Kirsi Järvinen, Director of Student and HR Services
Annamari Tiitola-Savilahti, Director of Education Services
Laura Sydänmaanlakka, Director of Continuous Learning and Corporate Services
History
The Finnish Business College Foundation and Helsinki Business College
The year 2007 marked a significant turning point in the history of two respected institutions, when Helsinki Business School Ltd and the Foundation of the Finnish Business College decided to merge their institutions—Helsinki Business College and the Finnish Business College – ATK Institute—into one vocational institution. The aim of the merger was to strengthen vocational education and create new opportunities for students and teachers.
On 5 September 2007, a letter of intent was signed, and on 3 December 2007, the founding agreement officially confirmed the merger. In 2008, preparations continued actively, and Antti Loukola was appointed CEO and Principal of the new institution. In August 2009, the new institution began operations under the name Finnish Business College, with the English name Helsinki Business College.
In 2009, the adult education unit was renamed SLK Institute. In 2011, business studies were centralised at the Pasila Business Campus and ICT studies at the Vallila ICT Campus. In 2013, SLK Institute’s vocational qualifications in business and ICT were transferred as competence-based and apprenticeship training to the Finnish Business College. In 2015, further and specialist qualifications and continuing education were transferred to adult education at the Finnish Business College.
In August 2016, all education was centralised in Pasila. In 2018, the institution was officially renamed Business College Helsinki.
History of Helsinki Business School
The history of Helsinki Business School dates back to 1881, when Master of Philosophy Otto Lindholm applied for permission from the Senate to establish a private business school. The institution began operating on 18 January 1882 on Antinkatu (now Lönnrotinkatu) as a Swedish-language business school until 1904.
In the late 19th century, the school moved to Kruununhaka and later came under the ownership of Edvard Hedengren, expanding to include Finnish-language education. Notable board members included G. Paulig and Karl Stockmann. Future President K.J. Ståhlberg taught at the institution, and the first matriculated business graduates completed their studies in 1886.
Over the decades, the institution underwent several relocations and expansions. It moved to Sturenkatu in 1956, introduced computer terminals in 1970, and launched data processing education in 1985. In 1996, it moved to Vallila, and in 2003, it adopted the name Helsinki Business College.
History of the Finnish Business College
The Finnish Business College was founded in 1898 to provide higher commercial education in Finnish. Early milestones include receiving its first typewriter in 1899 and teaching by future President J.K. Paasikivi. The first 19 students graduated in 1901, including future political leader Väinö Tanner.
In 1911, its upper secondary classes formed the Helsinki School of Economics. In 1949, the foundation was established to maintain the institution, and in 1950, Finland’s first evening business school for working students was introduced. In 1978, it merged with the Eira Business School, and in 1999, the ATK Institute joined the institution.
A unified institution
The merger of Helsinki Business College and the Finnish Business College created a strong new educational institution that continues a long tradition of providing high-quality education and training future professionals.
Today, Business College Helsinki carries forward this legacy while continuously developing new ways to support student success.