The history of Paimio site

To educate forest owners of Proper Finland district, a forest course centre by the name of Metsä-Jukola was founded in 1956. The centre operated in Naantali on the island of Luonnonmaa. This institute was private in its nature. In 1965, the name was changed to Lounais-Suomen Metsäkouluksi (forest school of south-west Finland). Teaching begun with 4.5 months courses in forest economy.

In 1976, the owner of the institute was changed to Lounais-Suomen Metsänhoitoyhdistysten säätiö (the foundation for forestry organisations of south-west Finland). Vocational training for the forest sector begun in 1979 in the form of a general course of forestry and timber economy. This course was organised in the annex founded in the vocational training centre of Laitila. In 1981, the institute was allowed to use the buildings and land area of Paimio farming club college. The land and buildings were owned by the government. In the same year, the last courses for forest economy were given both in Naantali and Paimio. Lumberjack training and general courses were started in Paimio. In Naantali, operations were stopped at the end of 1981.

A course division was founded in 1982. In the sector of forest owner training, year-round short courses aiming at forest economy degree were started during the same year.

Operations were shut down in Laitila in 1986. An automation and IT course aimed for white-collar personnel was started that year. In 1988, the name was changed to Paimion metsäoppilaitos (Paimio forest college).

The course division became a division of adult education during the next year. Courses for continued education were added to the repertoire from the beginning of the 1990's to meet the current needs. Especially, courses for game economy and further processing of wood were added. In 1992, the general course was ended. It was replaced by a two-year forest mechanic course which also replaced lumberjack training. In 1993, the farming and gardening college of Tuorla and the forestry college of Paimio were joined. The new name was to be Countryside College of Southwest Finland. When the educational structures were changed in 1995 in our country, the forest-mechanic course was changed to basic degree of forest economy. In autumn 1998, natural and forest economy basic degree education was started in parallel with the basic degree of forest economy.