The book presents results of the Academy of Finland``s programme on effectiveness of education as they relate to adult education. The project aimed at approaching the effectiveness of adult education simultaneously from different points of view:Historical institutionalization (of the open university in Finland), political aspects of programme evaluation as relatedto an actual major policy decision ( the so-called Relander financing schemefor adult education), analysis of an employment-oriented open learning environment ( at the University of Helsinki) and career guidance training.