PROGRAM

Tentative program  – Please note that minor changes are possible! 

Sunday:
Arrival
Afternoon:
Introduction to the course
Mix&Mingle: getting to know each other
Self-study material and learning diary

Monday:
9-11 Facilitated discussion based on the self-study material
Presentation: Finnish education – What is the secret sauce?
11-12 Lunch
12-15 Presentation: Curriculum and competences – Is Finland getting rid of subjects?
Peer learning on core competences
Self-study material and learning diary

Tuesday:
9-11 Facilitated discussion based on the self-study material 
Panel discussion on 21st century competences
Presentation: Core competence 1 – Thinking and learning to learn skills
11-12 Lunch
12-15 Presentation: Core competence 2 – Taking care of oneself and others
Group work
Self-study material and learning diary

Wednesday:
9-11 Facilitated discussion based on the self-study material
Presentation: Core competence 3 – Multiliteracy
11-12 Lunch
12-15 Visit to school
Self-study material and learning diary

Thursday

9-11 Reflections from the visit
Presentation: Core competence 4 – ICT
11-12 Lunch
12-15 Presentation: Core competence 5 – Cultural competence, interaction and expression
Group work
Self-study material and learning diary

Friday:

9-11 Facilitated discussion based on the self-study material
Presentation: Core competence 6 – Entrepreneurship
11-12 Lunch
12-15 Presentation: Core competence 7 – Participation and influence, building the sustainable
future
Debate on crucial 21st century competences now and in the future
Self-study material and learning diary

Saturday:

9-11 Final words and reflections on the learning journey
Certificates
11-12 Lunch
12 – Optional cultural activities: Allas, Löyly, Lonna, Torni, Suomenlinna…
Explore and enjoy Helsinki!
(additional fees apply)

REGISTRATION AND PRICES

How can I participate?

All registrations must be done using the online registration form. 

The pre-registration deadline for this course is February 29, 2024!

Discounts available for groups of 5 or more participants! Contact info@visitedufinn.com for more information.

The course will be confirmed later. For the moment, we take binding pre-registrations. If you want to send a group, but you don’t know yet all participants’ names, it is possible to add them to the registration form like this:

participant 1, participant 2, etc.   

If you have problems or questions about completing the online form, please contact info@visitedufinn.com

REGISTER

Prices
(Read more about grants and other options for financial support.) 

If you have Erasmus+ KA1 funding, it should cover the fees. For those who come from outside the EU countries, there are other professional development grants for teachers. We have tried to keep the costs so low that self-funded participation is also a real option.

The price excludes Finnish VAT 24%. For VAT exemption, you need to register as a representative/employee of a company or organization and during the registration, attach a tax certificate, trade register extract, or similar from your country. A screenshot/picture of a VAT-number or Erasmus-related OID (Organization ID) are also acceptable. 

Course fee 660€ 

Price includes

• Free 30-day access to Finnish Education Online Courses
• Course program
• Entrance fees (on the planned excursions)
• Materials
• Certificates of attendance  

Other expenses

Airline tickets, accommodation, and local travel tickets to be bought separately. Please note that we will recommend nice lunch places and public transportation for the trips, but participants will be responsible for the lunch and transportation
cost during the program.

Payments

When we confirm the course we send a link to pay with a credit card or an invoice to make a bank transfer. The participant should assume all the bank transaction fees. 

Please note that all payments must be made in advance and in euros (€). 

Frequently Asked Questions about Registration and Fees

TRAINER

Who is in charge of the 21st century learning and competences -course?

ERASMUS+

VisitEDUfinn (OID CODE: E10020922 / PIC CODE: 899855324) organises ERASMUS+ Staff Mobility job shadowing and  professional courses designed for teachers at all levels. Our programs are organized in different parts of Finland in cooperation with other stakeholders in the field of education (schools, universities, municipalities). 

All the courses are designed following the Quality Standards for courses under Key Action 1 and participants are provided with certificates that meet the Europass criteria.

Course title: 21st Century learning and competences

Audience

• Kindergarten, primary, and secondary school teachers
• Special education teachers
• School management and leadership
• All other non-teaching experts

Working Methods

• Exploration of pre-assumptions
• Workshops
• Facilitated discussions / shared brainstorming
• Teamwork and Presentations
• Field visits   
• Personal learning diary

Outcomes

• Gain insight into Finnish schools and education
• Facilitate team-building activities
• Implement teaching sessions by utilizing participatory methods
• Create a concrete development plan for your own school

European/ International dimension

We wait participants from many European countries as well as from outside Europe. Sharing ideas together with colleagues from different countries offers a broader perspective on the topic. The course is also a great opportunity for networking for future collaboration.

ACCOMODATION

The participants can freely choose their accommodation. However, we highly recommend being located close to Senate Square as the most interesting sights are within walking distance from the Square. Forenom offers comfortable accommodation in different locations around Helsinki area, and our clients get 10% discount (ask for a code). For those with a limited budget, Eurohostel is an excellent option.  

Tell us what kind of accommodation you prefer, and we can help to find a place for your stay!

GENERAL INFORMATION ON HELSINKI

Is Helsinki the coolest city in the world?

Probably yes! In the capital of Finland, you can find the influence of both our neighbors, Sweden and Russia, but still the city is unique. It’s a modern metropole with over 650, 000 inhabitants (1,5 million in the larger metropolitan area) and yet you are never more than a 10-minute walk from nature. On the same day, you can pick berries in a forest and go to the Opera. Helsinki is a lively big city that never sleeps, but so safe that you can see 7-year-old first graders the take the tram to school on their own. 

Feeling the fresh breeze of the Baltic Sea while wandering around the picturesque streets of this easy-going city, it is not so difficult to imagine why Finns are the happiest nation in the world. After the walk, warm yourself up with a cup of coffee and a cinnamon bun. These coffee breaks with friends and colleagues are almost sacred moments to Finns. 

While in Helsinki, check out the libraries as a social innovation in Finnish education, interactive museums, the islands around Helsinki and the sauna. There are many more attractions that promise unforgettable experience in Helsinki such as  Alvar Aalto’s studio, Helsinki Cathedral by Carl Ludvig Engel, Senate Square, Old Market Hall, Löyly sauna and restaurant, and much more. 

Check out What’s up in Helsinki during your study visit!

EDUCATION IN FINLAND

How is education in Finland?

During our events and courses, you will get familiar with all the characteristics of Finnish education:

• One of the basic principles is that everyone must have equal access to high-quality education and training.
• Each student has the right to educational support.
• Special needs education is generally provided within mainstream education.
• The Finnish education system is based on the philosophy of inclusion.
• Educational support and guidance covers support for learning according to the individual capacity of the learners, school attendance, pupil welfare, and guidance and counseling. The learning of gifted pupils and students is supported.
• The education system is based on trust and responsibility.
• Educational autonomy is high at all levels.
• Most education is publicly funded.
• National core curriculum gives space for local variations.
• Learning outside the classroom is common.
• The first national examination is at the end of general upper secondary education.
• Teaching continues to be an attractive profession.
• Finnish schools have highly educated teaching personnel.
• Continuing teacher education is widely encouraged.