Educational Innovation in Finland

One the one hand, Finland developed an education system to tackle the challenges of the future, but on the other hand the system is embedded in Finnish culture and tradition. The country succeeded in merging tradition and innovation. The system strengthens the profiles of the teaching professions by starting with a thorough initial teachers training, facilitating teacher continuous development, supporting teachers in developing innovative teaching and assessment methods; strengthening leadership in education, including distributed leadership and teacher leadership. Participants to this course will learn about the Finnish educational system by visiting schools with an outstanding quality in Joensuu North-Karelia (Finland). Finland provides increasing access to affordable and high quality education and care, and enhances the quality of systems and provision, in order to foster appropriate development of all learners. Example of programme: Focus 1: The Finnish society and Educational System: criteria for success. Focus 2: Quality management in education. Focus 3: The role of the teacher and teacher training reform. Focus 4: Transfer of quality elements to local context and action plan. Focus 5: Inclusion and differentiation. - Exchanges of ideas with teacher and management staff; - Cultural interaction with the local students and teachers; - Information sessions on quality plan, inclusion, didactical approaches, special needs education.