Creative North: Understanding Finnish Education / Inquiry-Based Learning, Science and Sustainability

– A Job Shadowing Journey invites educators to explore the foundations, values, and everyday realities of Finnish schooling.

The course begins with a combined lecture and forest hike, offering a structured introduction to the Finnish education system followed by reflective discussions in nature — a setting that mirrors Finland’s emphasis on wellbeing. Next three days participants spend job shadowing in a Finnish educational institution: primary school, lower secondary school and upper secondary school. These visits offer authentic insight into teaching practices, school culture, student support, and the role of trust and autonomy in learning.

A dedicated Helsinki day highlights how Finnish society supports learning beyond the classroom. Through urban exploration, guided visits, and thematic tasks, participants examine libraries, cultural institutions, and public spaces as extensions of the learning environment.

Throughout the week, participants engage in guided reflection to connect their observations to their own contexts and identify practical ideas to take home. This Erasmus+ experience is ideal for teachers and school staff seeking a deeper understanding of Finnish education, inclusive practices, and the societal structures that enable equitable learning for all.

Subjects Observed

Science

Mathematics

Arts and crafts subjects — with a focus on how mathematical and scientific thinking are applied within them

Themes

Inquiry-based learning and learning-by-doing

Project work

Climate change and sustainable development

Circular economy and recycling in schools

Course Focus

Participants will follow science, mathematics and arts and crafts lessons at three school levels, and take part in discussions with teachers about inquiry-based learning, project work, and how sustainability, climate change and recycling are addressed in Finnish schools.

Below is the preliminary programme for the week. The daily schedules and the schools we'll be visiting will be confirmed closer to the start of the course. However, the basic structure of the course remains the same: there are 30 hours of instruction over the week, we visit three different schools (primary school, lower secondary school, and upper secondary school/lukio), one lecture day, and one day in Helsinki.