Finnish move may pay off in happier students

More than 150 education professionals from local, mainland and overseas institutions are set to join a two-day global conference on Finnish education at the Education University starting tomorrow.

The event is hosted by the university's Global Research Institute for Finnish Education, launched in December as part of a collaborative effort with Finnish institutions to bring innovation to local education.

The conference begins with a workshop that wiill see scholars will discuss challenges and practices of digital transformation and sustainable education. On Thursday, around 30 Finnish experts will share their experiences in the main conference.

University president and institute director John Lee Chi-kin said the conference provides a valuable platform for local educators to exchange ideas and collaborate with peers from other countries and regions.

"The future direction of education is not only about teaching students technical skills, but should emphasize more on whole-person development," Lee said.

"Finnish education can be a mirror for Hong Kong, helping us reflect on where we have been and how we can improve our own education system."

Since its inception, the institute has been studying research and papers in areas such as STEM, media, early childhood, special needs, higher and teacher education.

A year ago, the university signed a memorandum with the University of Lapland. As a result, the first batch of students will be able to enroll in a one-year exchange program in Finland starting next year.

The institute has also been exploring the feasibility of importing interest-oriented and happiness-based education models from Finland, one of the world's happiest countries, to kindergartens and primary schools here, including the possibility of reducing assessments to alleviate the burden on teachers and students, said institute associate director Li Wai-chin.

Li added that Hong Kong should also learn from Finland to stimulate students' initiative in learning, rather than relying solely on the current teacher-led education model.

Co-director Cai Yuzhuo, who has lived in Finland for over 20 years, said the development history of Finnish education holds great reference value for Hong Kong.

Cai said some features of Finnish education, such as the teaching of nature survival skills, may not be directly applicable.

"Hong Kong can learn how Finland learned from foreign practices," Cai said, emphasizing the importance of parental education as an area for study, as parents need to shift hopes from "gaining good grades" to "growing up as a whole person."