During Finland at Expo 2020 Dubai’s Education Forum, industry leaders and experts from the UAE and Finland’s education sector discussed:
We brought together experts in the fields of teacher training, curriculum, well-being, EdTech solutions and artificial intelligence to share their insights, knowledge and guidance in a series of expert interviews, panel discussions and live Q&As.
In our keynote presentation, Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General at Finnish National Agency For Education, discussed the Finnish education system's characteristics and how education can prepare children for an unknown future.
He explored the need to create personalised paths for individual learners with increasingly diversified needs. We will also discuss the 2016 Finnish curriculum reform's objectives and the vocational education and training reform of 2018.
Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General at Finnish National Agency For Education
Our panel of education experts explored how schools across Finland and the UAE have responded to the COVID-19 Pandemic, what they learned from the lockdown restrictions placed on schools, and why Finland favours the hybrid model. Our speakers discussed how school culture has developed and what kinds of changes to the working culture had to occur during these exceptional times. Finally, looked to the future and envision how we will return to normality while building resilience and preparing for future challenges.
Moderator: Katia al-Kaisi, Founder and CEO at Education House Finland
Hind Al Mualla, Chief of Creativity, Happiness & Innovation at KHDA
Hunada Kanbar, School Improvement Advisor at Sharjah Private Education Authority
Dr Raimo Salo, PH.D, Senior Advisor at University of Oulu Teacher Training School
Minna Saadé, Senior Transnational Education Advisor at University of Helsinki, HY+
Finland’s education model is not an off-the-shelf product. However, there are fundamental elements that can be implemented as a way to diversify pedagogy and enhance student learning. In this session, we took an in-depth look at the steps new and existing schools can take to adopt and adapt Finnish teaching styles successfully.
Stephen Cox, Chief Education Officer at New Nordic School
Our panel of education experts explored the pedagogical use of education technology solutions, how to ensure each learner is catered for and how to harness education technology to boost creativity. Finally, we discussed how education technology can enhance the curriculum while still ensuring students are developing the necessary soft skills.
Moderator: Katia al-Kaisi, Founder and CEO at Education House Finland
Riku Alkio, Founder and CEO at Seppo
Sajida Al Bashir, Educational Leader at Royal Grammar Guildford School in Dubai
Jeffery Coupe, Director of Education at Alef Education
With the help of General Semantic AI, predictive analytics, and simulation, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences has anticipated the skills required by future workplaces to provide solutions for graduate education and continuous learning. Data-driven insights enable Haaga-Helia to understand what skills are needed now and in the future to guide up-to-date curriculum development to improve the university's competitive offering. Their partner, HeadAI's cognitive artificial intelligence, deploys natural language processing algorithms to build and develop text-based digital twins on knowledge domains, groups, and persons. This enables transparent predictive analytics and cognitive reasoning for curriculum development.
Moderator: Leisa Grace Wilson, Editorial Director at Teach Middle East
Pasi Tuominen, Lector at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences
Anu Passi-Rauste, AI-Talent-preneur and Head of Business Development at HeadAI Ltd.
Finland is a pioneer in the education sector and is well known for its progressive approach, ensuring all industries are equipped with the research, technology and knowledge needed to develop beyond their current capabilities. Our excellent learning outcomes are the result of research-based pedagogy and our innovative approach to teaching and learning. Finland's world-class education system forms the foundation of the country's success, delivering solutions to local and global challenges. Finland is frequently ranked as one of the best countries globally for education, making Finland viable for process simulation by other education-focused governments.
Similarly, education sits at the heart of the UAE’s Vision 2021 National Agenda. As the country strives to provide a first-rate education system, teaching methods are undergoing transformations, smart systems are being adopted across schools and universities, and significant importance is being placed on pre-school enrollment.
Severi Keinälä, Commissioner General
Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General
Hind Al Mualla, Chief of Creativity, Happiness & Innovation
Katia Al-Kaisi, Founder and CEO
Dr Raimo Salo, PH.D, Senior Advisor
Hunada Kanbar, School Improvement Advisor
Stephen Cox, Chief Education Officer
Riku Alkio, Founder and CEO
Minna Saadé, Senior Transnational Education Advisor
Pasi Tuominen, Lector
Sajida AL Bashir, Educational Leader
Anu Passi-Rauste, AI-Talent-preneur and Head of Business Development
Leisa Grace Wilson, Editorial Director
Jeffery Coupe, Director of Education