International group of teachers impressed by Oulu's combination of educational innovation, culture and methods

More than 20 teachers from different countries gathered in Oulu in March to participate in the Full Steam refresher course for teachers and other education professionals. The international teachers visited schools such as Ylikiiming, Rajakylä and Hinta.

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An international team of teachers visited, for example, the Rajakylä school

The international teachers' journey in Oulu education took them to several innovative learning environments, including FabLab, Ylikiimingi School, Rajakylä School and Hinta School. These visits provided them with first-hand experience of the practical applications of Steam pedagogy, which fosters students' creativity and problem-solving skills.

Steam Pedagogy combines science, technology, engineering, art and maths, and at the intersection of these, participants will seek to learn innovative teaching methods that ignite creativity and critical thinking in students.

Bulgarian English teacher Kalina Nikolova was impressed by the schools' hands-on approach

"Today, the Finnish education system and its results are impressive, not only in Europe, but I believe globally as well. Having heard that schools are well-equipped, I decided to see in practice how students use that equipment, and I found that they participate in many hands-on activities. We were also impressed by the cooperation between schools, universities and business throughout the Oulu region," said Nikolova.

Trust between teachers and students

Kalina Nikolova compared Oulu's hands-on learning method with Bulgaria's more academic-oriented education system, emphasising the importance of trust in the educational process.

"Here I learned that trust really does matter. Trust between teachers and students, and also trust between parents and teachers is important because they know that their children are in good hands."

Some of the teachers also visited Oulu, the European Capital of Culture 2026, to see what culture has to offer. A visit to the Oulu Art Museum's modern art exhibition showed the city's potential for providing artistic and cultural experiences for students. This not only enriches the learning experience, but also connects students to their community and heritage, contributing to their understanding of the world around them.

What is Steam?

short for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics, these subjects serve as a starting point for developing students' abilities in inquiry, dialogue and critical thinking.
student-centred, experimental and collaborative learning, which improves the school's culture of doing and learning together.
Steam in Oulu is a network of schools and units in early childhood education, basic education and secondary education where Steam teaching and learning is developed.
A community of schools and teachers in Oulu, which started developing in 2018 and currently has over 30 Steam schools in Oulu.