Dr. Sindhu Mathai's GINTL Visit to the Finnish Institute for Educational Research A week of collaborative explorations, learning and innovation
Engage with Finnish Basic Education and Educational Research Excellence
The tour consisted of a range of enriching activities spanned over a week. Dr. Mathai took part in an Indo-Finnish STEAM Education Exchange Seminar, where she shared about her current research projects with the researchers of University of Jyväskylä. The seminar included a STEAM workshop, organized at the exhibition space of the Jyväskylä Art Museum among South African children mathematical artworks focusing on various aspects of sustainability.
Innovative Learning Environments Seminar at Jyväskylä Art Museum. Orsolya Tuba (left) and Matias Mäki-Kuutti (right) JYU ILE project researchers.
Dr. Mathai also gained direct experience with the Finnish educational system by visiting JYU's elementary and secondary level teacher training schools and the Jyväskylä Christian School, where she learned more about Finland's approach to teacher training, student participation and holistic education.
Sindhu Mathai (right), Erasmus mobility researcher Jan Vanek (left), PhD researcher and internationally acclaimed teacher, Jukka Sinnemäki (middle).
A collaborative effort with Finnish experts
A highlight of the trip was working with Dr. Heidi Layne, a Senior Lecturer in Global and Sustainable Education and a fellow GINTL-researcher at the University of Jyväskylä. Layne and Fenyvesi have co-organized meetings and started to explore synergies between Dr. Mathai's topics and the new Indian National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Explore University of Helsinki's Playful Learning Center
Another highlight of the program was the visit to the University of Helsinki, where Dr. Mathai and Dr. Fenyvesi were greeted by Jenny Niu, PhD, of the GINTL China Coordination Team. They were given a campus tour that highlighted the university's dedication to innovative learning environments. The tour included the Playful Learning Center, which was introduced by Jonna Kangas, a university lecturer who specializes in early childhood education and care.
Sindhu Mathai (middle), university lecturer Jonna Kangas (first from the left), Erasmus mobility researcher Jan Vanek (second from the left), PhD researcher Jenny Niu (first from the right), Kristof Fenyvesi (second in the right).
A Step Towards Sustainable Educational Futures
This visit was more than simply an intellectual exchange; it was a step toward ensuring a sustainable future in education. The cooperation aims to influence curriculum design, assist vulnerable populations, and perhaps lead to new, long-term educational practices.
The visit paved the way for future Indo-Finnish scientific collaborations and collaborative publications. It demonstrated the effectiveness of international collaboration in tackling global educational difficulties, establishing JYU as a dynamic worldwide collaborator in the field of teaching and learning.
Dr. Mathai's visit, funded by the GINTL grant, has created new opportunities for collaborative educational research and innovation. It demonstrates the effectiveness of multinational relationships in promoting educational quality and long-term growth.
The JYU ILE team thanks to Olli-Pekka Malinen, Apoorwa Hooda, Samuel Madtha, Kati Clemens, Saana Mehtala, Sirpa Turpeinen, Manu Mäkinen, Minni Matikainen, Johanna Turunen, Pia Krimark and Anna-Maija Poikkeus for their support and contribution to the program.
More information:
Dr. Kristof Fenyvesi
Senior Researcher of STEAM Learning & Contemporary Culture Studies
Finnish Institute for Educational Research
Agora, B435.2
PO Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä
