Finland and Estonia agreed on close collaboration in developing cloud services in education
Finland and Estonia will collaborate to develop educational cloud services that will bring together electronic learning materials and learning applications, and will significantly step up both educational and technological cooperation. Krista Kiuru, Finland?s Minister of Education and Science and Jaak Aaviksoo, Estonia?s Minister of Education and Research reached agreement on this in Tallinn on Wednesday.
The Memorandum of Understanding contracted between Finland?s Ministry of Education and Culture and Estonia?s Ministry of Education and Research the two countries will promote mutual technological cooperation in developing and adopting cloud technology in education and learning. The new cloud services in education will include electronic learning materials and learning applications.
?This joint effort aims to enable the creation of cloud services in education and learning and the use of digital materials and find new ways of learning and teaching in the learning environments in both countries. In particular, we wish to help change the school culture to become more student-oriented and inspiring and promote approaches to teaching where the focus is on experiences of success?, Minister of Education Krista Kiuru stated.
Both countries will also encourage internationalstandardization of cloud technology to improve the interoperation of ecosystems related to education and help disseminate best practices. In terms of concrete action for cooperation, joint conferences and workshops will be held for those who work in education and visits between schools and staff members in primary and secondary education will be organised. Opportunities for teacher exchange to promote cooperation will also be examined.
?In the past few years, Estonia has made significant progress not only in the introduction of digital services but also in the quality of education and in student learning outcomes. This is why we believe that the Finnish society will benefit considerably from closer collaboration with Estonia?, Minister Kiuru happily observed.
More information:
-Special Advisor Esa Suominen, tel. 043 824 5668
-Counsellor of Education Merja Lehtonen, tel. 02953 30189
-Project manager Jarkko Moilanen, tel., puh. 02953 30003