Benchmarking Best Practices & Job Shadowing – Vocational and Adult Education in Finland and/or Estonia
This unique professional development opportunity offers three flexible formats: a 7-day course in Finland, a 3-day job shadowing experience in Estonia, or a combined 10-day programme for a deeper perspective.
Start exploring leading-edge vocational and adult education systems in Finland and Estonia with this 7-day benchmarking course. Held from Monday to Sunday in Finland, the programme includes expert-led sessions, visits to vocational and adult education institutions, and participation in Studia—Finland’s largest study and career fair.
The week concludes with an excursion to Tallinn, Estonia, offering insight into one of Europe’s most digitally advanced education systems. This final day also opens the door to a 3-day job shadowing experience, where you can observe teaching practices in real classroom settings—from primary to vocational education—based on your interests.
What You’ll Learn:
This course blends in-depth field visits, collaborative discussions, and practical sessions to introduce strategies for advancing vocational and adult education. Finland and Estonia offer distinct but complementary approaches: while Finland emphasizes competence and flexibility, Estonia focuses on digital literacy and lifelong accessibility. You’ll gain actionable insights into personalized pathways that allow students to follow individualized learning paths suited to their goals, and you’ll explore how partnerships with workplaces contribute to effective work-based learning. Additionally, you’ll learn approaches for supporting refugee and migrant integration within vocational programs, enhancing inclusivity and diversity in education. By the course’s end, you’ll have the tools and strategies needed to bring these best practices to your institution.
- Gain insights into digital tools and resources that support both instruction and student engagement
- Explore Finland’s competence-based VET framework and workplace collaboration models
- Understand Estonia’s digital education strategies, focusing on lifelong learning and accessibility
- Discover methods for developing individualized learning paths and work-based training
- Learn about inclusive approaches for integrating refugee and migrant learners
Course Highlights:
- Visits to Educational Institutions: Discover how vocational and adult education centres in Finland and Estonia apply flexible, competence-based, and inclusive teaching practices.
- Studia Event Participation: Explore the latest tools and trends in education at Studia, Finland’s largest study and career event, and connect with professionals from across sectors.
- Digital and Competency-Based Learning: Learn how digital tools and competency-based methods are used to equip learners with practical, job-relevant skills.
- Inclusive Education Strategies: Gain insight into approaches that support refugees, migrants, and diverse learners through personalized learning and work-based opportunities.
- Excursion to Estonia: Take part in a dedicated visit to Tallinn to get a close look, either in person or via a streamlined format
- Job Shadowing Opportunity: Seamlessly continue your learning journey with a 3-day job shadowing experience in Estonia
- Networking and Collaborative Learning: Share ideas and experiences with peers from across Europe to inspire positive change in your own institution.
This course provides an extensive look into two of Europe’s most forward-thinking educational systems, offering strategies and insights to make vocational and adult education adaptable to the needs of all learners.
Similar course: Benchmarking Best Practices & Job Shadowing – Christmas Special for All School Levels in Finland and/or Estonia
- 7-day benchmarking course in Finnish schools
- 3-day job shadowing in Estonian schools
- Participate in tailored workshops
- Learning outside the classroom experiences
Upcoming Courses
Interested in a customized, on-demand version of this course for your group?
Learn more and tailor it to your team’s needs today!
What our clients say?
Tickets
All tickets include:
- Event materials
- Certificate of attendance
- School visits
- Admission to all sessions
Course price
For standard registrations/ group registrations
Job shadowing price
For all registrations
Combined price full 10-day experience
For standard registrations/ group registrations
By the end of this course, you will have developed a well-rounded understanding of the key elements that make Finland and Estonia successful in vocational education. You will gain the ability to implement competency-based and digital methods that align with evolving industry needs and create flexible educational pathways that foster growth. With practical strategies for individualized learning and digital tools integration, you will be equipped to create a supportive environment that emphasizes learning outcomes and student engagement.
- Apply competence-based methods and flexible pathways in vocational training programs
- Integrate digital tools into classroom and work-based learning for increased engagement
- Develop and tailor assessment strategies to encourage student growth and practical skills
- Build effective partnerships with local businesses and organizations to enhance work-based learning
- Support diverse learning needs, including those of refugees and migrants, through inclusive practices
This course is ideal for vocational education leaders, teachers, administrators, and adult education professionals. It provides practical tools for those who want to adopt best practices in flexible, student-centered education and create a forward-thinking learning environment.
Main organiser / trainers
A professor at Tallinn University, Estonia, and Head of its R&D Centre for Educational Technology, he has a background as a mathematics and physics teacher and school principal. For over 20 years, he has been active in teacher education and educational technology research, contributing to international projects on mobile technology and social software in education. As a board member of Euneos, Finland, he also coordinates the “Digital Turn towards 1:1 Computing” project, funded by Samsung, and is an expert in school digital innovation and change.
Spasia Neshkoska Tsutsuleska, MAEd
Spasia is an experienced international project coordinator with a background in educational initiatives and international collaborations. Currently, she delivers training sessions, manages course administration, and oversees project management at Euneos. As a trainer, she specializes in internationalization, intercultural competencies, integration of refugees and migrants and vocational and adult education in Finland, and teaching English to VET teachers. She is also a member of the international jury for Eumind projects. Previously, she served as a coordinator of internationalization, an external expert evaluator for Erasmus+ projects, an eTwinning ambassador, and was the principal of a vocational school in North Macedonia. Her Master studies are in Education and Globalization at the University of Oulu, Finland.
This is a provisional programme, the finalized program will be shared with participants prior to the course.
Day 1, Monday
Independent work: Preparing Learning Outcomes, Europass documents, and an Introduction Plan.
Short orientation and sightseeing tour.
Makerspace – open learning environments: visit to Oodi (library) and welcome session.
Day 2, Tuesday
Welcome. Introduction to the course.
Coffee break.
The basics of the Finnish education.
Lunch break.
School visit. Presentation of the school and tour.
Lesson shadowing.
Networking session, discussion, Q&A.
Day 3, Wednesday
Visiting Studia event.
Lunch break.
Networking session, discussion, Q&A.
Day 4, Thursday
Visiting a VET college.
Presentation of the school and tour.
Lunch break.
Lesson shadowing.
Networking session, discussion, Q&A.
Day 5, Friday
Visiting an adult education center.
Presentation of the school and tour.
Lunch break.
Lesson shadowing.
Networking session, discussion, Q&A.
Day 6, Saturday
Guest speaker and a workshop.
Lunch break.
Networking session, discussion, Q&A.
Departing for Tallinn.
Day 7, Sunday in Tallinn
Meeting in the lobby of Tallinn University.
A guided tour of Tallinn University.
Presentation on VET education system in Estonia.
Lunch break.
Feedback and evaluation session.
Day 1, Monday
Job shadowing in Estonia
Day 2, Tuesday
Job shadowing in Estonia
Day 3, Wednesday
Job shadowing in Estonia