Education cooperation between Finland and Türkiye– already good, but vast potential for future

Finland has one best education systems in the world. “We in Finland do not ask what the cost of education is, but what the cost of not educating people would be.” said Ambassador Ari Mäki, who gave a speech about Finnish education at CHP-party’s Education Symposium in Ankara on 23.6.2022.

The Ambassador of Finland to Türkiye, Ari Mäki, spoke about his own story, the Finnish Education System, the Teachers in Finland, and cooperation in higher and international education. 

Ambassador Mäki started the Symposium by talking about his own personal educational opportunities. Even though his parents were poor farmers, education was available for all children equally, and that possibility has brought him to where he stands today. That is the central pillar of the Finnish Education System: everyone must have equal learning opportunities and access to high-quality education and training. The achievable goal is to make individuals flourish through innovation and creativity. Furthermore, all competence and talent of the citizens should be mobilized to achieve sustainable economic growth and wellbeing. 

Mäki highlights how education has been the key to a nation’s success and growth. “In Finland, every school is a good school.” Education is available for everyone regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, or linguistic and cultural background. In addition, education is free of charge for Finns and citizens from EU/ETA countries.

The teachers have a substantial effect on the level of education in general. According to Mäki, teachers in Finland are highly educated, skilled, motivated, and have professional autonomy. They are encouraged to create and experiment with new learning environments and pedagogies. The high level of education among teachers makes it possible to focus on a holistic perspective on children’s wellbeing, support those who need it, and create a motivating classroom environment, not standardized testing. Mäki concludes: “the focus is on learning and support, not on steering and control.”

By 2030, Finland aims to invest 4% of its GDP in Research and Development. 

Finland has one of the highest levels of cooperation between higher education and business life, but the country also aims for international interaction. The goal is to increase global mobility and collaboration and attract more students and researchers to Finland. In Finland, there are more than 400 English-taught degree programs in 13 universities and 22 universities of applied sciences.

The aim is to increase cooperation between Finland and Türkiye in the future.

At the end of his speech, Mäki concentrates on the cooperation between Finland and Türkiye. Between 2004-2020, 2 300 Turkish students participated in the Erasmus programme in Finland, and 491 Finnish students have been to Türkiye. In addition, 421 Finnish personnel and academicians came to Türkiye, and 750 Turkish personnel and academicians were in Finland so far. The Embassy of Finland in Ankara will work hard in order to grow these numbers and facilitate cooperation between our countries.

 

If you became interested in the Opportunities in Finnish Universities, see: https://www.studyinfinland.fi/(Linkki toiselle web-sivustolle.) (avautuu uuteen ikkunaan) or if you became interested in Finnish Education System, see the Finnish National Agency for Education’s (EDUFI) website: https://www.oph.fi/en/education-system(Linkki toiselle web-sivustolle.) (avautuu uuteen ikkunaan)