Between October 21st and October 26th, Europe2000 High School from Hungary participated in an exciting Erasmus+ mobility project, experiencing the Finnish education system and exploring the world of digital education
The 16 high school students from Európa 2000 High School Budapest, along with their dedicated teachers, enjoyed a week-long cultural exchange and educational adventure at Muurame High School in Finland. Their study tour and the related teacher training programme was prepared, designed and organised by Experience Workshop.
In the School
The Hungarian students were fully integrated into the daily life of Muurame High School, participating in regular lessons, social activities, and building lasting friendships with their Finnish peers. The school’s emphasis on business and entrepreneurship provided a unique learning opportunity for the visitors.
Some of the Hungarian teachers also carried out professional discussions within their job shadowing activities, mainly focusing on tools and methods of digital education.
STEAM Training in a Digital Perspective
Some of the teachers participated in Experience Workshop’s STEAM training, conducted by trainer Jukka Lehtoranta. Participating teachers were able to try out the latest methodologies in a cross-curricular approach, including trends brought by artificial intelligence.
Warka Workshop in Muurame
A highlight of the week was the interactive STEAM Workshop, led by Jukka Lehtoranta. This hands-on experience allowed students from both schools to collaborate on creative projects, fostering innovation and teamwork. They built a model of the Warka water tower, both large and small, and discussed how this innovative structure is helping to supply water to arid areas.
Leisure Time
To complement their academic experience, the Hungarian group was offered various cultural activities. They relaxed in a traditional Finnish sauna, explored the city of Jyväskylä in a guided city tour, enjoyed grilling during sunset by the Köhniö Lake, and visited the iconic Säynätsalo Town Hall, a signature piece by the famous architect Alvar Aalto.
This Erasmus+ mobility has not only enriched the lives of the participating students and teachers but has also strengthened the international connection between Hungary and Finland. By developing intercultural understanding and promoting digital education, this initiative has left a lasting impact.
Feedback by students
The Finnish school’s relaxed and student-centered approach was fascinating. Students were encouraged to be independent, and there was a strong focus on self-directed learning, which is different from what I’m used to.
I talked with multiple people, we exchanged social media profiles. We interacted in English but when someone forgot a word or didn’t know how to express themselves in English, we simply used gestures or google translate but in the end we managed to understand each other.
I have made friends by just being open and asking questions.
Overall, the activities were well-organized. I particularly enjoyed the balance between indoor and outdoor programs, as it helped me stay engaged throughout the mobility.
I learned that it is important to make new friends, appreciate nature, be interested in learning new things, new kind of subjects.
I’ve learned a lot about the Finnish culture, life-style, political and educational system.
I also got to know amazing people there.
I took home a new, different view on the world. It helps you expand your understanding of people and life.
Feedback by teachers
The whole program was extremely well organized. It was especially good that, in addition to gaining professional experience, we also had the opportunity to get to know the wonderful Finnish nature.
I came to understand how highly Finnish society values education, viewing it not only as a means of knowledge transfer but also as a support system for students’ individual development. This comprehensive, supportive approach was truly inspiring for me.
The role of teachers as facilitators was particularly interesting, as they are present more as guides and supporters rather than the central source of knowledge. This new role fosters students’ independence, creativity, and critical thinking.
I get a big motivation in this week, to be renewed, and I want to use what I learned on the teacher training, about AI tools, we get a big amount of tools, which can help during my daily work.
I will be able to use some ideas from the lessons in my own work: conducting a SWOT analysis in history class, incorporating debates into the lessons, using opinion-sharing methods, and integrating blogs and current news articles into the sessions.
Thanks for the organization! I gained very useful and memorable professional experiences during the week I spent in Finland.
Photo credits: Nóra Somlyódy, Tereza Pruknerová, Ashen Wijayarathna, teachers and students of Europe 2000 High School Budapest
The student group mobility, the teacher trainings and the job shadowing mobilities were realized in the frameworks of the Erasmus+ KA121 programme.
Would you like to participate in a similar educational program?
info@experienceworkshop.org
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