Our recent Erasmus+ exchange with a group of Italian educators and students was a great success. Happening between September 23rd and September 28th, the visit provided a unique opportunity for cross-cultural learning and collaboration between the two countries.
New students and teachers from the Istituto Comprensivo n.1 “A. Oriani” Sant’Agata visited Jyväskylä. After the school had previously visited Finland with another group in April 2024, and they returned in the Finnish Autumn, in order to gain more pedagogical experiences and build collaboration with their host school, Kortepohjan Päiväkotikoulu. Both Erasmus+ visits were facilitated by Experience Workshop.
Teachers in Training
The visiting group consisted of six experienced Italian teachers and ten enthusiastic primary school pupils. Some of the teachers participated in an intensive ICT training course led by Jukka Lehtoranta, gaining valuable insights into the latest educational technologies.
Additionally, the teachers had the chance to observe and participate in Finnish teaching practices through school visit. Finnish partners for the Italian teachers in professional discussions were colleagues of Kortepohjan päiväkotikoulu, Gwyneth Koljonen, Jenny Riivali, Iina Veijola, and school principal Päivi Liimatainen.
Pupils in School
The young Italian students were equally engaged, experiencing themselves in Finnish school life. They attended regular classes alongside their Finnish peers, experiencing firsthand the unique educational approach and digitalization efforts of Finnish schools. This exchange provided a valuable opportunity for both schools to learn from each other and broaden their perspectives.
The Italian students particularly appreciated the unusual experience of going outside for playtime during school breaks, a practice that differed from their own schools. They also found the handicraft classes particularly interesting, because in Italy they don’t have the opportunity to try theirselves at such intensive practical work.
Finnish and Italian students celebrated together European Day of Languages in Kortepohja primary school. During their time together, they experienced the benefits of learning foreign languages and how language skills can open doors to the world through conversations and friendships.
At the same time, Italian guests and Finnish peers were invited and warmly welcome in the events of Researchers’ Night, such as in the STEAM workshop held at the University of Jyväskylä by Kristóf Fenyvesi, founder and STEAM director at Experience Workshop. This experience provided a unique opportunity for the participants to connect with fellow educators, explore new ideas, and celebrate the power of STEAM education.
Finnish culture
Beyond the academic activities, the program included a variety of cultural experiences. The visitors enjoyed exploring the city of Jyväskylä, discovering its rich history and cultural attractions. They also had the chance to experience the beauty of Finnish nature, with a memorable visit to Lake Köhniö, where they enjoyed grilling and relaxing by the water.
The Italian participants expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to interact with Finnish teachers and share knowledge and practices within the classroom.
We are delighted to have hosted this successful Erasmus+ exchange and look forward to future collaborations. This experience has not only enriched the lives of the participants but has also strengthened the ties between the two countries. We encourage educators and students to consider participating in our future complex mobility programs to experience the benefits of international exchange firsthand.
Feedback
My most interesting experience during the mobility was at the Kortepohja school, the interactions we made, relationships we established.
We attended our classes in a fully-equipped classroom, our professors and staff were very kind and accommodating, and we met people from different cultures and backgrounds.
I particularly liked the forest walk and grillig. The view on the lake was wonderful and suggestive, it made me feel like I was really in Finland.
I have learnt much about the use of robotics to facilitate certain activities, about the importance of coding and computational thinking, and about the different applications of Artificial Intelligence.
I gained communication skills, lifelong relationships and international networking opportunities. I learned new inclusive strategies to motivate the class.
The organisation of our mobility was great, you paid attention to each detail and looked after us in every moment and aspect.
Photo credits: Nora Somlyody, Tereza Pruknerová, Jukka Lehtoranta, Ashen Wijayarathna
The program was implemented as part of the Erasmus+ KA1 programme, with the contribution of Experience Workshop Jyväskylä.
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