Education works best when it combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on activity, and when it connects learners directly with the people and environments where that knowledge comes to life. In late March 2026, Experience Workshop organised an educational tour to Jyväskylä for a group of 20 students and 4 teachers for the Shatin Pui Ying High School of Hong Kong. The program was designed to give the visiting group an overview of the Finnish education system, from high school to university, while using our core methodology of STEAM learning.
Finnish Education System and Creative Hands-On Robotics STEAM Workshop
The program began at Crazy Town, Experience Workshop’s headquarters, with an expert presentation on “Introduction to Finnish Education,” and discussion led by STEAM Director Dr. Kristof Fenyvesi. The discussion format allowed for direct questions, accommodating the specific interests of the group from Hong Kong.
Following the introductory session, the group participated in a STEAM workshop: Creative Hands-on Robotics, also led by Dr. Fenyvesi. This workshop is a core part of Experience Workshop’s methodology. Instead of a lecture on robotics, the session required the students to work directly with materials, combining creative design with technical problem-solving. The focus was on the process of building and understanding, rewarded by “a testing field” to test the robots’ durability. A short video documenting the workshop’s approach can be viewed here: Creative Hands-on Robotics Workshop.
To give context to the discussion on higher education, the group toured the Seminaarinmäki campus of the University of Jyväskylä. This historic area, which includes the university library and the original teacher training college buildings, explained the history of Finnish education.
Visit to Norssi Teacher Training School
Central part of the program was the opportunity to visit a Finnish school during a normal day. The group visited Norssi Lower Secondary School, Jyväskylä’s university training school. The visit included an introduction to the structure of Finnish upper secondary education by Pirjo Pollari, followed by a school tour with local student guides. Students could ask questions directly to their Finnish peers. The group then joined lessons, observing classroom dynamics, teaching styles, and the relationship between teachers and students in the Finnish system. After the observations, the group took part in a Q&A and reflection session involving also the high school’s principal, Risto Sarvilinna. No school visit would be complete without trying out Finnish school buffet at the school restaurant.
From High School to University
The afternoon sessions were designed to bring together the students’ current studies with future academic and professional possibilities. The presentation on Immersive Software Engineering and AI university bachelor program provided information about a newly developed study field available in English at the University of Jyväskylä.
Later on, each of the 20 students delivered a one-minute presentation on a specific topic: combining two different STEAM fields into a dream career that does not yet exist. Staff experts from the University of Jyväskylä provided direct feedback to each student, connecting their ideas to real academic pathways. The formal part of the day ended with a certificates ceremony, recognizing the students’ participation in this educational tour.
In the final session, students took part in round table discussions with current university students. The topic was straightforward: what is university life like in Finland? Visiting students asked questions about student life, housing, study habits, and the transition from secondary school to university here in Finland.
Photo credits: Nóra Somlyódy, Tereza Pruknerová and Charlotte AU YONG
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