The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) hosted the Global Research Institute for Finnish Education Conference 2024 from 5 to 6 June. The Conference brought together over 150 scholars, educators and practitioners from Hong Kong, mainland China and overseas for rich dialogue on educational reforms with a special focus on the Chinese and Finnish educational systems.
Renowned for its innovative, active learning, and equitable system, education in Finland has long been a role model for many countries and regions. In December last year, EdUHK established the Global Research Institute for Finnish Education (GRIFE) to integrate research findings into educational development and contribute to global education, marking a significant milestone in the educational collaboration between Hong Kong and Finland. After collecting nearly 50 academic papers during the past six months, GRIFE held its first flagship event, the GRIFE Conference 2024, with the theme of “Educational Reforms through the Perspectives of Chinese and Finnish Education” to provide a platform for in-depth academic discussions.
The Conference commenced with a World Café workshop on 5 June, a pre-conference event where EdUHK scholars, education experts from Hong Kong, mainland China and Finland, and school principals from Hong Kong and Macao discussed three core themes: best practices and challenges of education in the era of digital transformation, best practices and challenges of education in meeting societal demands for sustainable development, and the roles and responsibilities of education in shaping future society.
On 6 June, more than 30 education experts including 14 scholars from eight universities in Finland - Åbo Akademi University, Tampere University, University of Eastern Finland, University of Helsinki, University of Jyväskylä, University of Lapland, University of Oulu, and University of Turku - presented papers and discussed topics including educational reform insights, technology and pedagogy, international perspectives in teacher education, curriculum development in a multilingual context, special education and inclusive practices, sustainability and STEAM in Education, and well-being in educational environments.
In his opening remarks, Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, President of EdUHK, Director of GRIFE and UNESCO Chair in Regional Education Development and Lifelong Learning, said, “The Conference serves as an invaluable platform to foster insightful exchange of ideas and promote research and collaboration on Chinese and Finnish educational systems. The diversity of our social, cultural, economic and educational landscapes have the potential to mutually inspire one another.”
Building on the enriching and fruitful results of the Conference, the five special interest groups set up under GRIFE, namely Media Education and Digital Competence, Early Childhood Education and Special Needs Education, STEM Education, Higher Education and Teacher Education, will continue to work together and kickstart sustainable projects that will have significant impacts on education, research and policy.
