In August 2023, WCF successfully hosted a study group from Vietnam to Finland to learn about Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in the country. The group consisted of university teachers/students (Hanoi University of Pedagogy, National College for Education, University of Glasgow), principals, and directors of private kindergarten chains in Vietnam (Vinschool, GCA of Capital House, Kidzhome, Go Global Education Academy, etc).
Within five intensive days, participants learned about and observed the basics of Finnish education in general and Finnish early childhood education and care. From the curriculum to key pedagogies and physical environment settings, the tour enriched diverse perspectives of Finnish ECEC in practices in different kindergarten models: the teacher training kindergarten of the University of Turku, a Steiner kindergarten, a Montessori kindergarten, and a private kindergarten chain called Pilke. The tour also included a visit to the Playful Learning Center, University of Helsinki to learn about play pedagogy, and a showcase session where some Finnish providers presented their services and products for ECE levels: Kindiedays, Moomin Language School, MoovKids, Gymi Education and KiDE Science.
It ended cozily with a gala dinner at the Embassy of Vietnam to Finland where the participants got to know the sustainable relationship between Vietnam and Finland, especially in the field of Education cooperation. As said by a participant, "Lessons from the success of Education in Finland will give hope for the development and transformation of Vietnamese education.".
Read Linh Ho's reflection on what she has gained throughout the study tour in Vietnamese:
Reflection 1: Finnish Education Lesson No.1
Reflection 2: Finnish Education Lesson No.2
Reflection 3: Finnish Education Lesson No.3
Reflection 4: Finnish Education's Lesson No.4
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