Dr. Sindhu Mathai’s GINTL visit to the Finnish Institute for Educational Research

A week of collaborative explorations, learning and innovation

Published

Author Kristof Fenyvesi, University of Jyväskylä

TopicsGINTL-funded projects

Azim Premji University researcher Dr. Sindhu Mathai’s recent visit from India to the Finnish Institute for Educational Research’s Innovative Learning Environment (ILE) research group was a promising step toward building new international research collaborations. The study visit was financed by through a grant by from the Global Innovation Network for Teaching and Learning (GINTL). The program, hosted by Senior Researcher Dr. Kristof Fenyvesi, a specialist in STEAM Learning, included several opportunities for exchanging ideas and practices in transdisciplinary education.

Engaging with Finnish basic education and educational research excellence 

The tour consisted of a range of enriching activities spanned over a week. Dr. Mathai took part in an Indo-Finnish STEAM Education Exchange Seminar, where she shared about her current research projects with the researchers of University of Jyväskylä (JYU). The seminar included a STEAM workshop, organised at the exhibition space of the Jyväskylä Art Museum among South African children mathematical artworks focusing on various aspects of sustainability.

A collaborative effort with Finnish experts

A highlight of the trip was working with Dr. Heidi Layne, Senior Lecturer in Global and Sustainable Education and a fellow GINTL-researcher at the University of Jyväskylä. Layne and Fenyvesi have co-organised meetings and started to explore synergies between Dr. Mathai’s topics and the new Indian National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Exploring the University of Helsinki’s Playful Learning Center

Another highlight of the program was the visit to the University of Helsinki, where Dr. Mathai and Dr. Fenyvesi were greeted by Dr. Jenny Niu of the GINTL Coordination Team. They were given a campus tour that highlighted the university’s dedication to innovative learning environments. The tour included the Playful Learning Center, which was introduced by Dr. Jonna Kangas, a university lecturer who specialises in early childhood education and care.

Image: Sindhu Mathai (right), Erasmus mobility researcher Jan Vanek (left), PhD researcher and internationally acclaimed teacher, Jukka Sinnemäki (middle).

A step towards sustainable educational futures

  • This visit was more than simply an intellectual exchange; it was a step toward ensuring a sustainable future in education. The cooperation aims to influence curriculum design, assist vulnerable populations, and perhaps lead to new, long-term educational practices.
  • The visit paved the way for future Indo-Finnish scientific collaborations and collaborative publications. It demonstrated the effectiveness of international collaboration in tackling global educational difficulties, establishing JYU as a dynamic worldwide collaborator in the field of teaching and learning.
  • Dr. Mathai’s visit, funded by the GINTL grant, has created new opportunities for collaborative educational research and innovation. It demonstrates the effectiveness of multinational relationships in promoting educational quality and long-term growth.

The JYU ILE team thanks Olli-Pekka Malinen, Apoorwa Hooda, Samuel Madtha, Kati Clemens, Saana Mehtala, Pia Krimark and Anna-Maija Poikkeus for their support and contribution to the programme.

More information

Dr. Kristof Fenyvesi
Senior Researcher of STEAM Learning & Contemporary Culture Studies
Finnish Institute for Educational Research
Agora, B435.2
PO Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä 

+358 40 805 3324
kristof.fenyvesi[at]jyu.fi

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