Estonian school succes and European school cooperation November 2-4th 2026
Three days course and contact seminar where you can find partners for class exchanges, job-shadowing, Erasmus+ and Nordplus projects within lower secondary school education – pupils age 15-17.
Purpose
The purpose of the course and the contact seminar is to learn from the Estonian school success and for the participants to find future partners for class exchanges.
What lies behind Estonia’s success in PISA? Strengths of Estonian education – school autonomy, equity and well-trained teachers. Can some elements of Estonia’s educational system be implemented in other countries?
Content
There will be plenty of opportunities for the personal meeting between the individual teachers from other European countries. The course will focus on best practice in relation to travel and online collaboration as part of the students' teaching. In addition, the participants will gain broad knowledge of how to apply for funding for European cooperation. There will be plenty of partners from schools across Europe for all participants – including 12 schools from Denmark.
Participants
European lower secondary school teachers and leaders (pupils age15-17)
Program
Monday November 2nd, 2026
9.00 Welcome
9.10 Introduction of participants and specific interests
9.45 Estonian Education: Excellence in PISA, Looking for Changes
Speaker: Gunda Tire, Head of International Assessments at Education and Youth Board of Estonia
What lies behind Estonia’s success in PISA? Strengths of Estonian education – school autonomy, equity and well-trained teachers. Can some elements of Estonia’s educational system be implemented in other countries?
Uncovering the driving principles and investments behind Estonia’s PISA success story. Exploring the Estonian education reform journey. Identifying how Estonia is encouraging stakeholder engagement and collective efficacy. Revealing mechanisms used to support teachers and schools in building their own capacity to cooperate in delivering high quality education. Reviewing current challenges faced by Estonian education, and how the government is working with stakeholders to address these.
11.15 Break
11.35 Workshop: What did you learn from the presentation about the Estonian school system?
12.00 Lunch
13.00 Workshop: Best practices of class exchanges / pupil mobilities / Job-shadowing
14.10 Departure by bus from the hotel's main entrance (30 min. walk)
14.30 School visit: Tallinna Pelgulinna State Gymnasium
16:00 Departure by bus to the hotel (30 min. walk)
18.30 Dinner and cultural event: Townsfolk’s Feast together with the Grand Guild Celebration at Restaurant Olde Hansa, Vana turg 1.
Tuesday November 3rd, 2026
9.00 Future School – evidence-driven change management for collaborative school culture
Speaker: Tallinn University, School of Educational Sciences
Introduction to the Estonian whole school approach of how to support school improvement and implement evidence-based innovation in schools.
The aim of the Future School programme is to support the abilities of the schools in implementing evidence-based and collaborative leadership practices. The approach is based on three principles - 1) awareness of the collaborative change management; 2) co-creation of new practices and methodologies; 3) evidence-base.
10.15 Break
10.30 The different opportunities for schools in the Erasmus+ program
11.00 Workshop: Best practices of KA122 projects / Small-scale Partnerships / Cooperation Partnerships
11.20 Workshop: Best practices of class exchanges / pupil mobilities
11.40 Workshop in smaller groups - find partners
12.00 Lunch
13.00 Workshop in smaller groups - find partners
14.00 Agree on your future cooperation with your new partners
15.30 End of program and hand out of course certificates
Wednesday November 4th, 2026
8.45 Departure by bus from the hotel's main entrance
9.00 School visit 1: Avatud Kool, bilingual elementary school (40 min. walk)
9.00 School visit 2: public school
12.00 End of program and departure by bus to the hotel
Where: The seminar will be held at Park Inn by Radisson Meriton Conference & Spa Hotel Tallinn, Toompuiestee 27/Paldiski mnt. 4, 10149 Tallinn, Estonia.
When: November 2nd-4th, 2026
Participants: Teachers and school leaders from European lower secondary schools (students age 15-17)
Course fee: 200 Euro
Meals mentioned in the programme is included in the price. Transport and hotel is not included in the price - participants must book hotel and transport themselves.
Registration: https://podio.com/webforms/29176781/2379337 (The seminar is fully booked)
Organizer:
The Danish Efterskole Association and The Royal Danish Embassy in Estonia as local partner
Jakob Clausager Jensen, Head of international relations
jcj@efterskolerne.dk, +45 22361153
Farvergade 27 H, 2., 1463 Copenhagen K, Denmark
The activity is partly financed by Erasmus+
