Sector businesses lend a hand to the education system of Estonia
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Estonia's school leaders are bridging the gap between education and the corporate world thanks to an internship program. This program, backed by the Good Deed Education Fund, the Tallinn Education Board, and Fontes Talent Advisory, is redefining school management by blending commercial know-how and educational leadership.
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The HK Unicorn Squad movement empowers young girls with tech, robotics, and science skills. By promoting gender equality in the ICT sector, the program has sparked a passion for technology among 154 Unicorn squads across 92 Estonian schools.
Edumus, an e-learning platform, connects students with industry professionals to boost their learning experience. With 80 participating schools in Estonia, students in grades 10-12 can now access a wealth of online courses tailored to their interests.
2018 marks the creation of the Good Deed Education Fund by the Good Deed Foundation, partnerships of esteemed entrepreneurs such as Martin Villig, Taavet Hinrikus, Artur Taevere, and Hannes Tamjärv. Together, they aim to tackle key issues within education, ensuring access to quality education for all.
Mesh of Public and Private
Martin Villig, chairman of the Good Deed Foundation, underlines the importance of investing in education as a building block for a better society. The Good Deed Education Fund addresses the challenges faced in school management, the shortage of teachers, and facilitates a better understanding of learning practices.
The mentioned internship program, launched in 2019, embodies the power of collaboration between sectors. Pirkko Valge, CEO of the Good Deed Foundation and one of the internship program's initiators, credits the idea to Andres Pajula, former head of the Tallinn Education Department, and Piret Jamnes, board member and head of the development team of Fontes Talent Advisory.
Initially piloted with five courageous school principals from Tallinn, the internship program is now in its fifth iteration, with plans to extend the opportunity to more schools.
The Public Sector Matters
Schools, according to Pirkko Valge, have yet to fully exploit the benefits of effective leadership and management. The internship program is designed to change that by exposing school leaders to best practices from various sectors. The involvement of both the Tallinn Education Department and other local authorities is crucial in encouraging school administrators to participate in this program.
School administrators play a vital role in the process, helping to select participants, organizing appropriate substitutes, and ensuring the headteachers' participation is covered.
Changing Dynamics
Mari Roostik, principal of Tartu Jaan Poska High School, adopted valuable leadership techniques through her internship at Veriff, an Estonian digital verification company. Embracing lessons learned, she introduced changes to her school's communication system to create a more efficient and streamlined environment for everyone involved.
On the other hand, Tallinn Art Gymnasium's headteacher, Mari-Liis Sults, worked with the TransferWise team to develop strategies aimed at reducing stress among teachers and fostering a happier learning experience for students. The program helped her create a communication system offering transparency, accessibility, and a clear flow of information.
Empowering Trust and Accountability
Both Roostik and Sults highlighted an increased emphasis on data-driven decisions as a game-changer in their schools. Through conducting surveys and assessing student responses, they ensured a dynamic and evolving learning environment tailored to each student's needs.
A Two-Way Street
Companies offering internships benefit from a fresh perspective brought on by educational leaders. Feedback on their leadership experiences expands Wise and Pipedrive team members' horizons, further enhancing their understanding of the educational system. Ingrid Palm, Pipedrive's people and culture manager, and Brett Lemsalu, Wise's senior people advisor, confirm that the collaboration enriches both entities.
While challenges arise in designing suitable tasks, streamlining internal processes, and pushing individuals beyond their comfort zones, the experience offers a unique opportunity for growth and innovation for participants from both worlds.
With each cycle of the program, valuable lessons are gleaned and incorporated to deliver an increasingly fruitful and enriching experience for all involved. The initiative enables a two-way exchange of knowledge, leveraging the best of both sectors to create an exceptional learning experience and fostering a more unified, sophisticated educational ecosystem.
- The interns from Estonia's school leadership program, supported by the Good Deed Education Fund, the Tallinn Education Board, and Fontes Talent Advisory, are leveraging their commercial knowledge to redefine school management, bringing change to schools across Estonia.
- Inspired by the HK Unicorn Squad movement, girls in Estonia are developing tech, robotics, and science skills, aiming to promote gender equality in the ICT sector and bolster their passion for technology.
- Edumus, an e-learning platform popular in Estonia, provides students with access to industry professionals, enhancing their learning experience by offering tailored online courses for grades 10-12.
- In 2018, the Good Deed Education Fund was established by the Good Deed Foundation and notable Estonian entrepreneurs like Martin Villig, Taavet Hinrikus, Artur Taevere, and Hannes Tamjärv, with the objective of addressing key issues within education and ensuring quality education for all.
- The internship program for school leaders in Estonia, initiated by Pirkko Valge, Andres Pajula, and Piret Jamnes, is fostering collaboration between sectors, promoting effective leadership, and propagating a better understanding of educational practices, ultimately creating a more advanced learning environment.
