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259 applied, 30 were chosen: introducing the participants of the Forum for New Education

Sitra's Forum for New Education draws participants and ideas from a broad cross section of society...

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Jenni Sarolahti

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The future of the Finnish education sector is a hot topic: a total of 259 Finnish development specialists and top experts applied to be part of Sitra’s Forum for New Education, which began its work in December 2014. The standard of the applications was extremely high across the board, and they provided excellent material for planning the forum’s work.

As well as representing several sectors of society, the chosen participants champion a spectrum of viewpoints on educational development. Despite their diverse backgrounds, the participants were not selected on that basis.

“A forum’s strength has traditionally lain in the networking that can be achieved between participants from different backgrounds, and their occasionally lively debates,” explains education expert and chief forum organiser Hannele Laaksolahti.

The participants will learn from each other, formulate a vision for the future of the education sector, identify key challenges and engage in practical experiments. The forum will liaise with a broad network of other key parties involved in the development of education, with the support of a seven-member “sparring team” of education decision-makers.

The participants of the Forum for New Education set up on 11 December 2014 are as follows:

Anna-Sofia Berner, Helsingin Sanomat

Aleksej Fedotov, National Union of Vocational Students in Finland

Kirsi Harra-Vauhkonen, Sanoma Pro Ltd

Sami Honkonen, Reaktor Ltd

Jan-Markus Holm, EduCluster Finland Ltd

Mervi Jansson, Omnia

Laura Juvonen, Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation

Lauri Järvilehto, Helsinki Academy of Philosophy

Jari-Pekka Kaleva, Neogames Finland

Bob Karlsson, National Board of Education

Maarit Korhonen, City of Turku

Tapio Kujala, Finnish Lifelong Learning Foundation

Kristiina Kumpulainen, University of Helsinki

Mikko Kutvonen, Design Driven City

Nina Lahtinen, Trade Union of Education in Finland

Jarkko Lahtinen, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities

Maisa Lehtovuori, STT-Lehtikuva

Teemu Leinonen, Aalto University

Petri Lempinen, Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees

Ulla Nord, Helsinki Deaconess Institute

Pertti Parpala, Ritaharju School

Leena Pöntynen, Town of Ylöjärvi

Immo Salo, Ivorio Ltd

Tiina Silander, University of Jyväskylä

Mika Sivula, Town of Pielavesi

Nuppu Stenros, WÄRK

Esa Suominen, Ministry of Finance

Heikki Toivanen, Partus Ltd

Anu Urpalainen, Parliament of Finland

Laura Vanhanen, Finn Church Aid

Milma Arola, Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra

You can read more about the Forum for New Education and follow its progress here. There will also be plenty more opportunities for getting involved in the forum’s work; watch this space!

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