Description
Imagine a school where students feel a deep sense of belonging, take responsibility for their actions, and actively contribute to a positive and supportive community.
When students are empowered to engage in school life, they develop confidence, social skills, and a sense of purpose – key ingredients for both personal and academic success.
However, many educators struggle with disengaged students, social conflicts, and a lack of student responsibility.
How can we create a school culture where students feel valued and motivated to participate?
This course is designed to explore Finnish student engagement models that cultivate well-being, responsibility, and community.
Participants will discover how Finland empowers students through three key programs – Peer Activators, Mediators, and Environmental Agents – that encourage student-led initiatives, conflict resolution, and sustainability practices.
By applying these approaches, educators can foster an inclusive and dynamic school culture where students feel empowered to make a difference.
During the course, participants will engage in hands-on activities, reflective discussions, and collaborative workshops. They will learn how to implement the Peer Activator Program to encourage physical activity and student-led engagement, apply the Mediator Program to teach conflict resolution and social-emotional skills, and integrate the Environmental Agent Program to promote sustainability and environmental awareness.
Through practical exercises and shared experiences, participants will explore ways to adapt these Finnish models to their own school environments.
By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with practical strategies to enhance student engagement and well-being.
Combining research-based insights and real-life applications, they will be ready to create a school culture where students take the initiative, develop essential social skills, and actively contribute to a supportive, responsible, and thriving learning community.
What is included
Learning outcomes
The course will help the participants to:
- Understand how Finnish education promotes student agency, well-being, and a sense of belonging;
- Foster student engagement and well-being;
- Implement the peer activator program;
- Develop strategies to teach students conflict resolution, empathy, and accountability;
- Gain practical tools to create a school environment where students can manage conflicts constructively;
- Put in practice the Mediator Program;
- Empower students as environmental agents;
- Incorporate sustainability practices into school life with student-led environmental initiatives;
- Explore how Finnish schools encourage responsibility and action for ecological well-being;
- Apply Finnish engagement models to build a more inclusive, responsible, and empowered student community;
- Foster a school environment where students feel valued, take initiative, and actively contribute to positive change.
Tentative schedule
Day 1 – Course introduction
- Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
- Icebreaker activities;
- Presentations of the participants’ schools.
Student Empowerment – The Finnish Model for Engagement
- Introduction to Finnish Education: How does Finland foster student agency, well-being, and a sense of belonging?;
- Discussion: How can we create a school environment that values student contribution and responsibility?
Day 2 – Building leadership and social skills – the peer activator program
- Overview of Peer Activator Program: Empowering students to lead physical activities and foster peer engagement.;
- Hand-On-Activity: How to implement student-led programs to enhance physical engagement and school spirit;
- Workshop 1: Develop your own Peer Activator Program tailored to your school’s needs.
Day 3 – Teaching conflict resolution – the mediator program
- The Mediator Program: Using conflict resolution techniques to teach empathy, responsibility, and social-emotional learning;
- Hands-on Activity: Practice mediation strategies with real-life scenarios to build conflict resolution skills;
- Workshop 2: Develop a plan to introduce mediation and empathy-building exercises into your school curriculum.
Day 4 – Sustainability and student leadership – the environmental agent program
- Environmental Agent Program: How students can take the lead in sustainability and ecological well-being initiatives;
- Case Study: Review examples of successful student-led environmental projects in Finnish schools;
- Workshop 3: Create an environmental initiative for your school community, with a focus on student leadership and involvement.
Day 5 – Cultivating a thriving school culture – integrating engagement models
- Integrating All Three Programs: How to combine Peer Activators, Mediators, and Environmental Agents for a well-rounded student engagement strategy;
- Action Planning: Develop a step-by-step plan to implement these programs in your own school;
- Reflection & Discussion: Share your insights and final thoughts.
Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities
- Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
- Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
- Excursion and other external cultural activities.
