Why Finland’s Education System Is Among the World’s Best

If you are set on studying abroad but are not sure where to go, Finland is worth considering.

Over the past few years, more than 20,000 students have moved to Finland to experience its high quality of life, relaxed culture, natural beauty, and exciting food scene.

For many people, though, it is the country’s academic reputation that matters most. Finnish universities are consistently ranked among the best in the world, and many offer master’s programs taught in English. In the latest QS World University Rankings, nine Finnish universities are included, including the University of Eastern Finland.

We spoke with several master’s students from the School of Science and Forestry at the University of Eastern Finland to learn about their studies so far and what makes Finland such a special place to study.

Its modern learning environment and forward-thinking teaching approach

From kindergarten through higher education, Finland has long been a leader in educational development and learning.

The University of Eastern Finland, in particular, takes pride in the development of its new and evolving physical learning facilities and resources. Its state-of-the-art technology and innovative learning environments are designed to suit each student’s individual learning style.

From multi-location classrooms (MLCs) to virtual labs, students can be sure that their experience of studying in Finland will look and feel very different from what they are used to.

The Escape Room Lab, the first of its kind in the country, opened in October 2020. It was designed and created in collaboration with an academic team from computer science and education. The lab aims to “gamify” the learning experience and strengthen students’ teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Another unique learning facility is the Sm4rt Lab, which can be accessed from anywhere in the world. It is a safe space where students can try new ideas and gain new learning experiences through augmented reality.

Flexible learning is another open and diverse approach that encourages students to take the lead and take responsibility for their own learning. Flipped classroom learning shifts the focus from teacher-centered instruction to student-centered learning. This means students use a range of materials, including videos, before class to become familiar with the subject content. Class time is then used for feedback, insights, and questions around the topic.

This brings us to the next reason...

Student-centered learning is at the heart of Finnish education

A student-centered learning model provides valuable learning experiences. It improves your ability to learn and encourages you to collaborate with your peers. As a result, your independent and critical thinking skills improve, and so do your confidence and global outlook.

Godswill is a second-year master’s student in medical physics at the University of Eastern Finland. He is from Nigeria.

So far, he says his experience has been “amazing,” especially when it comes to working and studying with his peers.

“Really, the program has around 12 students, which means the student-to-lecturer ratio is ideal. In turn, that makes our learning more effective.

“The diversity of the classmates in the program is quite incredible, because my classmates come from Egypt, Poland, Pakistan, Iran, and Bahrain, which creates opportunities to learn and share cross-cultural and international knowledge.”

Giang Tran, from Vietnam, is another second-year master’s student, studying environmental policy and law. Before officially starting her studies in the autumn of 2019, Giang had the opportunity to take several summer courses at the University of Eastern Finland and found them to be a “great opportunity to get to know the campus and the university.”

Having the freedom to choose courses that best fit her career ambitions is something Giang greatly appreciates, along with the support and guidance of her professors and guest lecturers.

She said, “I feel very lucky to be able to learn from the professors at the University of Eastern Finland’s Faculty of Law.

“It has been very enjoyable, and I am looking forward to next semester.”