As the most important sub-forum of the 12th ICP convention, the 1st China-Finland Principal (Basic Education) forum (CFP), co-hosted by the Finland-China Education Association (FICEA), Finnish International Education Innovation Research Institute (FEDUCATION), and Association of Finnish Principals, was successfully held in Plenary Hall of Parliament House in Helsinki on 4th August. The guest speakers delivered wonderful speeches on three main topics which were “China-Finland Education Reforms and Development of Future Schools”, “Development of Learning Environments and Education Technology” and “Improvement of Education Management and School Leadership”. Their words aroused an echo strongly among the hundreds of principals from China, Finland, and other countries. Through the meeting of minds and wisdom, participants had communication closely while widening their international vision. They drew a beautiful picture of future education together.
The vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Education and Culture Committee of Finland, Ms. Sanna Lauslahti, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of P.R. China to the Republic of Finland, Mr. Yu Qingtai, and the president of ICP Mr. Ari Pokka were present and addressed the opening ceremony. Ms. Lauslahti congratulated first that FICEA organized the forum successfully before showing her appreciation for the efforts that FICEA had done in the educational exchange between the two countries. Meanwhile, she hoped that the two countries could cooperate further by promoting progress together since they had their own features and advantages and the cooperation on education between them was getting stronger and stronger. Mr. Yu Qingtai gave warm congratulations to the 1st China-Finland Principal (Basic Education) Forum as well as showed his belief in an unprecedented peak that China and Finland would reach in education and cultural cooperation in the future. Mr. Pokka pointed out that this forum had attracted hundreds of excellent Chinese principals to take part, which set a record for the participation of Chinese principals in the conventions of ICP. The delegation of China has become the largest one besides Finland. He hoped that Chinese and Finnish educators could take this as an opportunity to strengthen their friendly cooperation more.
These passionate speeches from the guests illustrated to the participants that education and cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries had been paid high attention to and supported strongly by both governments. Exchanges and cooperation will have more various channels and broader spaces. Along with increasing exchanges and cooperation in education and culture, the educational dreams of China and Finland will become more and more beautiful!
The China-Finland Principal (Basic Education) Forum was themed “Future Education Design” with three sub-themes “China-Finland Education Reforms and Development of Future Schools”, “Development of Learning Environments and Education Technology” and “Improvement of Education Management and School Leadership”. Several education experts and principals from China and Finland were invited and attended the forum.
The principal forum was reported in both domestic and foreign media including Xinhua News Agency, Guang Ming Daily and GBTimes interviewed the vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Education and Culture Committee of Finland, Ms. Sanna Lauslahti, the president of ICP Mr. Ari Pokka, and some other guest speakers as well. The participants all agreed that they had had extraordinary experiences at the convention and forum which astounded them impressively. They were confident in further education exchanges and cooperation between China and Finland.
The forum offered an opportunity for the participants from China and Finland to communicate extensively and deeply. Chinese and Finnish Principals exchanged their ideas around important and urgent issues of education and reached an agreement. More than 30 Chinese and Finnish schools established the sister school relations with each other through FEDUCATION and FICEA platforms.
“Everyone benefits a lot from the forum.” – This is a personal experience that almost all the principals participating in the first China-Finland Principal (Basic Education) Forum have had. China-Finland Principals Forum built up an important platform of communication for the principals from the two countries, laid a more solid foundation for China-Finland education and culture exchanges, as well as developed a greater space for the countries to share successful educational outcomes for reference in the future.
The 2nd China-Finland Principals Forum will be even more wonderful. Let’s get together again in the summer of 2016!
