As part of an ongoing collaboration between the Punjab state in India and the University of Turku, a group of 72 teachers from Punjab participated in an intensive three-week training programme in March 2025. Following a similar professional training organised last autumn, the Through Joy and Play training programme continued to build on the fruitful collaboration between Finnish and Indian educators.
The collaboration agreement between the Punjab Government in India and the University of Turku aims to share Finland’s renowned educational practices, with a particular emphasis on early childhood and primary education, to promote pedagogical development and innovations in both regions. As part of this initiative, teachers from Punjab, India take part in a professional training programme coordinated by the Global Educational Services of the University of Turku.
Immersive training experience through interactive and hands-on learning
The Through Joy and Play training programme commenced with a one-week preparatory session in Punjab, India. This session aimed to equip the teachers with foundational knowledge before their departure to Finland for the subsequent two-week training.
During their two-week stay in Turku and Rauma, participants engaged in lectures, workshops, and study visits to various schools and early childhood education and care centres. The programme covered a broad spectrum of topics, including Finnish approaches to assessment and evaluation, pedagogical methods for numeracy and foundational literacy, gamified pedagogy, and the integration of ICT in education. Half of the group spent the first week in Rauma, exploring the methods employed in Finnish teacher training and early childhood education.
The training allowed the teachers from India to observe and experience Finland’s renowned education system in action. A key component of the programme was the preparation of development projects, each tailored to the participants’ own school and classroom environments in India. The projects help implement the ideas and findings of the training in practical and context-specific ways. Participants are supported in the process by Finnish mentors, who will continue to provide guidance as the projects evolve.
The hands-on approach and interactive sessions were highly appreciated by the participants, who found the experience both inspiring and enriching. The positive feedback from the teachers highlights the impact of the programme and the enthusiasm to bring new pedagogical approaches to their home country.
“I think we have gained really valuable insights into how Finnish teachers create a positive and engaging learning environment. I look forward to trying out these practices back home,” said Saparjan John, one of the teachers participating in the training.
Suvi Puolakka, Senior Researcher at the University of Turku and one of the Finnish mentors, was pleased that the participants were clearly eager to learn new approaches.
”It has been great to see the motivation and enthusiasm of the Punjab teachers. Project reports show the development of their own thinking towards teaching and learning and they have really realised the importance of interaction in the classrooms,” Puolakka explains.
From new ideas to community-wide impact
The training visit concluded with a final day celebration, marking not an end but a new beginning for the participants. Kristiina Heikkilä from the University of Turku thanked the participants and reflected on the rewarding nature of the experience, emphasising that the three-week training was only the first step in a longer journey of transformation. She reminded participants that teaching is a lifelong process—one where each educator’s unique insights shape the learning environment in various ways. She encouraged the group to carry forward and to see themselves as catalysts for change in their own classrooms and communities.
Key Account Manager Ari Koski urged the participants to trust in their abilities and to support one another as they embark on the next phase. He highlighted the importance of sharing new ideas and collaboration in fostering a strong community of practice, a fundamental pillar of the Finnish approach to education.
The atmosphere during the final celebration was one of excitement and anticipation. As the programme progresses, participants return to their schools in Punjab applying the ideas and development projects they prepared during the training. The preparation of development projects was a key component of the training. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet with their Finnish mentors online later in the spring, to reflect on their experiences and discuss how the projects have been implemented in their classrooms and schools.
