Sector Beyond Government Aids Education Infrastructure of Estonia
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Title: Forward-thinking Estonia Transforms Education with Cross-industry Internships
Schools across Estonia are shaking up the status quo, thanks to a unique collaboration between the private sector, education leaders, and local authorities. This innovative partnership, overseen by the Good Deed Education Fund, the Tallinn Education Board, and Fontes Talent Advisory, aims to revolutionize school management practices by bringing fresh ideas from the corporate world into education.
Lukewarm on the sidelines, the Good Deed Education Fund, established in 2018 by the Good Deed Foundation, entrepreneurs Artur Taevere and Hannes Tamjärv, Bolt and Wise co-founders Martin Villig and Taavet Hinrikus, and a new wave of entrepreneurs, is on a mission to address pressing issues in education: improving school management, addressing teacher shortages, and fostering learn-to-learn initiatives.
Private Sector Leadership Cultivates Progress in Education
Guided by the conviction that every child deserves a quality education, Martin Villig, chairman of the Good Deed Foundation, has dedicated himself to bridging the gap between the educational system and the private sector. Villig's commitment to education drived him to collaborate with the Good Deed Education Fund, a non-profit initiative dedicated to finding innovative solutions to education's acute problems in collaboration with leaders from various sectors.
One of the key programs produced by this collaboration is an internship program for school leaders, which places education leaders in private sector companies for a period of time. This program, originating from the brainstorming sessions of Andres Pajula (former head of the Tallinn Education Department) and Piret Jamnes (Fontes Talent Advisory board member and head of the development team), merges the best management practices of the private sector with education administration for the benefit of students and teachers alike.
Pirkko Valge, CEO of the Good Deed Foundation and one of the program's initiators, underscores the importance of these collaborative efforts, stating that "schools have yet to adopt the best leadership and management practices." By fostering a space for collaboration between sectors, the internship program hopes to provide education leaders with the tools and insights they need to create a more effective and efficient educational environment.
The Public Sector Steps Up
School administrators play a crucial role in the success of the internship program. Valge explains that their duties include assessing and selecting candidates for the internship, organizing substitutions, and contributing financially to the program. The support and involvement of school administrators are essential for the program's continuation and expansion to reach more schools across Estonia.
To date, the program has gained traction among larger towns and municipalities, as well as schools affiliated with the Estonian education and research ministry. However, the Good Deed Education Fund remains dedicated to spreading the word and encouraging more local authorities to join the movement.
Breaking Barriers, Sharing Ideas
The first group of school leaders embarked on their internships in 2019, and the program has continued to grow since then. Mari Roostik, the principal of Tartu Jaan Poska High School, was one of the early participants in the program, internning at Veriff, an Estonian digital verification technology company. Roostik emphasizes that this experience allowed her to learn from a role model organization and gain insights into how to create a leadership system that supports all teachers and, by extension, all students.
The program's success is not limited to school administrators; participating companies also benefit from the collaboration. Brett Lemsalu, senior people advisor, and mentor at Wise (formerly TransferWise), praised the internship program, stating that not only do the companies contribute to the training but also that the trainees bring new value to the company by sharing their perspectives and insights.
While the search results did not mention a "Good Deed Education Fund," they did reveal parallels with other cross-industry education initiatives. Programs like the Ferguson-Florissant Foundation for Education (US), for example, demonstrate that public-private partnerships can fund leadership development, scholarships, and community projects[2]. By fostering cross-sector collaboration, these initiatives create opportunities for educational leaders and businesses alike to share insights and build a more effective educational system.
Stay connected with Education Estonia for the latest updates on educational initiatives and collaborations in Estonia.
[1] EduLane Foundation – Scholarships for International Students in Estoniahttps://educationestonia.com/international-scholarships-in-estonia/
[2] Ferguson-Florissant Foundation for Educationhttps://www.fergflor.edu/about-us/foundation-for-education
[3] Estonia: A Model for Digital Educationhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/02/11/estonia-a-model-for-digital-education/
[4] The Acacia University: A Leadership Development Program in Educationhttps://www.acaciauniversity.com/
[5] Acacia University and the Future of Education Leadership Developmenthttps://www.solutionreef.org/acacia-university-and-the-future-of-education-leadership-development/
- The Good Deed Education Fund, based in Estonia, is working diligently to address challenges in education, such as school management, teacher shortages, and fostering learn-to-learn initiatives.
- Martin Villig, chairman of the Good Deed Foundation, leads the charge in bridging the gap between education and the private sector, collaborating with various sectors to find innovative solutions.
- One of the key initiatives produced by this partnership is an internship program for school leaders, which places them in private sector companies for a designated period.
- Headteachers like Mari Roostik benefit from this program, gaining insights into modern leadership and management practices by working with role model organizations.
- Local authorities are encouraged to join the movement by the Good Deed Education Fund, with the ultimate goal of reaching more schools across Estonia.
- Companies also gain from this collaboration, as trainees bring fresh perspectives and unique insights, such as at Wise, where Brett Lemsalu, senior people advisor, and mentor, voices his praise.
- Cross-industry internships, demonstrated by the Good Deed Education Fund's initiative, offer a blueprint for other countries, such as the Ferguson-Florissant Foundation for Education in the United States, to build more effective educational systems through public-private partnerships.
