What is Erasmus+ Job Shadowing?

Both programmes allow you to observe Finnish education in practice, but they are designed for different needs.

Erasmus+ Job Shadowing is designed for participants using Erasmus+ staff mobility funding. It includes a five-day school placement, a certificate of attendance, school lunches, a 7-day HSL public transport ticket, selected online course access, and a Monday welcome orientation with a Finnish teacher.

Teacher Job Shadowing is a more hosted and personalised programme for visitors who want deeper expert guidance, more structured reflection and additional support during the visit.

The mandatory Local Orientation, Lunch & Transport Package is designed to make your Erasmus+ mobility week smoother and easier to organise. It includes:

• School lunches during the job-shadowing week
• HSL 7-day public transport ticket for local travel in the Helsinki region
• Monday welcome orientation
• Short introduction to Finnish education
• Erasmus document readiness check
• Coffee/snack during the orientation
• Access to VisitEDUfinn’s online courses.

The Monday welcome orientation is included for participants whose job-shadowing placement is in the Helsinki metropolitan area, where most of our Erasmus+ Job Shadowing visits take place. If your placement is outside the Helsinki metropolitan area, we will provide the necessary practical information separately.

We strongly recommend attending the Monday welcome orientation, as it helps you understand the Finnish school context, use local public transport more confidently and check that your Erasmus documents are ready for the signature.

The orientation is organised on Monday evening so that participants have time to arrive in Finland and complete their first school day before the session. If you cannot attend, you will still receive the most important practical information digitally.

The package includes a 7-day HSL public transport ticket for local travel in the Helsinki region. It covers public transport by train, tram, bus and metro, including public transport between Helsinki Airport and the city centre and ferry to Suomenlinna.

Participants receive a code for the ticket before arrival. The code is redeemed in the HSL app, so participants should download the app before travelling to Finland. Detailed instructions will be sent before the mobility week.

Please note that this is a public transport ticket, not a private airport transfer. It does not include taxis, private buses, or travel outside the covered HSL area.

Yes. The package includes 60-day access to VisitEDUfinn’s online courses. The courses help you prepare for your mobility, deepen your understanding of Finnish education and continue reflecting on your learning after the job-shadowing week.

Yes. Participants may indicate their preferred type of school — kindergarten, primary, secondary or vocational — and we do our best to place them in settings that match their background and interests.

Available options include:

• Kindergartens (ages 1–5)
• Pre-primary (age 6)
• Primary schools (ages 7–12)
• Lower secondary schools (ages 13–15)
• Upper secondary / high schools (ages 16–18)
• Vocational schools (ages 16–18)

Universities are not available for our Erasmus+ Job Shadowing -programme. We recommend contacting Finnish universities directly.

You are free to select any available dates for your job shadowing experience (see the Dates & Destinations section above). During the online registration, you can include your preferred dates in the “Customer provided note” field on the checkout page.

We match you with a host school based on your professional profile, preferences, and the availability of suitable mentors. Your confirmed placement will be shared no later than two weeks before your visit begins.

If you are travelling individually — or if your group is placed in a vocational school — you can safely book your flights to Helsinki. We will inform you of the final destination city afterwards, along with clear travel instructions on how to get there.

Naturally, we recommend that other groups also consider experiencing the charm of the smaller cities, such as Turku, Jyväskylä, or Lahti.

We always do our best to place you in a school that aligns with your professional background and interests—whether that relates to age groups, subject areas, special education, language immersion, or other priorities. However, it is not always possible to meet every request. Registering early greatly increases the chance of finding a strong match.

It is also important to remember that Finnish teachers have a high degree of professional autonomy. Each teacher chooses their own methods, so we cannot guarantee that specific themes—such as phenomenon-based learning, the use of AI, or outdoor learning—will appear in lessons during your visit.

That said, job shadowing offers many opportunities to discuss pedagogy, tools, and everyday practices directly with Finnish teachers. You will be able to explore how they approach your topics of interest, what they use in their classrooms, and what has worked well in their experience.

Most Finnish school days begin around 8:00 – 9:00 and finish by approximately 15:00. Your daily timetable will follow the schedule of the teachers you are shadowing, so the exact hours may vary from day to day.

Please keep in mind that primary schools often have shorter teaching days, typically 4 – 6 hours. If your project requires a longer working schedule, we can provide online learning modules to complement your job shadowing programme.

In addition, the Monday welcome orientation takes place in the evening and is part of the Local Orientation, Lunch & Transport Package.

Note that in the metropolitan areas, the one-way traveling time from the city center (central railway station) to your assigned school can take up to one hour using public transport. 

Finnish schools have the freedom to organise job shadowing in the way that best fits their daily routines. Some host schools prepare a detailed schedule in advance, but in most cases you will receive your timetable on the first morning, including information about which teachers you will follow.

Because job shadowing is based on real classroom observation and interaction, each experience is slightly different and cannot be fully standardised. This flexibility is part of its value — being open and curious will help you get the most out of your visit.

Groups of up to five people are usually placed in the same school. However, if your group includes teachers from different educational levels — such as primary and secondary — you may be assigned to different schools to ensure the placement matches your professional background.

We recommend that at least two colleagues visit the same school whenever possible, as it allows you to reflect on your experiences together.

Please note that Finnish schools organise job shadowing so that no more than two visiting teachers observe the same Finnish mentor teacher at a time.

Yes. Erasmus+ Job Shadowing includes a Monday welcome orientation with a Finnish teacher. The session introduces key features of Finnish education, helps participants understand the school context and gives practical support for the week.

During the school days, Finnish teachers are usually happy to share their experiences, but their schedules can be tight, as lesson preparation often begins immediately after teaching. Throughout the week, you will naturally find short moments for questions and informal conversations, and these often provide valuable insights.

If you would like guaranteed, uninterrupted time with a Finnish education expert, we recommend our hosted Teacher Job Shadowing programme, which includes two dedicated meetings for deeper discussion and reflection.

Erasmus Job Shadowing gives you the chance to observe daily school life in another country, learn from experienced colleagues, and return home with practical tools you can use immediately. The experience is designed to support your professional growth, broaden your educational perspective, and strengthen your role within your organisation.

Professional development

You will deepen the competences that are essential for your work—whether you are teaching, coordinating, or supporting learners. By observing real classroom practice, guidance routines, leadership structures, or support services, you gain concrete methods you can apply in your own context.

Insight into different education systems

Job shadowing helps you understand how schools abroad organise learning, support students, use digital tools, collaborate with families, and develop inclusive environments. This wider perspective often leads to new ideas and better decision-making when you return to your own organisation.

New ideas and inspiration

Seeing how other professionals work—how they plan lessons, manage learning environments, assess progress, or use technology—provides fresh inspiration. Many participants report improved motivation and renewed enthusiasm for their daily work.

Stronger intercultural and communication skills

Living and learning in an international environment naturally strengthens your intercultural awareness, language skills, and ability to collaborate across cultures—competences that are increasingly important in modern education.

Impact on your organisation

Your job shadowing experience can support the development of your whole school or training centre. You return with new practices, examples, and tools that can help improve teaching quality, teamwork, international activities, and the overall learning environment.

Personal growth and confidence

Experiencing a new setting builds confidence, independence, and a broader understanding of how diverse classrooms and communities function. Many participants describe the experience as professionally meaningful and personally transformative.

There are two options to qualify for VAT exemption:

1. If your country is part of the European Union, and your school/organization has a valid VAT number (you can check it in VIES), please introduce the number, including the country code, on the checkout page in “EU VAT Number”.
2. If your country is not part of the European Union, please send an official document, such as a tax certificate or trade register extract from your country, to info@visitedufinn.com, and we will provide you with a link for registration without VAT.

Cancellation Policy 

Cancellation by participant
All cancellations must be made by email to info@visitedufinn.com. If unable to attend, the registered person may be substituted by someone else from the same organization by sending a notification to info@visitedufinn.com. In case of a cancellation after the payment, the amount paid to date remains as a cancellation fee.

Cancellation by VisitEDUfinn
In case the shadowing is cancelled due to force majeure situation, we will postpone the visit until the shadowing is possible again. VisitEDUfinn is not responsible for any damage caused by the cancellation and strongly recommends purchasing flexible flight tickets and accommodation.

We can provide an official invitation letter once full payment has been received. If your visa application is rejected and you provide official proof of the refusal, we will refund your payment. Please note that a 100 € (Excl. VAT) administrative fee is deducted from the refund.