LEAD2027 – Leadership in Education: Action & Development
LEAD2027 invites school principals and education leaders from around the world to step inside Finnish schools, meet the people who lead them and discover how decisions are made in a system built on trust and collaboration.
Over seven inspiring days, explore leadership in action during Finnish school visits and one Estonian school visit. Exchange ideas with fellow principals, tackle real challenges in practical workshops and take home a 90-day plan for your own school. Along the way, experience Helsinki’s historic Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, an authentic Finnish smoke sauna and the rich educational culture of neighbouring Estonia.
Welcome to Helsinki and Tallinn – where international school leaders connect, compare and turn inspiration into action.
Step inside Finnish school leadership
At LEAD2027, the real stories behind school leadership take centre stage. Join principals, headteachers and school directors from around the world for a week of discovery, honest conversations and meaningful professional connections.
During guided school visits in Finland, meet Finnish principals or leadership teams and examine the decisions that shape everyday school life. How are schools governed? What freedom do teachers and principals have? How are resources managed and staff supported? The visits focus on different leadership themes, with facilitated workshops afterwards to turn observations into practical insights.
Rather than simply collecting ideas, you will reflect on what can genuinely work in your own school. The focus is on authentic encounters, relevant discussions and lasting learning.
Finland and Estonia: two perspectives on leading schools
Finland is the main focus of LEAD2027. A special educational visit to Tallinn, Estonia adds a second perspective. Meet Estonian school leaders, learn about their responsibilities and approach to school improvement, and compare your findings with what you have experienced in Finland.
You will explore differences and similarities in school governance, the principal’s role, staff leadership and strategic decision-making. The aim is not to identify a single model to copy, but to discover the questions, practices and priorities that matter in your own educational environment.
School visits in two countries – with time to discuss what you see, rather than rushing from school to school.
A week dedicated to leadership, growth and connection
LEAD2027 brings together leaders from public and private schools to discuss the issues they face every day. Guided by Tuovi Ronkainen, a former Finnish school principal, participants explore practical leadership challenges and exchange perspectives with colleagues from different countries.
- Governance and autonomy: responsibilities, accountability and decision-making in Finnish schools
- Financial leadership: budgets, staff resources and choosing priorities under constraints
- Leading people: staff development, delegation, collaboration and difficult conversations
- Strategic school improvement: setting goals, managing change and evaluating progress
- Leadership Challenge Clinics: working through real issues that participants bring from their own schools
- 90-Day Leadership Action Plan: leaving with clear priorities and realistic next steps
This event is designed for principals, headteachers, deputy principals, school directors, private school owners, superintendents and school leadership teams. Participation is open to education leaders worldwide, whether or not they use Erasmus+ funding.
Experience Finnish culture – and make connections that last
Your learning continues beyond the school gates. Discover the historic UNESCO-listed Suomenlinna Sea Fortress during an afternoon guided visit, and experience the Finnish tradition of a smoke sauna in a natural setting. Sauna bathing is optional, with a nature-focused alternative.
Shared lunches, an opening welcome dinner and a dinner connected with the Tallinn visit create opportunities to get to know other school leaders in a relaxed atmosphere. Both cultural experiences are included in the €330 catering and transportation package.
Bring a challenge. Leave with a plan.
What is the one challenge you most want to address in your school? LEAD2027 gives you the chance to explore it with fellow leaders and an experienced Finnish trainer. Through practical workshops and peer discussions, you will develop your own 90-Day School Leadership Action Plan.
Come for the school visits, stay for the exchange of ideas and return home with useful tools, new international contacts and a clearer vision of what comes next.
What participants say
Feedback from previous LIFE educational events; LEAD2027 is a new event.
I will definitely be including children and teachers in discussions about how we do things at the school. Everyone’s input matters.
Thank you so much for organizing everything and providing us with so many amazing experiences. I loved networking with other people too.
This has been an excellent week of activities and experiences. Highly worthwhile experience.
I have had a wonderful time and have met lots of wonderful people. A conference of a lifetime!
The hosts were all very welcoming. I liked that they answered all of our questions and were very flexible when we had some ideas of activities or changes in the program.
Trust and autonomy were parts of my teaching, and I feel empowered to increase them and promote them among my colleagues.
I think the four of you did a fantastic job of welcoming the world into your classrooms and sharing ideas. It was a fantastic experience, and it felt very well run and led.
The deep trust put in students and teachers has impressed me, and I hope to be able to apply that more.
An interesting conference and the value of the venue (Rovaniemi) where, despite the harsh climate, the people are very friendly, patient, and professional.
A great program, lovely people. You don’t learn only a method, but a philosophy of life as well. It’s worth learning from the Finnish people. Wonderful encounters.
A fantastic adventure….fell in love with Finland 😘
Great chance to meet and get in contact with teachers from all over the world!
Tickets
LEAD2027 event ticket includes:
- Two Finnish school visits
- One Estonian school visit
- Leadership workshops and peer exchange
- Leadership Challenge Clinics
- 90-Day School Leadership Action Plan
- Event materials
- Certificate of attendance
Event ticket
Full seven-day event participation.
Group bookings
For groups of five or more.
Catering and transportation package
Five lunches, refreshments, two dinners, Tallinn ferry, Suomenlinna guided visit, Finnish smoke sauna and programme transfers
Prices excluding Finnish VAT (13,5% / 25,5%)
PROGRAM
This is a preliminary program – final schedule will be confirmed before the event.
Sunday 9 May – Welcome to Helsinki
16:00–18:00: Welcome and introduction with Tuovi Ronkainen. Discover the essentials of Finnish education, principal responsibilities and teacher autonomy. Meet international school leaders and prepare questions for your first school visit.
18:30: Welcome dinner and informal networking.
Monday 10 May – Governance and financial leadership
09:00–12:30: Finnish school visit 1: governance, leadership autonomy, responsibilities, accountability and resource decisions.
14:30–17:45: Workshops on budgeting, staffing, strategic choices and real leadership cases.
Tuesday 11 May – Staff leadership and school improvement
09:00–12:30: Finnish school visit 2: staff leadership, collaboration, professional development and school culture.
14:30–17:45: Workshops on recruitment, delegation, managing difficult conversations and implementing change.
Wednesday 12 May – Strategic leadership and Suomenlinna
08:00–14:15: Strategy, leadership decision-making, stakeholder management and the role of trust in Finnish society, with a lunch break.
Afternoon: Guided cultural experience at Suomenlinna Sea Fortress.
Thursday 13 May – Leadership practices in Estonia
Morning: Ferry to Tallinn and introduction to Estonian school governance and principal responsibilities.
13:00–15:30: Estonian school visit, with discussions about staffing, improvement and strategic decisions.
15:45–17:15: Finnish–Estonian leadership comparison and international reflections. Return to Helsinki in the evening, including dinner.
Friday 14 May – Leadership challenges and smoke sauna
08:00–14:15: School culture, wellbeing, inclusion, the impact of AI, leadership case clinics and action planning, with a lunch break.
Afternoon: Finnish smoke sauna and nature experience.
Saturday 15 May – From learning to action
09:00–12:30: Complete and present your 90-Day Leadership Action Plan, receive peer feedback, make plans for further collaboration and close the event with certificates.
REGISTRATION AND PRICES
All registrations for LEAD2027 must be done using the online registration form. Accepted methods of payment are credit card and bank transfer.
Prices
All prices exclude Finnish VAT (13,5%/25,5%). For VAT exemption, you need to register as a representative/employee of a company or organization and during the registration, attach a tax certificate, trade register extract, or similar from your country. A screenshot/picture of a VAT-number or Erasmus-related OID (Organization ID) are also acceptable.
10% DISCOUNT FOR GROUPS OF 5 OR MORE PARTICIPANTS! Contact courses@euneos.eu for more information.
Event ticket 660€ includes
- School visits
- Admission to all sessions
- Event materials
- Certificate of attendance
- Free 30-day access to Finnish Education Online Courses
The catering and transportation package 330€ is obligatory, and it includes:
- Five lunches and coffee/tea with snacks during breaks mentioned in the program
- Welcome Dinner
- Ferry tickets and a dinner on the ferry
- Finnish smoke sauna experience
- Guided visit to Suomenlinna
- Transportation during the program (no airport transfers)
Erasmus+ grant holders
LEAD2027 can be part of the Erasmus+ staff mobility. VisitEDUfinn’s OID code is E10020922. Read more about VisitEDUfinn’s Erasmus+ staff mobility opportunities.
Payments
Please choose your payment type on the online registration form. The options are credit card payment (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) or bank transfer (PDF-invoice). The invoice with the necessary information will be sent to you with the confirmation email. The participant should assume all the bank transaction fees. Please note that all payments must be made in advance and in euros (€).
Cancellation policy
Cancellation by participant
All cancellations must be made by email to courses@euneos.eu. If you do not cancel your participation at all, you will be charged the full fee. For cancellations received one month before the start, the paid registration fee will be refunded. No refunds will be made for cancellations made after this date. Please note that a processing fee of 160€ (excl. VAT) per participant will be deducted from all refunds. If unable to attend, the registered person may substitute someone else from the same organization by sending a notification to courses@euneos.eu.
Cancellation by VisitEDUfinn
If the documents attached during the registration process are not valid, and the participant does not deliver proper documents immediately after being requested, VisitEDUfinn has the right to cancel the participation without any refund. However, participation is always possible, paying the corresponding fee (or the price difference).
In case the event is cancelled due to COVID-19 or a similar situation, all the payments will be refunded without any processing fee. VisitEDUfinn is not responsible for any damage caused by the cancellation and strongly recommends purchasing flexible flight tickets and accommodation.
Invitation letters
VisitEDUfinn will write invitation letters only after full payment. If the participant cannot get a visa and sends evidence about the rejected visa application, VisitEDUfinn will refund the paid amount. However, 100€ (excl. VAT) per participant will be deducted as an administrative fee.
Any questions about the registration or payments? Please contact courses@euneos.eu.
CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
Explore Helsinki’s island fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, during a guided visit. Discover a different side of Finnish history, society and the maritime cityscape.
Authentic Finnish smoke sauna
Experience a Finnish smoke sauna and a natural setting with fellow school leaders. The sauna itself is optional, and a nature-focused alternative will be available. The precise venue and arrangements are to be confirmed.
Both cultural activities, including programme transport and admissions, are included in the €330 catering and transportation package.
TRAVEL AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Location and travel
The programme takes place primarily in the Helsinki metropolitan area. One educational day is planned in Tallinn, Estonia, reached by ferry. Programme transportation and the Tallinn ferries are included in the required package; airport transfers are not.
Accommodation and meals
Participants arrange their own accommodation in Helsinki. Central Helsinki is a convenient base for the event. Five lunches and two dinners are included in the catering and transportation package.
Language and participants
The language of the event is English. The event is designed for principals, headteachers, deputy principals, school directors, school owners and other members of school leadership teams from across the world.
Please contact the organisers about accessibility, dietary needs and other practical questions. The final host schools, meeting venues and instructions will be provided before the event.
Is Helsinki the coolest city in the world?
Probably yes! In the capital of Finland, you can find the influence of both our neighbors, Sweden and Russia, but still the city is unique. It’s a modern metropolis with over 650, 000 inhabitants (1,5 million in the larger metropolitan area) and yet you are never more than a 10-minute walk from nature. On the same day, you can pick berries in a forest and go to the Opera. Helsinki is a lively big city that never sleeps, but so safe that you can see 7-year-old first graders take the tram to school on their own.
Feeling the fresh breeze of the Baltic Sea while wandering around the picturesque streets of this easy-going city, it is not so difficult to imagine why Finns are the happiest nation in the world. After the walk, warm yourself up with a cup of coffee and a cinnamon bun. These coffee breaks with friends and colleagues are almost sacred moments to Finns.
While in Helsinki, check out the libraries as a social innovation in Finnish education, interactive museums, the islands around Helsinki and the sauna. There are many more attractions that promise an unforgettable experience in Helsinki, such as Alvar Aalto’s studio, Helsinki Cathedral by Carl Ludvig Engel, Senate Square, Old Market Hall, Löyly sauna and restaurant, and much more.
EXPERTS
Tuovi Ronkainen
Tuovi Ronkainen – main host and trainer. A former principal of Akaa Secondary School and an experienced Finnish educator, Tuovi has coordinated international school projects and contributed to European education cooperation.
Tuovi brings practical school leadership experience and an international outlook to the discussions, school-visit reflections and hands-on workshops. Visiting principals and other speakers will be announced as the event arrangements are confirmed.
Mart Laanpere
A professor at Tallinn University, Estonia, and Head of its R&D Centre for Educational Technology, he has a background as a mathematics and physics teacher and school principal. For over 20 years, he has been active in teacher education and educational technology research, contributing to international projects on mobile technology and social software in education.
LEAD2027 is organised by VisitEDUfinn in cooperation with its sister company Euneos.