LIFE2027 – Lapland International Forum for Education™

Hotel Santa Claus, Rovaniemi

LIFE2027 invites you to dive deeper into the renowned Finnish education system while enjoying the unparalleled beauty of Lapland. The programme reflects the collaborative learning culture promoted by the Finnish national curriculum. You will job shadow Finnish teachers in local schools, interact with invited speakers and participants from around the world, and experience life in the world’s happiest country through winter activities, a visit to Santa Claus Village, and the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights.

LIFE2027 is the 10th edition of the Lapland International Forum for Education™ and is organized jointly by VisitEDUfinn and its sister company, Euneos. Participants are also welcome to bring a spouse, friend, or family member, with a special accompanying person ticket providing access to the LIFE2027 Social Program.

Welcome to Rovaniemi, at the Arctic Circle, and experience education the Finnish way!

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A recognized educational travel experience

Lapland International Forum for Education™ was selected in 2019 as one of the winners of the Authentic Finnish Educational Travel Product contest. LIFE has welcomed international education professionals to Finland since 2017, and the program has been developed further based on participant feedback each year.

During LIFE2027, participants will visit different levels of Finnish education, including kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and the University of Lapland’s Teacher Training School. At the schools, participants will shadow Finnish teachers in the classroom.

Approximately 20 participants will have the opportunity to replace one of their selected school visits with principals’ shadowing. This gives school leaders and other education professionals a closer look at the daily work, responsibilities, and leadership practices of a Finnish school principal.

One of the distinctive parts of the program is the Be a Student experience. Instead of only observing lessons, participants take part in lesson simulations from the students’ perspective. The lessons include nature pedagogy, handcrafts, home economics, winter sports, and wellbeing pedagogy.

LIFE2027 theme: digital wellbeing in schools

The theme for LIFE2027 is Supporting digital wellbeing in schools – Safer online habits and positive digital experiences.

The program explores how schools can support healthy and responsible use of technology, student wellbeing, positive learning environments, and a balanced digital school culture. The topic is approached through school visits, expert input, practical examples, and professional discussion.

Learning, networking and social experiences

In addition to the school visits, the LIFE2027 program includes lectures, workshops, and social activities that give participants time to reflect on what they have seen and discuss how different practices could be adapted to their own educational context.

Participants are welcome to bring a spouse, friend, or family member. A separate accompanying person ticket gives access to the LIFE2027 Social Program, including a visit to Santa Claus Village, ice swimming or sledding, the Rovaniemi City Reception, and the Farewell Dinner. Accompanying persons can also join selected special winter activities organized for LIFE2027 for an additional fee. See the Social Program tab below for details.

Participants may extend their experience by starting the journey in Helsinki with the Educa event, Finland’s largest event for the education and training sector, and an optional Educa School Visit before continuing to Rovaniemi. 

What our clients say

Kirsty Williams, Minister for Education, Wales

This visit is part of our efforts to learn from the best in the world when it comes to education.

Bayarsaikhan Anar, Academic Advisor, Mongolia

Just wanted to thank you again for organizing such an amazing conference in Finland. I have truly learned a lot and enjoyed the school visits.

Jessica Cowan, School counselor, USA

So grateful the conference was so well planned and organized. Would highly recommend to others.

Previous LIFE events

Tickets

Standard/group price includes:

  • School visits
  • Visit to Santa Claus Village
  • Ice swimming or sled slides
  • Ticket to Arktikum
  • Admission to all sessions
  • Event materials
  • Certificate of attendance

Standard price

Early bird/normal/late registration prices

660€ / 760€ / 860€
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Group price

Discounted price for groups of 5 or more

594€ / 684€ / 774€
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Catering and transportation package

Five lunches and refreshments, two dinners, and transportation during the program

330€
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Prices excluding Finnish VAT (13,5% / 25,5%)

PROGRAM

This is a preliminary program – please note that changes are possible. There will be small changes as we confirm next year’s speakers and add new elements. 

The fundamental part of LIFE2027 is to observe daily life at local schools. You can choose the age range to ensure it is relevant to you. If you want to observe pre-primary education, it is typically conducted in kindergartens. Here are the age ranges for each visit:

  • Daycare / Kindergarten (ages 1–6)
  • Primary & lower secondary school (ages 7-15)
  • Teacher Training School (ages 7–12)
  • High School/Vocational School (ages 16–18)

During the shadowing, you will be observing teachers in their activities and talking about their daily teaching practices.

Special opportunity: We offer approximately 20 participants the chance to swap one of their chosen visits for a principals’ shadowing. This will be offered to all registered participants later, and the fastest to respond will secure a spot.

Based on your suggestions, we will also have a Stage Free session where you can share your own work. During one afternoon, we offer a Stage Free session where participants can present their own projects, research, or ideas in short 15-minute talks, followed by a brief Q&A. A separate sign-up for presenters will be collected in advance. This session is a unique chance to gain visibility, exchange experiences, and build future partnerships. Presenting here can also strengthen the training dimension of your Erasmus+ mobility.

LIFE2027 offers engaging expert presentations, workshops focusing on different aspects of Finnish education, and learning outside the classroom “on the move”. The event also aspires to create an output. This involves working individually or in groups on a concrete project, such as composing new initiatives for your own school. 


Friday, Jan 29

10:00 – 19:00 Participating in Educa event (English program). You can join an optional Educa School Visit.


Saturday, Jan 30

10:00 – 17:00 Educa continues (English program)

Traveling to Rovaniemi (according to individual flight options). Recommended visit before going to Rovaniemi: Oodi Library.

NOTE! Educa program will be streamed so you can also fly directly to Rovaniemi without missing the presentations.


Sunday, Jan 31

08:30 – 09:00 Registration at Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus

09:00 – 09:45  Conference opening, 

09:45 – 10:15 Educa event reflections

10:15 – 10:30 Coffee break

10:30 – 11:00 Module A: Introduction to Finnish pre-education & care

11:00 – 11:30 Module B: Introduction to primary & secondary education (including special education), Ms. Tuovi Ronkainen

12:00 – 17:00 Visiting Santa Claus Village; includes an optional ride in Husky Park

19:00 – 22:00 Ice Restaurant Dinner Experience (optional)


Monday, Feb 1

08:30 – 13:00 School visits (including lunch)

  • Daycare / Kindergarten
  • Primary & lower secondary school
  • Teacher Training School (only 20 seats available!)


13:00 – 14:30 Outdoor activities/ participants’ recess

14:45 Coffee served in the conference room 

15:00-17:00 Program in the conference room at Hotel Santa Claus:

  • 15:00-15:15 Greetings from schools 
  • 15:15-16:00 Working in small groups
  • 16:00- 17:00 Mr. Jussi Kainulainen: Local implementations of the national curriculum – case Rovaniemi. 

19:00 – 21:00 City Reception

on Tuesday and Wednesday, the participants are divided into two groups, A and B.


Tuesday, Feb 2

08:30 – 13:00 School visits (including lunch), GROUP A

  • Primary & lower secondary school
  • High school (there is an exam week, so this visit does not include so much lesson observation)
  • Vocational school

OR 

08:30 – 13:00 Discovering building blocks of active citizenship at  PILKE and Arktikum, workshops and lectures in small groups, GROUP B

14:30 – 15:00 Coffee break

15:00 – 17:30 Program at the hotel, GROUP A

  • presentation and workshop on  Students’ Agency, Ms. Tuovi Ronkainen. This workshop explores how students can become active co-creators of their school community. We’ll look at practical ways to promote voice, shared responsibility, and meaningful participation in shaping the community.  
  • Stage Free session where participants can present their own projects, research, or ideas in short 15-minute talks, followed by a brief Q&A.A separate sign-up for presenters will be collected in advance.

OR

15:00 – 18:00 ‘Be a student’ – lesson simulations in a Finnish school*, GROUP B

  • Sport (snowshoeing)
  • Nature pedagogy
  • Home economics
  • Handcrafts
  • Welfare pedagogy

19:00 – 21:30 Northern Lights Hunting (optional)


Wednesday, Feb 3

08:30 – 13:00 Discovering building blocks of active citizenship at  PILKE and Arktikum, workshops and lectures in small groups, GROUP A

OR

08:30 – 13:00 School visits (including lunch), GROUP B

  • Primary & lower secondary school
  • High school (there is an exam week, so this visit does not include so much lesson observation)
  • Vocational school

14:30 – 15:00 Coffee break

15:00 – 18:00 ‘Be a student’ – lesson simulations in a Finnish school*, GROUP A

  • Sport (snowshoeing)
  • Nature pedagogy
  • Home economics
  • Handcrafts
  • Welfare pedagogy

OR

15:00 – 17:30 Program at the hotel, GROUP B

  • presentation and workshop on  Students’ Agency, Ms. Tuovi Ronkainen. This workshop explores how students can become active co-creators of their school community. We’ll look at practical ways to promote voice, shared responsibility, and meaningful participation in shaping the community.  
  • Stage Free session where participants can present their own projects, research, or ideas in short 15-minute talks, followed by a brief Q&A.A separate sign-up for presenters will be collected in advance.

19:00 – 21:00 Farewell Dinner at Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus (some surprise program) 


Thursday, Feb 4

08:30 – 10:30  Educational Administration 

  • Behind the scenes: decisions and work that make a happy school possible 
  • Guest speaker: Ms. Heljä Misukka


11:00 – 11:45 Working on the action plans.

12:00 – 12:30 Closing words, feedback

12:30 – 13.30 Lunch

14:00 – 17:00 Snowmobile Safari to Reindeer Farm (optional)


AFTERLIFE EXPERIENCE: optional with an extra fee

Friday, Feb 5

09:00 – 13:00  A hands-on workshop: Learning through and about nature

We have combined three different elements in one package. You get

  • to experience Finnish nature education in the role of a student.
  • to learn about Lappish lifestyle and survival skills needed in
      Arctic environment.
  • concrete tools to use in your work.

This nature pedagogy workshop is designed and conducted by Kimmo Tuunala from Finncredible.  

* IMPORTANT! All the school visits and lesson simulations have a minimum and maximum group size. The earlier you book, the more options you will have!

Interested? Contact us below!

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