International collaboration is a key part of Finland’s national LUMA strategy and actions. This week, teacher educators, researchers, teachers, and future teachers from three countries gathered at the Kumpula campus in Helsinki to participate in the International StarT LUMA Camp. The central theme was sustainability and nature-based solutions, with a special focus on teacher education and its research. The camp is part of the StarT LUMA programme, which has been organized annually since 2016.
The goal of the International StarT LUMA Camp is to promote research-based and collaborative academic cooperation aligned with the aims of LUMA (STEM) education. Throughout the week, the programme featured interactive lectures, hands-on workshops, engaging discussions, and site visits. Participants joined from Indonesia, Thailand, and Finland. LUMAlab Gadolin organized the camp as part of the LUMA Centre Finland network.
Fruitful Collaboration with Global Partners
The academic StarT LUMA programme aims to highlight the role of science and innovation in STEM education and to identify relevant pedagogical solutions for students who will become the future makers of a sustainable world. Project-based learning has proven to be one of the most engaging approaches within the StarT LUMA programme.
According to feedback, international collaboration is essential in the context of sustainability.
“Together, we will grow stronger and contribute significantly to sustainable development and environmental awareness in the academic arena. During our visit to Helsinki from September 27 to October 5, through the StarT LUMA Program, supported by Team Finland Knowledge in collaboration with SciNPU and LUMA, we took a vital step towards fostering collaboration and institutional growth. Our SciNPU team had the opportunity to gain insights from the LUMA showcase, and our students, in particular, learned from diverse environments beyond traditional Thai classrooms, thereby enriching their experience. They will return home with valuable knowledge, new experiences, and deeper cultural understanding. This initiative is essential and relevant for advancing our efforts to promote science education and nature-based solutions across the region,” says Dean Cherdchai Phosri, Faculty of Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Thailand.
“This was a meaningful and enjoyable experience for our Indonesian team, members of the Center of Excellence for Educational Resilience, Yogyakarta State University.
We learned a great deal from the LUMA Centre and the Gadolin Laboratory about how teacher education is developed through relevance-oriented learning and research. Prospective teachers were well-prepared with various active and creative learning courses. We also learned that bridging the gap between higher education and schools requires strong, positive collaboration, supported by government policies and industry. This collaboration is evident in LUMA’s activities, including joint courses between universities and schools, as well as open laboratory visits for schools. This was a well-organized and productive activity. Thank you to all LUMA staff and colleagues—we hope to continue with many future collaborations.” Says Dr. Antuni Wiyarsi, Professor of Chemistry Education, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Hands-On Science at LUMAlab Gadolin
The practical organizer of the StarT LUMA programme was LUMAlab Gadolin, a collaborative hub for design-based research, education, and outreach in science education. Research topics developed through design-based research are disseminated across formal, non-formal, and informal educational contexts to reach diverse audiences. Sustainability, as well as modern science and technology, are its primary focus.
“Sustainability is a central theme in science and its learning. Collaboration is the key to success: We have all learned from one another, making the world a better place. Together, we are more!
Thank you to all collaborators!” says Professor Maija Aksela, Director of the StarT LUMA programme and camp and LUMAlab Gadolin, LUMA Science Ambassador, University of Helsinki.
