Suomen Messut

Educa profiled more clearly as an in-service training event for teachers
New recruiting area at this year's fair

Professionals in the education field will come together for Educa 2003 at the Helsinki Fair Centre on 24-25 January. "Educa is the most important event in the field and offers participants a timely forum where they can find out about new products, meet colleagues and keep up to date by attending seminars and briefings," says Exhibition Manager Rilla Engblom of the Finnish Fair Corporation. The Teaching Method of the Year award will be presented for the third time in connection with the fair.

"The number of exhibitors has risen since last year. A total of 139 exhibitors will be on hand and the fair will cover nearly 1,700 square metres of exhibition space. The biggest product group is teaching materials. IT solutions, furniture and training services will also be on display. The fair will include about 30 new companies. Euro-information will be distributed and the Finnish Broadcasting Company will present its teaching programmes and digital TV projects," Engblom explains.

A new feature at Educa 2003 will be a recruiting area. This is being arranged by the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kirkkonummi as well as three schools in Karjaa. "A few jobs are available right now in Karjaa," says principal Harri Korhonen. "In addition to our recruiting needs we are participating in Educa to do PR for our schools and to raise Karjaa's profile."

Liisa Suoninen of the Helsinki Education Department says that Helsinki will be filling about 60 teaching posts this year, with a third of these in Swedish. "Schools face a shortage of teachers in special education, technical subjects and mathematics. Many posts in special education have been open in previous years but could not be filled permanently because of a lack of qualified applicants."

Seminars on timely topics

The Educa seminar programme will be built around two themes, with teachers' organizations focusing on school safety and the Ministry of Education on promoting enterprise.

"A safe school ensures a good learning environment for pupils and a good working environment for teachers. Seminars will address problems which teachers face in their work and will provide tools to recognize and handle problems and crisis situations so that everyone can learn together," says Anne-Sorsa Vainikka, the director of the Association of Teachers of Biology and Geography.

Senior Counsellor Eeva-Riitta Pirhonen and Department Director Kirsi Lindroos from the Ministry of Education will speak on new methods of school discipline. Actor Carl Gustaf Wentzel will present a monologue based on a novel by Jan Guillou to set the stage for a discussion of school bullying and violence. Other speakers will include child psychologist Jari Sinkkonen, Dr Mikael Saarinen, NLP Master Practitioner Selene Marckwort and educator Olavi Sydänmaanlakka.

Lectures under the theme of education and enterprise will deal with cooperation between schools and business, virtual learning environments and adult education. Speakers will include Senior Counsellor Marita Savola from the Ministry of Education, Professors Tapio Varis, Kari Uusikylä and Antti Paasio, Senior Lecturer Mika Mannermaa, Managing Director Arne Wessberg and Development Manager Anne Vähäpassi from the Finnish Broadcasting Company, Senior Lecturer Visa Huuskonen and Senior Counsellor Jussi Pihkala.

Minister will open seminar on enterprise

The Ministry of Education's measures to promote enterprise will also be discussed at the Future Forum seminar on 24 January. This will focus on interaction between schools and business and lifelong learning. The seminar will be opened by Minister of Education Maija Rask. Other speakers will include Archbishop Jukka Paarma, Permanent Secretary of State Raimo Sailas and Member of the European Parliament Astrid Thors.

New challenges in the field of adult education will be the subject of a seminar arranged by the Trade Union of Adult Educators on 24 January.

The Association of Teachers of Biology and Geography will hold a seminar on the use of media in education on 24 January. The Association of Textile Teachers is arranging an exhibition of students' textile projects at the high school level. Textile teachers will hold their own seminar during the fair.

Tenth Educa in 2004

"Next year we will arrange the tenth Educa fair on 23-24 January, and this milestone will be celebrated in various ways. People who attend Educa appreciate the opportunity to take part in training and find out about new products and services in the field. We are developing the fair as a source of in-service training for teachers," Engblom says.

Educa 2003
Helsinki Fair Centre
Open 24 January 10am-6pm and 25 January 9am-4pm.

Additional information: Communications Officer Ms Tiina Saarnimo, tel. +358 9 1509 763, www.finnexpo.fi/educa

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The Finnish Fair Corporation, Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre, tel. +358 9 150 91, info@finnexpo.fi, Contact us