In 2023, Omnia Education Partnerships (OEP) began an exciting collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education of Qatar (MoEHE). As part of this collaboration, 15 Qatari teachers were offered a professional development program, the Teachers’ Fellowship Program “Khebrat”, which aims to develop and strengthen leadership skills and promote creative and innovative teaching methods through a hands-on learning journey.
The program’s first phase took place in Finland last fall. The second phase is currently ongoing in Qatar, where program participants are actively implementing innovation projects within their schools.
The MoEHE Steering Committee and OEP staff with Ambassador Pekka Voutilainen and his Deputy Sara Stenroos at the program’s launch event in Doha, Qatar.
Building confidence through collaborative learning
While in Finland, the participants spent time in Finnish schools, observing and participating in the daily school activities and visiting different schools to learn about the Finnish education system. The program also included coaching sessions with program mentors and university lectures provided by the University of Turku.
The participants enjoyed the program’s collaborative aspect and the many conversations about education with their Finnish colleagues, each other, and the program mentors. During their time in Finland, they experienced a notable boost in confidence, particularly in innovative teaching approaches and creative problem-solving.
During the first phase of the program, participants visited several Finnish schools and participated in the schools’ daily activities.
For the OEP team, working with the Qatari teachers was a great experience.
“It was delightful to work with all 15 program participants,” says Sirkku Nikamaa, one of the program mentors from OEP. “Each one was very hardworking and participated actively in workshops and discussions. They were very perceptive, analytical, and creative. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such dedicated professionals who have the will and the skill to learn more and adapt new ways of working to their own context.”
“We are very happy about our participants’ improved confidence as teachers,” adds Anna Lager from OEP. “It’s wonderful to see their readiness and eagerness to share their newfound knowledge with others.”
Benefits to the entire school community
As an integral part of the program, the teachers have designed innovation projects aimed at tackling challenges within their local schools. The participants are now implementing these projects with the guidance of OEP’s mentors, using the knowledge and methods acquired during their time in Finland. The project topics range from improving student engagement to experimenting with new teaching methods and promoting essential life skills.
Anna Helenius, Head of Global Programs at OEP, highlights the importance of genuine impact in the local context.
“At OEP, our approach prioritizes tangible impact. The innovation projects planned by our participants ensure that the benefits of the program reach beyond those who participated in it, extending to their school communities and colleagues, who will also gain from the experience.”
More information:
Mervi Jansson, CEO
Omnia Education Partnerships
mervi.jansson@oep.fi
Heidi Lempinen, Head of Partnerships
Omnia Education Partnerships
heidi.lempinen@oep.fi
OEP has successfully designed and implemented various professional development programs for teachers and school leaders both in Finland and globally. OEP has previous and ongoing projects in countries such as Egypt, Georgia, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine.
Read more about our past customer cases and projects.