A synergistic collaboration of two educational organizations now brings Finnish Education to K-12 Students Worldwide

International Schools Services (ISS) and Lumo Education Ltd. (Lumo) signed a formal collaboration agreement to co-develop new schools on behalf of clients, using a blended Finnish-American model within an international framework to serve the K-12 community. The organizations report that early interest in this new model from several areas around the world served as a major catalyst for this design.

The Finnish way of education has long been studied for its excellence in student enrichment and outcomes. Traditionally, this model is focused on early education. Through the synergistic collaboration of two world-class educational organizations, the Lumo-ISS School Model was created. This transformational school model is designed to develop students through the entire Kindergarten through Grade 12 experience.

Both parties believe there is a synergy in this collaboration, which combines Lumo’s innovative Finnish-based program with ISS’s reputation for developing and managing international schools to create a unique blending of Finnish pedagogy with American/International curriculum.

“We are quite enthusiastic working with ISS. Both of our organizations place creating world-class educational solutions at the heart of our mission. Our goal is to enable students to holistically learn and thrive,” says Aki Halko, Chief Executive Officer, Lumo.

The language of instruction for the Finnish-American schools will be English. Finnish pedagogical approaches will be combined with Finnish and/or US written curriculum and articulated from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Students graduating from these Finnish-American international schools will receive an American diploma, an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, or both.

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“I have had the opportunity to work in and visit many high-caliber schools all over the world. When I toured some of Lumo’s educational environments, I was thoroughly impressed by their deep-rooted commitment to student welfare and to teacher preparation and professional development,” says Dick Moore, Vice-President of School Start-up and Management, ISS.

The agreement between Lumo and ISS was signed on June 28, 2018 in Princeton, NJ USA, during the ISS Ed Leaders Conference, where 50 educational leaders from around the world met for collaboration, professional development and discussion.

Beyond the agreement, Lumo will continue to concurrently work on Finnish-specific programs and ISS will continue to start-up and manage innovative, student-centered, international schools using various accepted curriculums, similar to the 110+ schools it has developed thus far. For this particular collaboration, the Lumo-ISS team will be working with investors and other philanthropists who wish to create Finnish-American schools in investors’ home countries or around the world. Interested parties can contact info-isslumo@iss.edu.

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About Lumo Education Ltd. (Lumo)

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Lumo Education Ltd. (Lumo) is revolutionizing the learning experience. Lumo delivers Kindergarten and School Concepts based on the award-winning Finnish educational approach, offering turnkey services that provide everything needed to set up, manage and operate a KG, or a School. The unique Finnish educational model, which is highlighted by innovation, practicality, entrepreneurship, child-centered approach and trust, provides a tailored educational model where learning desires, cultural context and financial goals will be met effectively. Lumo Education is a member organization of Education Finland, a national education export program, offering Finnish educational know-how and learning solutions globally. It is managed by Finnish National Agency for Education and works within the Team Finland network. To learn more please visit: www.lumoeducation.com

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About International Schools Services (ISS)

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As a nonprofit organization, International Schools Services (ISS) works with more than 500 international schools and thousands of educators each year across its suite of services, creating the largest global footprint in international education support. Since its inception in 1955, ISS has launched and managed more than 110 international schools; placed approximately 50,000 educators; developed ground-breaking learning programs, such as the World Language Initiative and Level 5 Creativity & Innovation Hubs; processed about 15,000 school supply orders annually; and stewarded over 75 school foundations each year. With its headquarters in Princeton, NJ, USA and locations in China and Bahrain (starting in the 2018-2019 school year) , ISS currently owns or operates nearly 20 international schools around the world and promotes innovative best practices for global education through its core services that include founding and managing student-centered, future-oriented schools; recruiting world-class educators; providing cutting-edge professional learning opportunities; sourcing essential school supplies; and stewarding school foundations. ISS staff has extensive experience in all aspects of international education, with most senior leaders having served as Heads of Schools across a variety of continents. To learn more, please visit: www.iss.edu

Welcome to the Learning for Life Seminar with Lumo Education and  Geronimo Insight Тренинговый Центр on the 2nd-3rd of June in Kiev.

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Find out more at: http://training.geronimo.org.ua/

Lumo Education Ltd. was honored to participate and pilot a new Ukrainian school program.

Working in collaboration with the EdCamp Ukraine team, along with local instructors Віктор Кульченко, Наталья Кот, Valentyna Fedoryaka, and other education professionals. And of course, the students of Trudolyub School.

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The program called “Change in 7 Days”, attracted almost 700 applications from the local Ukrainian schools. The number of applications showed the great demand for Finnish educational expertise by the local professionals.

In our pilot project we focused on several key Finnish approaches:

Socio-Constructivism
Co-Teaching
Child-Centered
Age-Appropriate Learning
Collaboration
Learning by Doing
Flexible Learning Environments

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Some may think that Finnish education only works in Finland, in selected schools, with modern equipment, futuristic facilities, and the social normatives of the Finnish nation. However, we have successfully proven, that the Finnish approach and methods work in any environment and in any part of the world.

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Our main goal was to show that changes take place in the hearts and minds of those involved through the actions of the dedicated people who are driving the future of Ukrainian education. We were truly blessed with being able to work on this project together with the outstanding team of local Ukrainian professionals.

We would like to thank EdCamp Ukraine, Trudolyub School, all of the other participants from Poltava district, and the Ukranian Ministry of Education.

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Photo Credit: Uliana Rudich