The StarT programme of the LUMA Centre Finland has been awarded in an international competition that seeks best practices for education and working life collaboration. The LUMA Centre of the University of Eastern Finland is part of the LUMA Centre Finland.
StarT is a science education programme by the LUMA Centre Finland and it has now been granted the Global Best Awards 2018 as Europe’s best programme bridging the gap between working life and STEM education at schools. The award ceremony took place in Houston, Texas at the International Partnership Network (IPN) conference. The IPN is an international education and working life partnership network.
The Global Best Awards 2018 winners were chosen around the world in six categories, and StarT was awarded as Europe’s best in the STEM (”Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics”) category. The award was also granted to the Norwegian “Girls and Technology” project. The criteria for the award was that the winner engages young people to STEM related careers and improves their employability in these fields.
StarT is an international and collaborative education initiative in which everyone learns together through interdisciplinary project-based learning. StarT supports children and youngsters and teachers with their science, technology and mathematics projects on all levels of education internationally.
According to the Director of the LUMA Centre of the University of Eastern Finland, Mervi Asikainen, the award is a significant recognition for Finnish STEM education.
"We are very happy about StarT winning the award! Moreover, we are eager to see all the wonderful projects that will be carried out this season. We hope that an increasing number of learning communities will join in the competition both here in eastern Finland and elsewhere, too."
"This international award is a fantastic recognition for the LUMA Centre Finland – a network of 11 universities – for our collaborative and international operational culture. In our initiatives the newest findings from research are creatively transformed into initiatives that benefit children and youngsters, the stars of the future. In StarT we learn from each other through different cultures and create together a better world," says the Director of the LUMA Centre Finland, Maija Aksela.
The LUMA Centre Finland launched the StarT programme in 2016, with participants hailing from over 40 countries around the world. The signing up for the StarT programme 2018-2019 is currently open. The LUMA Centre of the University of Eastern Finland will organise a StarT festival in connection with SciFest on 25-27 April 2019.
This year is the 15th anniversary of STEM activities in Finland. https://www.luma.fi/
For further information, please contact:
Director Maija Aksela, LUMA Centre Finland / University of Helsinki
Phone: +358 50 514 1450
Email: maija.aksela(at)helsinki.fi
Director, Mervi A. Asikainen, LUMA Centre of the University of Eastern Finland/University of Eastern Finland
Phone: +358 50 442 1178
Email: mervi.asikainen(at)uef.fi
Coordinator Risto Leinonen, LUMA Centre of the University of Eastern Finland/ University of Eastern Finland
Phone: +358 50 442 2831
Email: risto.leinonen(at)uef.fi
(Source: LUMA Centre Finland)