Education System Aided by Private Sector in Estonia: Collaborative Efforts Enhance Educational Quality
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Pioneering Management Strategies: School Leaders Learn from the Corporate World
In an innovative cross-sector move, Estonian educational leaders are embracing management practices from the private sector, thanks to an internship program initiated by the Good Deed Education Fund, Tallinn Education Board, and Fontes Talent Advisory. This collaboration, aimed at cultivating the next generation of forward-thinking school leaders, impacts both companies and educational institutions positively.
HK Unicorn Squad and Edumus: Empowering Girls and Improving Access to Education
Two other initiatives in Estonia—the HK Unicorn Squad movement and Edumus platform—are also committed to eliminating gender disparities in the tech sector and upgrading educational opportunities across the nation. The HK Unicorn Squad introduces young girls to technology, robotics, and science, aiming to reduce the gender imbalance in the ICT sector, with over 150 groups of young "Unicorns" currently enrolled across 92 schools in Estonia. Edumus, a platform connecting schools and professionals, offers valuable online courses to students in grades 10-12, enabling over 80 schools throughout Estonia to provide their students with enriching learning experiences.
Leaping Forward: The Founding of the Good Deed Education Fund
The Good Deed Education Fund, launched by the Good Deed Foundation in 2018 with contributions from Martin Villig, Taavet Hinrikus, and other visionary entrepreneurs, is a testament to the group's dedication to developing the education sector. The fund aims to address critical issues affecting education—such as school management quality, the teacher shortage, and learning strategies—by partnering with leaders from various sectors and implementing measurable solutions to improve educational outcomes.
The Private Sector's Role: Innovation and Leadership
The internship program mentioned above is a shining example of this cross-sector collaboration. It was conceived by the Good Deed Education Fund in 2019, with the idea originating from the former head of the Tallinn Education Department, Andres Pajula, and Piret Jamnes, the board member and head of the development team at Fontes Talent Advisory. In January 2024, the fifth group of school leaders embarked on their internships, underscoring the program's continued success.
A Balanced Approach: Advancing the Public Sector's Role in Education
Schools have been slow to adopt efficient leadership and management practices, according to Pirkko Valge, the CEO of the Good Deed Foundation and one of the program's architects. The private sector, on the other hand, places a high priority on competition for talent and the development of strong leadership. This collaborative internship program plays a pivotal role in bringing these invaluable practices to the education sector.
Catalyzing Change: Impact and Expansion of the Internship Program
The program has seen adoptions by larger cities, smaller municipalities, and schools under the auspices of the Estonian education and research ministry. The Good Deed Education Fund continues to champion the program's growth, advocating for more local authorities to join. Administrators from both the public and local levels play crucial roles in the program, helping to decide which candidates to encourage, organizing substitutions, and covering the cost of participation for headteachers.
Driving Communication: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Business
Participants in the internship program, such as Mari Roostik, the principal of Tartu Jaan Poska High School, have expressed profound changes in their leadership styles and school management strategies. Roostik interned at Veriff, an Estonian-based digital verification technology company, and gained insights into implementing effective leadership systems that support all teachers and students. Similarly, Mari-Liis Sults, the headteacher of Tallinn Art Gymnasium, spent three months working at Wise (formerly TransferWise), optimizing her school's internal communication processes and structures.
Teamwork and Transparency: Key Elements for Progress
The program's internships help both educational leaders and companies alike gain valuable insights and renewed perspectives. By exchanging knowledge and experiences, participants learn to create supportive environments that foster teamwork, transparency, and accountability, leading to overall success and growth for both individuals and organizations.
- The Good Deed Education Fund, backed by visionaries like Martin Villig and Taavet Hinrikus, is fostering innovative practices in Estonia's education sector through partnerships with private companies and educational institutions, aiming to tackle critical educational issues such as school management quality, the teacher shortage, and learning strategies.
- Programs like HK Unicorn Squad and Edumus in Estonia are working tirelessly to bridge the gender gap in the tech sector and improve access to education nationwide. HK Unicorn Squad, with over 150 groups across 92 schools, introduces technology, robotics, and science to young girls, promoting gender balance in the ICT sector, while Edumus connects schools and professionals to offer enriching online courses to high school students.
- In keeping with this cross-sector collaboration, the internship program initiated by the Good Deed Education Fund, Tallinn Education Board, and Fontes Talent Advisory places school leaders in corporate settings to learn management practices from the private sector. This initiative has positively impacted both companies and educational institutions, with administrators playing essential roles, adjusting candidate selection, and covering participation costs for headteachers.
- Interestingly, several cities and schools under the Estonian education and research ministry have adopted these progressive leadership and management practices demonstrated by the internship program, sparking growing interest and support for similar initiatives.
- Executives from both the public and private sectors have reported significant benefits from the internship program, such as Mari Roostik, who, after internship at Veriff, implemented more effective leadership systems in Tartu Jaan Poska High School, and Mari-Liis Sults, who optimized Tallinn Art Gymnasium's internal communication processes after her internship at Wise.
