“For Estonia to continue advancing in education and research, we need purposeful cooperation with strong international partners,” said Minister Kristina Kallas. “The key outcome of this visit is an agreement to deepen scientific cooperation between Estonian and New Zealand universities and to start preparing reciprocal visits and joint research funding projects. We also gained valuable input for shaping the extension of the learning obligation in Estonia, especially on how to better integrate youth work to support young people who need help,” she added.
The visit resulted in several important cooperation agreements. Estonian and New Zealand universities, supported by the Estonian Research Council, will begin closer collaboration to develop joint research projects and facilitate student and academic exchange within the Horizon Europe research and innovation framework.
In New Zealand, the minister met with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister of Education Erica Stanford, as well as Minister of Police Mark Mitchell, Head of the EU Delegation Lawrence Meredith, and Estonia’s Honorary Consul in Auckland, David Jaan Raudkivi.
With Secretary for Education Ellen McGregor, deputy secretaries, and the leadership of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Education Review Office, discussions focused on curriculum reforms, quality assurance and assessment, the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, and the application of evidence-based monitoring and evaluation methods. Minister Kallas visited schools, delivered a keynote speech on artificial intelligence at a symposium at Auckland University of Technology, and met with Universities New Zealand and the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Dr John Roche, with whom further cooperation was agreed.
The visit continued in Melbourne, Australia, where the minister familiarised herself with local schools and youth centres and met Estonian language teachers and members of the Estonian community. She presented letters of appreciation to Estonian language and culture teachers in Australia, as well as a public diplomacy recognition to choir conductor Hilja Toom. The minister gave a public lecture at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and met Victoria’s Minister for Economic Growth, Jobs and Industry Danny Pearson, Chief Executive of the Victoria Skills Authority Craig Robertson, and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Education Stephen Fraser. A substantive phone conversation was also held with Australia’s Minister for Education Jason Clare.
The experience of Melbourne’s BlendED Youth organisation provided valuable input for developing support services related to Estonia’s reform on extending the learning obligation age. Cooperation with the Victoria Skills Authority will also continue to advance major skills policy reforms in both countries.
Minister Kallas invited both New Zealand’s Minister of Education Erica Stanford and Australia’s Minister for Education Jason Clare to participate in the International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP), taking place in March in Tallinn. The summit will offer an opportunity to continue cooperation on strengthening teachers and the teaching profession globally.
Photos from the visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCBYws
