TeProD is about empowering higher education teachers with knowledge and skills in green and digital transitions. Haaga-Helia hosted TeProD – Improving Teachers and Students Professional Development with Twin Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa project kick-off from 10th to 14th March 2025.
Project kick-off warmly welcomed our partners from Technical University of Košice (TUKE) from Slovakia, University of Ghana and University of Education Winneba from Ghana and International University Management from Namibia.
During first day our President Teemu Kokko, Director of School of Professional Teacher Education Crister Nyberg and Research Area Director Timo Kaski welcomed our partners to Finland and Haaga-Helia.
The week included collaborative consortium work under different tasks focusing on early results of local industry needs, and HEIs knowledge gap specification in the area of green transition and digitalization, for example.
Other parts of the programme were an orientation workshop to innovative use of AI and digital tools in education as well as TUKE’s presentation on project quality management. Industry viewpoint was brought by Climate Sequestration Lead Kirsi Tiusanen from St1 presenting Carbon farming and afforestation in arid zones project in Morocco.
Getting to know each other
During the week we heard also a presentation of Ulysseus, the European University Alliance because TeProD is also a Ulysseus satellite project. Senior Lecturer David Mauffret presented our teacher education programme in Pretoria, South-Africa for the partners with their presentation “Professional Teacher Education with Finnish touch”.
Most important thing in the kick-off was getting to know each other alongside orientating ourselves to project objectives and work packages.
– The project partners’ strong commitment was reflected in the size of the delegations, but also in efficient project work and taking responsibility. For many, Finland seemed exotic – maybe too exotic when we took them to the sauna and outdoor pool, says Altti Lagstedt, who is one of the project team members at Haaga-Helia.
Guests’ experiences
“One thing that makes TeProD unique is defining the concept of Twin Transition (Green transition & Digitalization) and open-minded approach for pedagogical innovations using AI based tools which builds the capacity building among project partners.”
“I respect the democratic approach and inclusive decision-making applied by the coordinating institution.”
“Everyone seems to be so quiet in Finland except me.” 😃
“I got to see snow for the very first time.”
