Developed by Education Estonia, the new online course provides a structured overview of Estonia’s internationally acclaimed education system—known for its top PISA results and pioneering the use of digital tools in classrooms. Each year, thousands of policymakers and education experts visit Estonia, now, the course brings key insights to a global audience.
Estonia’s education system has attracted wide international interest, with hundreds of delegations visiting every year. Education Estonia is introducing a new online course in English: “Understanding Estonia’s Education System”, available on Udemy. It provides a structured, fact-based overview — accessible from anywhere in the world.
“Estonia is a real star in the world of education – every year, hundreds of delegations visit us to learn about Estonian education and see our schools and kindergartens. This is where the idea of creating a course was born, which will make it easier to introduce the topic.”
Eva Toome, Education Estonia project manager
“As a small nation, we cannot expect our ideas to spread automatically. We need to actively generate visibility, learn from others, and share our experiences. The widespread interest in Estonian education recognises our teachers, students, and educators, but it also brings a responsibility—to maintain and improve it. The course serves to tell our story clearly and systematically,” said the Education and Youth Board Director General Jaak Raie.
Estonia shares education expertise worldwide
What makes the course especially valuable is the range of voices it brings together: from the Ministry of Education and Research, the Education and Youth Board (Harno), universities, school leaders, and practising teachers. Even the most carefully planned study visit could not offer such a broad spectrum of perspectives in one place.
“Estonia is a real star in the world of education – every year, hundreds of delegations visit us to learn about Estonian education and see our schools and kindergartens. This is where the idea of creating a course was born, which will make it easier to introduce the topic,” said Education Estonia project manager Eva Toome. “The great value of our course is that it has been prepared in collaboration with dozens of Estonian education experts, who introduce their field and answer questions that foreign visitors ask repeatedly,” added Toome.
The course bring Estonia’s schools to life for global education professionals
With 30 concise videos (around 1.5 hours in total), additional materials, and real-life examples, the course is designed for policymakers, school leaders, teachers, and anyone with a professional interest in education. The material provides an overview of the role of teachers, curricula, PISA results, exams, digital topics and other important information.
In addition to expert insights, it includes authentic video material from Estonian schools, showing the daily routines of students, teachers, and school leaders. It can serve as preparation for international cooperation and study visits, or as a stand-alone resource. At the moment, the course focuses on general education, but the plan is to expand it over time.
The course was developed by Education Estonia, initative by Estonian Education and Youth Board in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Research and leading experts from across Estonia’s education community. The course content is updated regularly to keep it up-to-date.
GOOD TO KNOW
The course focuses on some of the most frequently asked questions about Estonia’s education system, including:
- How teachers are prepared and supported, and what professional autonomy looks like in practice
- How equity and inclusion are ensured across the system
- How curriculum and assessment are designed and used
- How digital learning has evolved from the Tiger Leap to AI in schools
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