According to the conference team, TEPE was the first completely virtual, full-scale international conference at the University of Helsinki. The virtual implementation was not initially on the agenda, however, due to the exceptional situation caused by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organisers, Professor Erika Löfström and Professor Hannele Niemi, made the decision not to postpone or cancel the conference under these circumstances.
Presentations by eminent keynote speakers
During the three days, the conference hosted four eminent keynote speakers and their presentations are still available, any time – it’s all just a click away on the website of TEPE 2020!
- General Director of the Finnish National Agency for Education Olli-Pekka Heinonen on The future of education systems: Initial observations from the process on “Highest performing systems for tomorrow”
- Professor Tuija Turunen (University of Lapland) on the topic I am a teacher educator. What is your superpower? – Educating teachers to make a difference
- Professor Eve Eisenschmidt (Tallinn University) on How to multiply teachers: solving a shortage of teachers
- Professor Ritva Reinikka (Aalto University School of Business and Helsinki Graduate School of Economics) on The global learning crisis: Time to focus on quality in learning and teaching
A TEPE 2020 Policy Statement will be added to the web site to highlight the main messages from the conference.
70 participants from Europe and Asia
The conference had 70 participants from over different European and Asian countries. More 30 papers were presented in parallel Zoom rooms. According the feedback, the conference was a great success. The Zoom environment allowed vivid interaction after the key notes as well as in the paper sessions. Not much CO2 emissions were needed for attending the 14th TEPE conference, we had the joy of welcoming many participants from outside Europe (Thailand, Singapore).
TEPE network
The Teacher Education Policy in Europe (TEPE) network is an academic network that brings together teacher educators, educational researchers, policy makers, teachers and practitioners from Europe and beyond to identify and discuss key elements that contribute to strengthening teacher education and the quality and professionalism of teachers in schools.