Estonia study visit
LeadEx study visit in Tallinn highlighted Estonia’s education system and Teachers’ Professional Development
On 9–11 March 2026, the Estonian Quality Agency for Education (HAKA) hosted the LeadEx (Learning about the Educational Approach to Develop Excellence) Interreg Europe study visit in Tallinn, bringing together project partners, regional representatives, stakeholders and experts from across Europe to explore the Estonian education system and exchange practices in education policy.
As host of the study visit, HAKA designed the programme in cooperation with national and international partners to provide participants with a broad overview of Estonia’s education ecosystem. The three-day visit focused in particular on teachers’ continuous professional development (CPD), while also addressing inclusion, diversity and excellence, educational innovation, and the broader role of quality assurance in supporting improvement in education.
The study visit was opened by Heli Mattisen, Director of HAKA, who highlighted the importance of education in today’s society and underlined its role in addressing prejudice and reducing social exclusion. This was followed by a presentation from Helen Arus, Head of General Education at HAKA, who introduced key features of the Estonian education system. She explained how Estonia has built an innovative and highly digitalised education system and emphasised the importance of trust, autonomy and evidence-informed development.
The first day also included the presentation of the Joint Regional Education Diagnosis Report, prepared within the LeadEx project and offering a comparative overview of education policy instruments across partner regions. The report provides an important basis for the project’s interregional learning process and the further improvement of policy instruments. In connection with this, participants took part in a workshop launching the first phase of interregional learning, with a particular focus on teachers’ CPD.
The second day of the programme took place at Tallinn University. Taavi Kreitsmann from the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research presented current policies supporting teachers’ professional development and introduced the national framework for teacher career model. Sigrid Aruväli, Head of the Centre for Innovation in Education at Tallinn University, then discussed cooperation between Estonian universities, schools and teachers, highlighting the importance of mentoring and support for novice teachers.
The programme also featured presentations from LeadEx partner regions on good practices related to teachers’ continuous professional development. In addition, participants took part in practical workshops on creativity in learning and empathy in the classroom, further enriching the exchange of experiences among partners.
On the third day, participants split into two groups to gain a more detailed insight into different parts of the Estonian education system. One group visited Saku Gymnasium and then continued to HAKA, where Kaisa Musting, Development Manager for General Education, and Heli Mattisen presented the agency’s work in supporting quality assurance and continuous improvement in education. The other group visited the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, where Maie Kitsing and Maarja Keskpaik introduced the strategic framework of Estonian education policy, and then continued to the Tallinn School of Service, where Headmaster Kristi Tarik presented the school’s approach to vocational education and training.
In the afternoon, both groups reconvened for a joint session at the Education and Youth Board of Estonia (HARNO). Kai Koort, Project Manager at HARNO, introduced Estonia’s digital education ecosystem and presented national initiatives supporting technological skills and innovation, including ProgeTiger, AI Leap, Hands-on Tech, Rakett 69 and Unicorn Squad. Participants also learned more about digital learning solutions such as the Opiq platform.
The study visit received very positive feedback from participants. They described all three days as valuable and inspiring, noting that each offered a distinct perspective on the Estonian education system. Particularly appreciated were the presentations by Estonian experts, which provided a clear and well-structured overview of the system’s key principles and successful practices. The visit to the vocational education institution also stood out as especially impactful, offering a concrete example of how theory is translated into practice through strong links between education and the labour market, modern learning environments and a focus on relevant skills development.
By hosting the study visit in Tallinn, HAKA contributed to international knowledge exchange on education quality, policy development and professional learning.
The next LeadEx study visit is planned for autumn 2026 in Montenegro, where project partners will continue their interregional learning process and cooperation on improving education policy instruments.
LeadEx Estonia study visit first day in Tallinn Culture Hub.