Educational Travel Workshop and Fam Trip 7.-13.9.2023

Welcome to Finland

Equal opportunities and continuous learning throughout life are among the guiding principles of the Finnish society. Finland differs from many other high-ranking PISA countries by having comparatively short school days, little focus on homework and exams and preference of experimental learning out in the nature. This is reflected on the satisfaction of the Finnish pupils – they stand out from their peers in terms of how happy they feel with their own lives. No wonder Finland has been selected as the happiest nation in the world already 5 times in a row!

Finland is one of the pioneers of sustainability development and the theme is also a key content in the national curriculum. In 2015, the member countries of the UN agreed upon a programme for sustainability development, and 17 detailed Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Finland has been one of the first countries to implement the programme, with local focus themes “Carbon-neutral and resource-wise Finland”, and “a non-discriminating, equal and highly skilled Finland”.

One of the main goals for the Finnish travel industry is to develop products and service structures within sustainable tourism, raise sustainability issues in tourism promotion, and to steer tourists to follow the sustainability principles when arriving to Finland. These targets are the basis for the development of Sustainable Travel Finland –programme and Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) label.

During the trip, you will see how sustainability is an everyday topic made up of small, individual tasks of recycling, saving water and energy, bringing back your own garbage from the forest, respecting the learning of the local school community, and so forth. And maybe you will also discover why Finland is the happiest nation in the world?

Preliminary Program 

Friday, September 8

04:40 Arriving Helsinki from Tokyo with Finnair flight AY062
Meet your Visit Finland representative Mr Koichi Numata at Helsinki Airport arrivals hall
Meet your driver at Helsinki Airport arrivals hall with a sign "EDUC 2023 Japan & South Korea"
Transfer by bus to Helsinki city

05:30 Arriving Helsinki from Seoul with Finnair flight AY042
Meet your Visit Finland representative Ms Gloria Choi at Helsinki Airport arrivals hall
Meet your driver at Helsinki Airport arrivals hall with a sign "EDUC 2023 Japan & South Korea"
Transfer by bus to Helsinki city

Check-in to Hotel Kämp
Breakfast at the hotel

Educational travel workshop
Hotel Kämp, Paavo Nurmi 1-2, Helsinki
In this workshop, you will get to meet with Finnish educational travel suppliers from several regions.
08:30 Registration
09:00-09:15 Welcome to Visit Finland Educational Workshop
09:15-11:30 Workshop (1-2-1 meetings with Finnish suppliers)
11:30-12:30 Networking lunch
12:30-14:00 Workshop (1-2-1 meetings with Finnish suppliers)
Free time
18:45 Meet Ms Päivi Antila in front of the hotel Kämp, transfer by charter bus from the hotel to the restaurant
19:00 Dinner at restaurant Meripaviljonki
21:00 Transfer back by charter bus to the hotel 

Saturday, September 9

Breakfast at the hotel
Check-out
10:30 Lobby call, meet your Visit Finland host Ms Päivi Antila in the hotel lobby
Transfer by charter bus to Helsinki Airport
12:50 Departure with AY437
13:50 Arrival at Oulu Airport

Welcome to unforgettable experiences and picture-perfect sceneries on the Pohjola Route! It is a route that takes you from cities to fells and from forests to the sea. Pohjola route is a tour of unique travel destinations, unforgettable activities and experiencing Finland at its best. Pohjola route takes place in the northern part of Finland, next to the arctic archipelago of the Gulf of Bothnia and border of Lapland.
Oulu is a lively urban city and easily accessible by train or by plane. Oulu has a compact city center with beautiful old buildings and excellent tourism infrastructure. In Oulu you can combine city, culture and the variety of nature. Oulu is surrounded by water & nature, making activities possible throughout the year. Oulu has been also selected as European capital of culture for 2026.
In Oulu region you can explore and experience the world-famous Finnish education system that is frequently proven. Oulu is not only the most popular student city in Northern Finland but also the centre and innovative forerunner of new teaching philosophies. In Oulu region you can experience many practical examples of phenomenon-based learning as well as those of lifelong learning. Interaction with our local students is very inspiring as their English skills are at very high level. Our products and programs have been considered very inspiring – whether the target group is students or professionals, groups or individuals

Your local contact and host:

Ms. Sari Kasvi
BusinessOulu
Project Manager & Toursim specialist
sari.kasvi@businessoulu.com
+358 40 724 9419

14:15 Transfer to the hotel
14:45 Check in at Greenstar Hotel Oulu
A short break
15:30 Transfer to Sanginjoki
16:00 Nature activity with Naturest
Meeting with the owner of Naturest, Rita Porkka
We will do tasks related to everyone's rights, getting to know the autumn forest, during which we will hear about the importance of Finnish forests and a few facts.
Finally, we sit by the fire to have coffee/tea
17:30 Transfer to Maikkula Manor
18:00 Sauna at Maikkula Manor
19:30 Dinner at Maikkula Manor
21:30 Departure back to the hotel 

Sunday, September 10

Breakfast at the hotel
08:00 Lobby call
Meet your local host at the lobby, a short walk to railway station
08:26 Departure by train to Rovaniemi
11:03 Arrival to Rovaniemi by train
Transfer to Santa Claus Village
11:30 Visit to Santa Claus Village & lunch
13:30 Transfer to Ounasrinne comprehensive school
13:45 School Tour at Ounasrinne Comprehensive School
Meet the principal Mrs. Mari Vuorisalo
15:15 Transfer to Arktikum Museum and Science Center
15:30 Arktikum Tour
16:30 Wrap-up of the day
17:15 Transfer to Railway Station 
17:45 Departure from Rovaniemi to Oulu by train
Dinner at the train 

Monday, September 11

Breakfast at the hotel
08:45 A short walk to BusinessAsema
09:00 Educational programs presentations
City of Oulu
OSAO Vocational college
Saaga Travel & Code School Finland
11:30 Lunch
12:30 Taito Shop & Lovi workshop (possibility to do some shopping)
14:45 Short walk to Valve
15:00 Valve Film School
17:00 Walk to the Oulu market square, meet the Toripolliisi, the statue at the market place
17:30 SeaOulu water taxi cruise around the Oulu river delta area
18:30 Back to the market square and walk to dinner at Sokeri Jussin Kievari restaurant
 

Tuesday, September 12

08:00 Breakfast at the hotel
Check-out
09:15 Transfer to Oulu University
09:30 Oulu University visit
11:00 Lunch at the university
12:15 Transfer to Oulu airport
Check-in
14:30 AY438 to Helsinki
15:30 Arrival at Helsinki Airport
17:30 Finnair flight AY041 from Helsinki to Seoul
18:30 Finnair flight AY061 from Helsinki to Tokyo

Thank you for visiting Finland!