Katja Pantzar
is a Helsinki-based freelance journalist and author of several non-fiction books including The Finnish Way, a bestselling book about Nordic wellbeing and resilience ("sisu"), which has been translated into 24 different languages. Her newest book The Power of Hot & Cold: From Sauna to Sea has just been published in the UK. A unique collaboration with sauna expert Carita Harju, it is the first-ever international title on Finnish contrast therapy – the age-old tradition of combining sauna with a cold-water dip – written from an inclusive perspective.

Transforming PIAAC results into action: On what to focus
The 2023 Survey of Adult Skills, the OECD’s International Assessment of Adult Competencies on literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills, paints a polarised picture between high- and low-performing countries. Data reveals a pressing need for policymakers to focus on lifelong and life-wide learning to ensure that education is more adaptive to evolving demands.

Isabell Kempf: “Adult education empowers agility in navigating global change”
“Adult education is a human right and a public good helping to create a more resilient, just and sustainable future,” said Isabell Kempf, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, in her keynote address at the EAEA conference in Helsinki.

Online learning makes indigenous Sámi languages more accessible
Virtual distance education has increased interest and opportunities to study Sámi languages, says Tiisu-Maria Näkkäläjärvi, coordinator at the Sámi Education Institute in Finland.

How to cultivate the Finnish learning concept of ‘sivistys’
In Finland, 2024 marks the year of 'sivistys', a wide-ranging concept that encompasses education, a broad base of knowledge, and much more. We ask two of Finland’s leading thinkers, Kristiina Brunila and Sixten Korkman, to elaborate.

Ukraine’s adult education looks to the future
A current draft law on changing adult education is key to societal renewal in Ukraine – now and after the war – says Mykyta Andreev, the former Executive Director of the Ukrainian Adult Education Association.

Interview with Arjen Wals: A pedagogy of hope for a greener world
New ways of teaching such as transgressive learning can lead to real change, says thought leader Arjen Wals, professor of transformative learning for socio-ecological sustainability.

Future skills for a brave new world
Understanding how artificial intelligence (AI) works is a key skill – now and for tomorrow – says leading computer science and information technology professor Matti Tedre.