How leading education institutions are leveraging Finnish expertise and AI to transform learning outcomes
In today’s competitive education landscape, student wellbeing isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a strategic imperative. Recent research confirms what Finnish educators have long understood: wellbeing directly correlates with academic achievement, retention rates, and long-term student success.
A recent Vision Finland webinar, “Wellbeing at School and Home: AI Supporting Families,” brought together Finnish education experts to share proven methodologies now being implemented across Southeast Asia’s leading institutions. The webinar was chaired by Outi Suojanen, the chairwoman of the Thai-Finnish Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) Education Committee.
The Business Case for Wellbeing-First Education
The data is compelling. Dr. Annika Vatanen , Education Advisor at the Embassy of Finland in Bangkok, provided the opening speech and shared Finland’s core insight:
“If a child is doing well, feeling well, and even having fun while learning, they will learn significantly more.” Annika Vatanen
Dr Annika Vatanen, Education Advisor at the Embassy of Finland in Bangkok delivered the opening speech.
This isn’t educational philosophy—it’s measurable performance improvement.
Research presented during the webinar demonstrates that students with higher psychological and emotional wellbeing consistently achieve:
- Higher academic performance across all subjects
- Better stress management capabilities
- Reduced anxiety and depression rates
- Enhanced social and emotional behaviours
- Stronger preparation for future employment success
For education leaders, this translates to improved institutional outcomes, higher parent satisfaction, and stronger competitive positioning.
Systematic Implementation: The Finnish Approach
Sofia Korpela, Founder of Glow Learning and Special Education Teacher, outlined how Finnish institutions operationalise wellbeing through five evidence-based areas of learning.
Key insight for administrators: Wellbeing isn’t the responsibility of counselling departments alone. Finnish schools integrate these elements across all departments, creating institutional alignment that drives measurable results.
“Learning about health and wellbeing is a matter for the entire school, community, and family.” Sofia Korpela
Practical implementation example: Finnish research shows children aged 7-12 require 11-12 hours of sleep nightly for optimal cognitive function. Schools partnering with parents to establish consistent sleep schedules see immediate improvements in attention span and academic performance.
Emotional Intelligence: The ROI of EQ Investment
Susanna Nicol, Founder of EQ for kidz, presented compelling evidence that emotional intelligence (EQ) outperforms IQ as a predictor of student success. For education executives, this represents a significant competitive differentiator.
“Emotional intelligence, or EQ, is a better predictor of success and wellbeing than IQ.” Susanna Nicol
The critical window: Ages 2-6, when children’s brains form over one million neural connections per second. Institutions investing in early childhood EQ development create lasting competitive advantages.
Bottom-line impact: Students with developed EQ demonstrate improved decision-making, enhanced collaboration skills, and greater resilience—precisely the competencies employers demand.
AI Integration: Scaling Personalised Support
Pia Solatie and Jim Solatie, Co-founders of Sisufy, demonstrated how AI can address education’s scalability challenges while maintaining the quality of human connection.
“AI should, of course, never replace the human connection; it should strengthen it, but never replace it. The goal is to let AI handle small, practical tasks. So that parents and teachers have more energy and time for the more important part: face-to-face moments, which truly matter.” Jim Solatie
Implementation principle: AI amplifies human capability rather than replacing it. Successful institutions use AI to free educators for high-value face-to-face interactions while providing data-driven insights for personalised learning.
Risk Management: AI Safety in Education
The webinar addressed critical safety considerations following concerning incidents involving AI and vulnerable students. Key safeguards for institutional implementation:
- Transparency Requirements – Students must understand AI limitations and biases
- Human Oversight Protocols – AI tools require qualified staff supervision
- Emergency Intervention Systems – Clear escalation pathways for concerning interactions
- Parent Education Programs – Families need guidance on safe AI engagement
Strategic Implementation Roadmap
For education leaders ready to implement these approaches:
Phase 1: Foundation Building
- Conduct an institutional wellbeing assessment
- Establish a cross-departmental wellbeing committee
- Begin faculty EQ training programs
Phase 2: System Integration
- Implement a structured wellbeing curriculum
- Launch parent partnership programs
- Pilot AI-supported learning tools
Phase 3: Optimisation and Scale
- Analyse student outcome data
- Refine based on performance metrics
- Expand successful programs
The Competitive Imperative
Finnish education’s global reputation stems from its evidence-based approach to student wellbeing. As Southeast Asian institutions increasingly compete for top students and faculty, well-being-first strategies provide a sustainable competitive advantage.
The choice for education leaders is clear: integrate these proven methodologies now, or risk being outpaced by institutions that prioritise both academic excellence and student wellbeing.
Key Takeaways
- Wellbeing drives performance: Students with higher psychological wellbeing consistently achieve better academic outcomes and prepare more effectively for future employment.
- Systematic implementation is required: Wellbeing must be integrated across all departments, not relegated solely to counselling services.
- EQ outperforms IQ: Emotional intelligence is a stronger predictor of lifelong success than academic intelligence, underscoring the importance of early development.
- AI as an enhancement tool: Technology should strengthen human connections and free up time for meaningful interactions, never replace them.
- Critical safety protocols: AI implementation requires transparency, human oversight, and student education about inherent biases
- Parent-school partnerships are essential: Successful wellbeing programs require structured collaboration between families and institutions.
- Early intervention advantage: Ages 2-6 represent the optimal window for emotional intelligence development, with lasting institutional benefits.
Watch the webinar recording on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nSoPwDjsgus?si=cZ0OdUfm3eqYLZPZ
Vision Finland connects Southeast Asian education leaders with Finnish expertise in student wellbeing, AI integration, and learning innovation. For strategic consultation on implementing these approaches at your institution, contact Outi Suojanen, the Chair of TFCC’s Education Committee.
didacta asia 2025 will take place from 15 to 17 October at BITEC, Bangkok. As Southeast Asia’s premier education event, it showcases innovations that are shaping the future of learning. The Embassy of Finland in Bangkok will highlight Finland’s world-renowned educational expertise and foster collaboration with Thai partners. Meet Finnish experts and explore groundbreaking ideas in education.
Written by Antti Rahikainen, cover photo AI-assisted.
