Beyond the global hype about Finnish education: New essay urges a rethinking of Finnish and Chinese teacher education systems, and their overlooked similarities

The dominant narrative of Finland as an educational miracle is challenged, revealing similarities between Chinese and Finnish teacher education systems

ECNU Review of Education

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For more than two decades, Finland’s education system has been a global benchmark. It is often contrasted sharply with systems from other parts of the world, including China’s, a phenomenon that Suhao Peng from the University of Eastern Finland terms “Finland exceptionalism”. However, a new thought-provoking discussion essay published online in ECNU Review of Education on June 2, 2025, challenges this exceptionalism.

Authored by Peng, the paper, titled “Rethinking Finnish Education From the Chinese Perspective: The Underlying Similarities and Commonalities Between Finnish and Chinese Teacher Education Systems” calls for a more nuanced comparison, emphasizing the often-overlooked shared foundations and challenges between Finnish and Chinese education systems.

“For a long time, people have been talking a lot about how Finnish educational system is different from education in other countries, like China, and exceptionalized from the global educational trends, such as neoliberalism. It’s like we are always focusing on the differences when we talk about foreign countries, but it’s neither critical nor reflective,” says Peng. “My discussion essay gently invites us to see things a bit differently. It’s also important to recognize shared foundations between two different societies because they can pave the way for more fruitful Sino-Finnish dialogue and collaborative solutions to the global challenges teacher education faces.”

The essay thought-provokingly deconstructs the common practice of uncritically “learning from Finland” without a deeper understanding of comparability or the local context. Instead, Peng argues for looking beyond national differences to identify common ground that can support mutual growth.

Unveiling common ground in teacher education between two seemingly contrasting systems

Peng’s discussion highlights several key areas where Finnish and Chinese teacher education systems exhibit surprising parallels:

• Similar teacher qualifications: While Finnish teachers are known for often holding Master’s degrees, the essay points to China’s recent legal amendments and competitive recruitment in major economic zones that increasingly demand Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees for primary and secondary school teachers.

For example, in Shenzhen, in 2023, 80% of new teachers (including kindergarten teachers) had Master’s degrees, which urges us to consider the dynamicity and interconnections between Finnish and Chinese teacher education systems and recent developments, rather than simplistically concluding that one system is superior to the other.

• Shared challenge of teacher shortages: Both Finland and China are grappling with shortages of qualified early childhood educators due to aging populations. This shared challenge requires innovative, perhaps collaborative, actions to boost retention and recruitment strategies. These strategies could be offered globally to address similar challenges instead of a unidirectional transfer from one system to the rest of the world.
• Pedagogical approaches: The essay notes that while Finnish phenomenon-based learning is often lauded, most teaching in Finland actually remains subject-based. Similarly, China’s implementation of “key competencies” (核心素养) in its national curriculum encourages teachers to instruct beyond their specific subjects, fostering a comparable whole-person development approach for pupils. This challenges the common misconception that Finnish teachers can teach multiple subjects, but Chinese teachers cannot.
• Societal respect for teaching professionals: Teaching is a highly valued profession in both Finnish and Chinese societies. In Finland, this respect is rooted in the historical emphasis of the Lutheran Church on literacy and the role of education in nation-building. Similarly, Confucianism has instilled a deep respect for educators as mentors and role models in China for millennia. Despite moderate salaries, this high regard contributes to the popularity of the teaching profession in both nations. This, for example, can be a solid foundation for cooperation between educators from both countries.

 

“By understanding that both Finnish and Chinese teacher education systems value highly qualified and respected teachers and face similar contemporary challenges like teacher shortages and evolving pedagogical demands, we can transcend national divides and further Sino-Finnish cooperation in teacher education,” Peng elaborates. “This common ground is crucial for developing joint innovative approaches that enhance educational excellence and equity, not just within any national silos, but as a model for global cooperation.”

A call for critical dialogue and collaboration

In this essay, Peng concludes that recognizing these underlying similarities and commonalities in teacher education allows both Finland and China to better capitalize on the unique advantages of each system and leverage their respective strengths to address contemporary educational challenges.

The paper serves as a call for continued research and engagement to better understand the complexities of Finnish and Chinese teacher education and to identify more common ground in order to cope with global challenges in education.

Peng’s insightful analysis aims to reshape the global conversation about learning from Finland and discover the secret behind its educational success, promoting a more balanced, collaborative, and critically aware perspective that can benefit teacher education worldwide.

 

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Reference

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20965311251319051 

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Journal

ECNU Review of Education

DOI

10.1177/20965311251319051 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Rethinking Finnish Education From the Chinese Perspective: The Underlying Similarities and Commonalities Between Finnish and Chinese Teacher Education Systems

Article Publication Date

12-Jun-2025

 

Smart payments could be the key to reviving bus travel in Southern England

Public transport in Southern England is struggling, not just because of cost or convenience, but because it has failed to keep up with the digital age, according to a new study from the University of Surrey.

University of Surrey

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Public transport in Southern England is struggling, not just because of cost or convenience, but because it has failed to keep up with the digital age, according to a new study from the University of Surrey.  

In a study published in Public Transport, researchers simulated improvements in areas like payment convenience and real-time service updates. The study found that these tech-driven changes could boost bus ridership by over 30%. 

Researchers have found that simple innovations, such as easy payment systems, e-ticketing, and mobile applications, can transform public transport, boost ridership, and improve passenger satisfaction. 

The study employed a novel analytical approach, Machine Learning Influence Flow Analysis (MIFA), to understand the attitudes and behaviours of bus passengers in Southern England. The team also analysed detailed survey data, which helped them identify the key factors that influence whether people choose the bus over their private cars. These factors where: addressing issues around payment convenience and real-time information can make buses far more appealing. 

Dr Wolfgang Garn, one of the authors of the study and Associate Professor in Analytics at the University of Surrey, said: 

“We discovered that passengers want a seamless, hassle-free experience. If paying for a bus journey feels complicated or outdated, people are more likely to opt for driving instead. By introducing smart ticketing and contactless payments, alongside mobile apps that provide real-time updates, we can not only make bus travel easier but also more attractive. This isn’t just about technology, it’s about fundamentally changing how people view public transport.” 

The study used advanced machine learning methods, including neural networks and random forests, to create predictive models from survey responses. These models enabled the researchers to identify the factors that most strongly influence bus usage decisions. By simulating improvements in passenger sentiment, such as increased satisfaction with payment methods, the MIFA framework can predict how these changes may alter people’s willingness to use buses. The results suggest that these technological enhancements could increase bus ridership by over 30%. 

The findings also highlight several critical issues that undermine bus usage, including inconvenient payment processes, a lack of clear information about bus routes and fares, and concerns about reliability and security. The research recommends practical solutions such as integrated smartcard payment systems, real-time travel apps, and expanded bus lanes to reduce journey times. Together, these measures can create a public transport system that competes with the convenience of private cars. 

Dr Garn continued: 

“Integrated ticketing is an option that needs to be further explored. It allows passengers to travel across different public transport modes using a single ticket or system, typically a smart card, for their entire journey. This means a traveller can switch between buses, trains, trams, and other modes of transport without needing to purchase multiple tickets or navigate different payment systems – an issue that arises when governmental policies do not sufficiently guide multiple private bus transport companies. A related study I worked on demonstrated that increased frequency, low fares, and an improved bus network significantly boost bus ridership.  

The future of bus travel in Southern England depends on embracing digital convenience and improving the passenger experience. With smart payments and better information at the heart of this transformation, buses can become the preferred mode of travel for many, not the last resort.” 

 

[ENDS] 

Notes to editors 

• Dr Wolfgang Garn is available for interview, please contact mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk to arrange.   

• The full paper is available in Public Transport

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Journal

Public Transport

DOI

10.1007/s12469-024-00387-2 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Improving public transport through machine learning influence flow analysis (MIFA): Southern England bus case study

Visible light and microwaves unlock new era of fully recyclable adhesives

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

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image: 

A schematic illustration of the adhesion system by Jarach et al. On the top left, there is a representation of two slides being adhered by the new adhesive. The adhesion process involves irradiation, which can be performed using various visible-light wavelengths. Subsequently, the adhesive can be removed and recycled, as depicted in the bottom right, through microwave irradiation. The now-recycled adhesive can be reused to adhere new parts.

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Credit: Adapted from N. Jarach, M. Cohen, R. Gitt, H. Dodiuk, S. Kenig, S. Magdassi, Untying the Knot: A Fully Recyclable, Solvent-Free, Wide-Spectral Photocurable Thermoset Adhesive. Adv. Mater. 2025, 2502040, with permission from Wiley.

A team led by Prof. Shlomo Magdassi from the Institute of Chemistry and Prof. Hanna Dodiuk from Shenkar College has recently developed a new adhesive, which addresses one of the major challenges in materials science: developing adhesives that, on the one hand, have rapid curing capabilities and can function on a wide range of surfaces, and, on the other hand, are recyclable and removable without compromising their properties. The research was performed by the PhD student Natanel Jarach, published in the prestigious journal Advanced Materials, presented a new adhesive that can be cured across almost the entire visible light spectrum and can be decomposed using a household microwave, all without requiring solvents, UV radiation, or high temperatures.

Imagine glueing something in seconds with no mess, heat, or solvent. Now, also try to imagine disassembling it just as easily using a kitchen microwave. A group led by Prof. Shlomo Magdassi from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Prof. Hanna Dodiuk from Shenkar College for Engineering, Design and Art, in a doctoral research of Natanel Jarach, have now made that possible with a groundbreaking adhesive that bonds and debonds on demand and can be reused multiple times without losing its properties. Published in the high-impact-factor journal Advanced Materials, the study unveils a solvent-free, recyclable adhesive that cures under visible light and debonds easily with household microwave energy.

The Adhesive Paradox: Strength vs. Sustainability

Addressing environmental challenges of conventional adhesives 
Over 90% of the $92.6 billion global adhesives market relies on thermosets: polymers and plastics, like epoxy and silicones, which form irreversible bonds and accumulate in landfills. Even recyclable alternatives, like reversible adhesives based on dynamic covalent chemistry, often demand energy-intensive processes like prolonged heating above 150°C, toxic solvents, or deep UV, or they enable recycling only by compromising performance. The answer? A dynamic polymer derived from α-lipoic acid (ALA), a naturally occurring antioxidant, which redefines material lifecycles.

Dual-Activation Design: Bond Like Velcro, Recycle Like LEGO

TetraALA’s, the new adhesive's name, secret lies in its four-armed molecular structure, synthesised via a one-pot reaction between alpha lipoic acid and pentaerythritol. The new adhesive photocures in 30 seconds under visible wavelengths (400–650 nm) and maintains strong adhesion to glass, plastic, aluminium, and circuit board materials (4-6 MPa), and it even functions underwater! The bonding is enabled by dynamic disulfide linkages that lock into place on curing and can be undone with mild microwave radiation: no solvents, no high temperatures.
"You can bond glass to metal or plastic in seconds, and when you're done, debonding it with a kitchen microwave," said the authors. They demonstrated that over 90% of the material could be recovered after just 30 seconds of microwave exposure. Better still, the adhesive retains its mechanical, thermal, and optical properties after multiple cycles of bonding and debonding.

The adhesive’s optical clarity and high refractive index (1.62) are also suitable for optical applications such as beam splitters. The team even showed that using tap water can enhance bonding strength due to ion exchange effects. Furthermore, they have also demonstrated that this new adhesive has some biomedical potential, achieving 145 kPa shear strength on chicken skin using 630 nm light, matching surgical glues but with reversible bonding. 

The study opens new possibilities for reusable consumer electronics, sustainable packaging, optical devices, and even bio-adhesives for wet tissues. The authors plan to explore industrial-scale recycling strategies and the underlying microwave-induced bond dissociation mechanisms in future work.
 

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Journal

Advanced Materials

DOI

10.1002/adma.202502040 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Untying the Knot: A Fully Recyclable, Solvent-Free, Wide-Spectral Photocurable Thermoset Adhesive

 

Polycrisis and systemic risks: New approaches in governance and communication

Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam

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The Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s war on Ukraine, geopolitical tensions, climate change and other events highlight our growing exposure to complex, interconnected, and intertwining risks. In view of this development, the focus of risk research has shifted towards the comprehensive analysis of interconnected and mutually interactive risk sources and crises. In a review article published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, Huan Liu (Kyoto University) and Ortwin Renn (Research Institute for Sustainability, RIFS) offer an overview of the current state of research on polycrises and systemic risks.

The researchers initially clarify the terms "polycrisis" and "systemic risks", outlining their theoretical foundations, historical evolution, and practical relevance. The key distinction between the two is that polycrises comprise multiple entangled and mutually reinforcing crises that unfold simultaneously across different systems. The concept of systemic risks, on the other hand, refers to risks within a single system that can lead to widespread failure but can also extend to other risk areas. In addition, crises refer to events that have already occurred, while risks refer to impending events that have not yet materialised. 

Complexity poses challenges for risk assessment

In traditional approaches to risk assessment, risks are analysed in isolation, with the aim of avoiding harms or – failing that – minimising impacts. However, those risks that can escalate into polycrises require new, integrated approaches that account for interdependencies, cascading effects, and the complex interactions of multiple systems. Ortwin Renn: "Risk assessment in the context of polycrises is particularly challenging due to the complexity, interdependence and unpredictability of the risks involved. Data scarcity, incomplete information, and the dynamic nature of crises also make precise assessments difficult. It is therefore particularly important to make the interactions themselves the primary focus of scientific modelling in order to determine combined effects as accurately as possible.” 

Integrated methods of modelling that can be used to capture the non-linear interactions and feedback loops that are characteristic of complex systems show particular promise and could help to uncover weaknesses, improve predictive capabilities, and develop more effective risk mitigation strategies.

“Risk management seeks to strengthen the resilience of a system in such a way that its functionality can be safeguarded or restored in a short time, even in the event of several crises occurring simultaneously", explains co-author Huan Liu. Stress testing and simulations involving multiple parallel crises are particularly suitable for this purpose.

Communication is crucial for public trust

According to Liu and Renn, communication also plays a crucial role in efforts to address polycrises. It can promote transparency, strengthen trust, and facilitate the inclusive participation of all stakeholders. Effective risk communication conveys complex and uncertain information in a way that is understandable and credible for different target groups, such as the public, politicians and experts. It also creates spaces for open dialogue. In times of crisis, when misinformation and rumours can spread quickly, structured communication approaches are crucial for building public trust and delivering coherent responses to crises that may seem implausible at first glance, but are most likely to produce the desired effect. 

This holistic perspective enables policymakers and practitioners to better anticipate cascading effects, develop adaptive strategies, and strengthen the resilience of various climatic, social, economic and political systems. Ultimately, it facilitates coordinated responses that are more robust and better able to cope with the diverse challenges of the current global crises.

The review article was originally prepared for the International Symposium on Polycrises and Systemic Risks held in Beijing in 2024. The article will be published in a special issue of the International Journal of Disaster Risk Science later in 2025.

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Journal

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

DOI

10.1007/s13753-025-00636-3 

Method of Research

Systematic review

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Polycrisis and Systemic Risk: Assessment, Governance, and Communication

 

Green light activates this antibiotic only where it’s needed

American Chemical Society

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image: 

A clear boundary formed after exposing light-activated penicillin to green light — half of the dish was sterilized, and the other half teemed with E. coli bacterial growth.

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Credit: Adapted from ACS Central Science 2025, DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.5c00437

To treat bacterial infections, medical professionals prescribe antibiotics. But not all active medicine gets used up by the body. Some of it ends up in wastewater, where antimicrobial-resistant bacteria can develop. Now, to make a more efficient antibiotic treatment, researchers reporting in ACS Central Science modified penicillin, so that it’s activated only by green light. In early tests, the approach precisely controlled bacterial growth and improved survival outcomes for infected insects.

“Controlling drug activity with light will allow precise and safe treatment of localized infections,” says Wiktor Szymanski, a corresponding author of the study. “Moreover, the fact that light comes in different colors gives us the ability to take the spatial control of drug activity to the next level.”

Scientists can add a light-sensitive molecule to drug compounds to keep them inactive in the body until they’re needed. When light shines on a modified compound, the extra molecule breaks away and then releases the active drug. This process gives scientists precise control over when and where drugs are activated. Previous light-reactive tags, such as coumarin added to the opioid reversal agent naloxone, require high-energy UV or blue light to kick-start the process. But molecular tags made from other coumarin compounds can be released by green light, a less intense form of light. So, Albert Schulte and Jorrit Schoenmakers, along with their supervisors and colleagues, wanted to develop coumarin-based modifications to create light-activated antibiotics.

The researchers first linked a coumarin-based molecule to the portion of penicillin that targets bacterial cell walls, making the antibiotic inert. When exposed to green light, the new molecule broke away, activating the penicillin. Initial experiments with bacteria grown in petri dishes showed that exposing the modified penicillin to green light significantly inhibited E. coli colony formation and Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm development. Next, the researchers treated Staphylococcus aureus-infected wax moth larvae, which have immune defenses similar to those of humans, with an injection of the modified penicillin followed by green light therapy. Treated larvae had an improved survival rate (60%) compared to infected larvae that were left alone (30%). These observations show a successful proof of concept in living organisms, say the researchers.

The researchers add that these results are promising for future work that may expand the system to multiple light beams and different colors of light for controlling antibiotic activity in larger living organisms, including humans.

The authors acknowledge funding from an ERC Advanced Investigator Grant, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of The Netherlands Gravitation Program, and the Graduate School of Medical Sciences of the University of Groningen.

The paper’s abstract will be available on June 11 at 8 a.m. Eastern time here: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acscentsci.5c00437   

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The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1876 and chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is committed to improving all lives through the transforming power of chemistry. Its mission is to advance scientific knowledge, empower a global community and champion scientific integrity, and its vision is a world built on science. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, e-books and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Registered journalists can subscribe to the ACS journalist news portal on EurekAlert! to access embargoed and public science press releases. For media inquiries, contact newsroom@acs.org.

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Journal

ACS Central Science

DOI

10.1021/acscentsci.5c00437 

Article Title

Green-Light-Activatable Penicillin for Light-Dependent Spatial Control of Bacterial Growth, Biofilm Formation, and In Vivo Infection Treatment

Article Publication Date

11-Jun-2025