# Teachers’ Perspectives on Designing Learning Beyond the Classroom - EU4Dual Winter School 2026 - Savonia AMK

> The work and reflection of the teachers behind it, which lies at the heart of learning and deserves to be given a voice.

## The Architecture of the Winter School
The EU4Dual Winter School 2026 was not simply delivered; it was constructed, tested, and continuously adapted by an international group of educators from Savonia, ESTIA, and Mondragon University. While the programme focused on dual learning, real company challenges, and regional impact, the central challenge for teachers was making these elements function as a coherent learning experience.

Matti Laitinen, one of the organising teachers, described the experience as “integrative… because it brought together learning, real company challenges, international collaboration, and regional development into one experience.”

## Redefining the Teacher’s Role
The Winter School required a shift in the pedagogical approach:
*   **Facilitation over Content:** Teachers moved from being primary sources of knowledge to facilitators and orchestrators of collaborative environments.
*   **Embracing Complexity:** Educators had to relinquish control over predictable outcomes, allowing learning to emerge from authentic, real-world complexity.
*   **Situational Teaching:** Unlike traditional remote supervision, the Winter School required immediate, interactive, and situational engagement.

## Balancing Structure and Openness
A recurring theme among the organisers was the tension between providing enough structure to guide teams in a short timeframe and maintaining enough openness to foster creativity. The design framework had to account for:
*   Diverse academic backgrounds and experience levels.
*   Cultural differences and language barriers.
*   Real stakeholder expectations and regional development goals.

## Teacher Learning and Institutional Collaboration
The programme served as a professional development opportunity for the faculty as much as for the students. Teachers gained insights into:
*   Designing learning environments that integrate education with industry.
*   The value of international perspectives in accelerating service development.
*   Building a common European dual studies identity through shared practice.

Visiting teachers noted that the collaboration felt natural, moving beyond simple mobility to a sense of familiarity and continuity across partner institutions. As one teacher noted, “we are building up a European university… and this is maybe one of the first times that I felt it.”

## Insights for Future Educators
The organising team strongly recommends the development of Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs), provided they are built around real challenges and a clear, intentional process. The experience demonstrates that impactful learning requires teachers who are willing to move beyond traditional roles, embrace uncertainty, and collaborate across institutional and cultural boundaries.

## Acknowledgements
A special thank you to the coaches for their insights:
*   **Matti Laitinen**, RDI-expert, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
*   **Veli-Matti Tolppi**, Lecturer, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
*   **Jérémie Faham**, Lecturer, ESTIA Institute of Technology
*   **Ane Eizmendi Garin**, Lecturer, Mondragon Unibertsitatea
*   **Jonathan Fontán Álvarez**, Lecturer, Mondragon Unibertsitatea

## Sources and Further Information
*   [EU4Dual](https://eu4dual.education/)
*   [EU4Dual Savonia](https://eu4dual.savonia.fi/)
*   [International Learning Environment Article](https://www.savonia.fi/en/articles-pro/eu4dual-winter-school-2026-at-savonia-university-of-applied-sciences-an-international-learning-environment-at-the-intersection-of-service-development-and-regional-innovation/)
*   [What did the EU4Dual Winter School teach us?](https://www.savonia.fi/en/articles/what-did-the-eu4dual-winter-school-teach-us/)
*   [Savotta Student Union](https://www.opiskelijakuntasavotta.fi/en/home/)
*   [Sakky](https://sakky.fi/en/sakky)
*   [Hub Panostamo](https://www.hubpanostamo.fi/)
*   [ESTIA Institute of Technology](https://www.estia.fr/en/)
*   [Mondragon Unibertsitatea](https://www.mondragon.edu/en/home)
*   **Zainab Elgundi**, International Relations, Savonia University of Applied Sciences