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Education in Finland and Sweden
The Finnish and Swedish education systems are internationally examined examples of well-performing systems that sucessfully combine quality with wide-spread equity and social cohesion through reasonable public financing. Study the elements of these exemplar education systems first-hand by visiting schools and talking with teachers in each country.
Overview
Location(s) |
Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden |
Term | Spring 2020 |
Credit |
RDG 379/679, 2 sh |
Class Sessions | In-person on the Macomb campus March-May. Exact dates/times TBA |
Travel Dates |
May 16-23, 2020 |
Housing |
Hotel |
Passport | Required |
Visa (for US citizens) | Not required for Finland or Sweden |
Eligibility
GPA | 2.5 |
Hours completed | 12 |
Student Judicial | Good status |
Grad credit | Yes |
Non-WIU | Yes |
Pre-requisite |
Restricted to Education majors |
Student Year |
Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Graduate |
Entry Requirements
Passport required--must be valid until November 30, 2020.
Visa required if not a US citizen. It is your responsibility to check the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Embassy of Sweden websites for more information. Visa costs not included in program cost.
Health Insurance
You must have international health insurance for the time you are on your program. Only two options are approved to meet this requirement:
- WIU student health insurance
- A supplemental policy (Patriot Travel Medical) from International Medical Group (IMG)
Health Precautions
Walking/mobility/travel - Expect to walk 5-8 miles/day. It is not consecutive but scheduled throughout the day, sometimes over uneven terrain and up/down flights of stairs. You will also be responsible for moving your own luggage.
Environmental - Average daytime temperatures are in the 50s for this time period. Sun protection is strongly recommended. Daylight hours will be longer in Finland and Sweden than in the US; prepare for light/twilight much later at night/earlier in the morning .
Dietary - Some meals are included in the program cost. Contact Kim McDaniel if you have food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
Vaccinations - No vaccinations are required for entry into Finland or Sweden. Up to date vaccination recommendations are available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: Finland Sweden
Accessability and accommodation are very different than than found in the United States. Please
contact Disability Resources
for questions on the availability of accommodations for your specific situation.
PLEASE NOTE
It is your responsibility to request accommodation from DR; faculty and staff are not legally permitted to inquire about such needs. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange accommodations in your location.
Costs & Important Dates
Estimated Cost* |
$4,165
SALE PRICE!! Total starting November 1: $4,315
|
Included in the program | Roundtrip airfare from Chicago, in-country transportation, transfer from Finland to Sweden, double occupancy lodging, entry fees to scheduled sites, some meals |
Application Deadline |
November 10, 2019 |
Payments | |
Non-refundable Deposit |
$315 due when accepted, payable to WIU. Due to the unique payment structure of this Course, only cash, checks or money orders are accepted for the deposit.
Last day to submit: December 6, 2019
|
Remaining balance* |
$3,850 paid to EF. Price valid through October 31, 2019 $4,000 regular price paid to EF. Price valid November 1-December 13, 2019
EF has a variety of payment plans. For more information, contact
Kim McDaniel
|
WIU reserves the right to adjust the cost or arrangements of this program due to insufficient enrollment or circumstances beyond the University's control. For details about this or individual withdrawals, see Cancellations and Withdrawals.
Important Dates
Passport copy deadline: January 31, 2020
Failure to meet this deadline will result in removal from the group flight and increased costs with EF Tours.
MANDATORY Pre-departure meeting: TBA, Spring 2020
Academics
Credit offered
RDG 379 - Counts as an upper-division elective for Education majors/minors
RDG 679 - May count towards graduation requirements for Master's of Education
Please check with your academic advisor for more information on how this Course fits your specific academic needs.
Objectives/activities
-
Gain a stronger understanding of how the Finnish and Swedish educational systems are organized
- Discuss elements of the Finnish education system that are responsible for its high overall ranking from PISA
- Examine the differences in how the educational systems and governing entities are organized in Finland, Sweden and the US
Class sessions
Active class participation, including contribution to discussions and attendance, is expected in all phases of the Course. You are responsible for completing pre-departure assignments including readings and discussion participation, attendance and active participation during on-site visits, guest lectures and activities, and post-return assignments. Questions about course content should be directed to
Dr. Melissa Stinnett
.
Student testimonials
Coming soon!
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Contact Us
Kim McDaniel
For Faculty Led
kd-mcdaniel@wiu.edu
Horrabin Room 8
309-298-2504
Dr. Melissa Stinnett
Faculty leader
m-stinnett@wiu.edu
Horrabin Room 54
309-298-2033
Information Sessions
September 18, 4 pm
October 1, 3 pm
All meetings in Horrabin 83
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