Future skills and occupations in circular economy
The 1st learning, teaching and training week took place at Mäntynummi Comprehensive school in Lohja at the end of January. The guests from Estonia, Italy and Spain arrived on Saturday 25th January. The guest pupils spent the Sunday at their hostfamilies, while the guest teachers got to know some Finnish colleagues during a visit to Fiskars Village, a former iron factory with it's pittoresque surroundings, work shops and little stores selling crafts.
During the week, we focused on future occupations and necessary skills in circular economy. The pupils learned or repeeted, what circular economy means, discussed about the way to sort out household rubbish in different countries, figured out, how to minimize the amount of waste by reusing material and find out improvements to packages that were sold in the local shops.
We also visited Orthex, a local plastic company, that produces bio-based plastics and made a Rosk'n Roll tour at the local waste sorting center. At Aalto University's department of bioproduct and biotechnology we learned about new innovations made to reduce waste and to create sustainable, bio-based and/or biodegradable products to replace fossile-based and/or non-biodegradable products. A visit at Touchpoint showed us how much we can decrease the consumpion of energy, resources and the amount of carbon dioxide during the production of working clothes by useing recycled and/or bio-based materials.
During the visits, the guides and lecturers highlighted the importance of team work, language, multicultural and social skills as well as creativity in the future working life. So did also professionals, that came to our school to tell the international group and all 9th graders about their occupations, skills needed in and future aspects of their jobs.
The pupils learned and improved many skills, such as English and multicultural, social and team work skills while working in smaller or bigger international groups, creativity in an innovation group contest and networking when creating connections to the employees of the companies that we visited. In the families the guest pupils and their hosts improved their ability to adjust into new and changing situations.
The week was not all about work: As cultural activity, the pupils participated in an mobile phone throwing contest and made a tour in our capital city! In Helsinki, the pupils spent an hour in a trampoline park jumping and playing touch ball in teams, which turned out to be the ultimate ice breaker activity! After the week full of new experiences, we made a guided tour in Tytyri limestone mine and celebrated the farewell evening together with the host families. We hope, that the participants established friendships and got memories that will last for a life time.
During the week, we focused on future occupations and necessary skills in circular economy. The pupils learned or repeeted, what circular economy means, discussed about the way to sort out household rubbish in different countries, figured out, how to minimize the amount of waste by reusing material and find out improvements to packages that were sold in the local shops.
We also visited Orthex, a local plastic company, that produces bio-based plastics and made a Rosk'n Roll tour at the local waste sorting center. At Aalto University's department of bioproduct and biotechnology we learned about new innovations made to reduce waste and to create sustainable, bio-based and/or biodegradable products to replace fossile-based and/or non-biodegradable products. A visit at Touchpoint showed us how much we can decrease the consumpion of energy, resources and the amount of carbon dioxide during the production of working clothes by useing recycled and/or bio-based materials.
During the visits, the guides and lecturers highlighted the importance of team work, language, multicultural and social skills as well as creativity in the future working life. So did also professionals, that came to our school to tell the international group and all 9th graders about their occupations, skills needed in and future aspects of their jobs.
The pupils learned and improved many skills, such as English and multicultural, social and team work skills while working in smaller or bigger international groups, creativity in an innovation group contest and networking when creating connections to the employees of the companies that we visited. In the families the guest pupils and their hosts improved their ability to adjust into new and changing situations.
The week was not all about work: As cultural activity, the pupils participated in an mobile phone throwing contest and made a tour in our capital city! In Helsinki, the pupils spent an hour in a trampoline park jumping and playing touch ball in teams, which turned out to be the ultimate ice breaker activity! After the week full of new experiences, we made a guided tour in Tytyri limestone mine and celebrated the farewell evening together with the host families. We hope, that the participants established friendships and got memories that will last for a life time.