Speakers

Dr.Annica Isacsson

Annica Isacsson, Ph.D, is currently working as a Research Manager at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, School of Vocational Teacher Education. Annica´s main areas of expertise are in vocational and higher education work-based pedagogy, applied research, future competences, academic writing, innovations, and in integrating research projects in education. She has managed and co-ordinated international research projects for more than 20 years, been responsible for export of educational services, of tourism degree programs as well as counseling and teaching in universities of applied sciences for more than 10 years.

She has worked and managed her own company within the field of academic exchange and tourism for 15 years. Annica has also worked within the field of special needs education and has business experience from marketing consumer goods.

Her dissertation relates to lifelong learning, competences, and professional organizations. She has excellent language skills and is fluent in Swedish (mother tongue), Finnish, English and French.

Juha Ollila

Juha Ollila is the Head of Strategy at Edafin. Edafin is a Finnish expert organization creating educational excellence. Edafin is specialized in designing and implementing tailor-made and state-of-the-art Finnish educational and learning solutions. Juha is also an education specialist and a teacher at the city of Espoo, the second biggest city in Finland. Juha is a member of the curriculum developing team in Espoo and he has a teaching position at the Karamzin School.

Juha Ollila has more than 15 years of experience about educational systems and teacher training from Finland and abroad. He has previously been working as a Manager for International Affairs at the University of Turku for the KiVa Anti-bullying Program. Juha has also been a member of a steering group for the FutureLearningFinland, which is a Finnish national education export program, offering Finnish educational know-how and learning solutions globally.

Juha Ollila is also extremely enthusiastic about educational technology and EdTech-startups. He is a valued member and a pedagogical and educational mentor at xEdu. xEdu is an educational business accelerator which brings educational excellence and entrepreneurial mindset together to boost the creation of future-proof education products and services. Juha has been working with EdTech-startups like Mightifier, Seppo.io, Bomberbot, Revisely and out of education-scene also with Uplause.

Juha has a master’s degree in Science of Education from the University of Turku, specialized in Information and Computer Science, Art Education and Physical Education. Juha has been studying Science of Education, Educational Psychology and Teacher Training also in Austria and in Hungary. He has also done studies as Peer-Group Mentor at the University of Helsinki and Finnish Network for Teacher’s Induction “Osaava Verme”. More recently he obtained the diploma for Skillful Future Principals from Educode.

Minna Lumme

Minna Lumme (M.Sc. in Education, PhD candidate) has a broad career in national and international positions at education sector in Finland. She is Doctor candidate in Aalto university. She investigates codesign for student wellbeing. She has given lectures in service design and youth participation, and she has worked as an expert of inclusive education. She is member of Aalto University’s multidisciplinary Living + research network focused on design for wellbeing living environments.

Mohamad Jan Wannous

Mohamad Jan Wannous born in Beirut of a Lebanese father and a Finnish mother, lived in Lebanon for 8 years as a kid. My love and passion for cars and engines led me to become a mechanic, which led me to study automotive engineering in Metropolia university of applied sciences. Near graduation I applied for a job in my old vocational college as a teacher which was supposed to be only for a year or so before I went back to a mechanical workshop, but that was when I found my second passion, which was teaching the field I love.

As for hobbies, I do sports like wrestling and kickboxing and mixing both in MMA. I also own a Skyline r34 as my project car that I built myself, plus tuning and enhancing its engine’s performance.

Edit Lampinen the head of education in Stadin ammattiopisto, Ilkantie, wrote about Mohammad: “Mohamad Wannous works as a teacher and a cultural translator for Helsinki’s vocational college.

Mohamad has strong and versatile competences, which are based on his up to date professional automotive knowledge and on his wide pedagogical imagination, placing himself in the place of students and finding solutions. While teaching, Mohamad uses all the up to date digital education equipment and technology. He also uses such teaching methods, that support a sustainable development.

Mohamad also works as an educational team instructor, monitoring the development of his students and guiding them to find their own educational path.

He is also an active member of the students’ welfare group, developing students’ wellbeing. His friendly and respectable approach towards the students give him a strong aid to power his performance in teaching.”

Riikka Kastu

Riikka Kastu, M.Phil in Music Education, Bachelor of Culture and Arts, Music Pedagogue (UAS) is a Music teacher with a great variety of different forms. Kastu is currently teaching at Helsinki Vocational School Stadin Aikuisopisto; Vocational qualification in social and health care, a program for future Practical Nurses. Music is taught as a method used in rehabilitation and also as supportive method for growth as a human being, focusing mainly on Education for Children.
Figure notes (c), Music Therapy Methods and Visual
Arts combined with Movement are used as techniques in teaching.
Kastu also teaches Working life Skills for Musicians at Helsinki Conservatory of Music and manages her own company for voice work, singing and consulting. She has International experience from Canada, Belgium, Poland, Estonia and other countries she’s lived and worked at.
Riikka Kastu is highly motivated to work with an older people, people with special needs and with children. Music (and rhythm) is a language of the World. Lifelong learning and understanding the needs of another person – From Human to Human.

Sampo Lokki

Sampo Lokki is the lead expert at Edafin. He works as an assistant principal in the oldest coeducational school in Helsinki, Finland. In addition to his administrative and leadership roles, he teaches Mathematics and ICT to 6th to 9th graders (ages 12– 15). His overarching aim is to explore how to develop and modernize education and learning to meet 21st-century challenges. On a day-to-day basis, Sampo strives to create the best opportunities for pupils to learn and teachers to excel.

For 15 years, Sampo has been involved in developing ICT and teaching technology at the comprehensive and upper secondary levels. Most recently, he has been working together with teachers to use ICT and educational technology to create new pedagogies and modern learning. Sampo also trains teachers and principals to engage with and implement ICT in schools.

Best practice from abroad informs his work. Sampo has visited schools in several countries in Europe, Africa, South America and the United States and studied the education systems of several others. More generally in terms of his professional development, open and informal discussion has proved to be the most effective element.

Sampo has a master’s degree in Science of Education from the University of Tampere, specialized in Mathematics, Information and Computer Science and Physical Education. Sampo has been studying Micro and Macroeconomics and post graduate studies in Science of Education in University of Cape Town in South Africa for three years. He has also done diplomas Developing principal – National education for school management (Thesis on shared leadership), Innovation Manager Officer – diploma, National Board of Education – Certificate in Educational Administration and Program for Educational Strategic Planning to train schools managements in digital change. He is also certified Educational Leadership and Administration educator and Professional Development educator at Apple Ltd.

As well as his work and his family, Sampo loves sports, especially football.