Education reform expert to offer 'Finnish Lessons,' Nov. 8

Pasi Sahlberg, known for his work on K-12 education policy and reform in Finland, will speak at 5:30 p.m., Nov. 8, in the Pima Room (room 230) of the Memorial Union building on ASU’s Tempe campus. Doors open at 5 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Parking is available for a fee in the Apache Blvd. parking structure. Members of the public interested in attending the lecture may R.S.V.P. via http://teacherscollege.eventbrite.com.

In his presentation Sahlberg will touch on multiple issues relating to Finland’s phenomenal success in K-12 education as seen in the international PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) results. He will talk, in particular, about the “road Finland has traveled to get there” over the past 30 years – including the larger societal issues, education policies, implementation challenges, the egalitarian role of women and men in shaping education policy, societal appreciation of teachers, as well as classroom teaching and learning.

Sahlberg’s notable books include “Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Education Reform in Finland,” “The Fourth Way of Finland,” “Rethinking accountability in a knowledge society,” “Creativity and innovation through lifelong learning,” and “Education Reform for Raising Economic Competitiveness.”

The event is presented by the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at ASU, and co-sponsored by William G. Jackson, Alfredo J. Molina, RW Partners, Cheryl and Duane Rodgers, Hannele and Gary Waissi for the Honorary Consulate Finland to Arizona and New Mexico, the Arizona Science Education Collaborative (ASEC), the Consulate General of Finland – Los Angeles and FINNFEST USA.

Sahlberg has published more than 100 articles, chapters and books primarily on education reform, education policy, lifelong learning, and their relationship to economic competitiveness. He serves currently as the Director General of the Center for International Mobility (CIMO) in Helsinki, Finland. He received his doctorate in Educational Sciences from the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.