Prese release
Text: arch. Monica Popescu
Photographs and illustrations: De-a Arhitectura, HundrED
Reading time: 3 minutes
Since 2016, HundrED, a global organization based in Finland, discovers, researches and shares inspiring innovations in K12 education from all over the world and celebrates them through an international event. De-a Arhitectura attended, between October 26th and 28th, the HundrED Global Summit in Helsinki and, for the second consecutive year, was selected among the brightest innovations in education in this year’s Global Collection. A shortlist of 173 innovations was reviewed by 188 Academy Members consisting of academics, educators, innovators, funders, and leaders from 113 countries. In total there were 3,488 reviews by the HundrED Academy based on the impact and scalability of the analyzed innovations, which were then evaluated by HundrED’s Research Team, to make the final selection of 100 innovations from 54 countries.
Photo: HundrED
“The purpose of education is to help every child flourish, no matter what happens in life.
In a fast changing world, focusing on traditional academic skills will remain important, but that is not enough. To thrive as global citizens, children must be equipped with a breadth of skills. While we are advocates of a child-centric approach and personalised, passion-based learning, the relationship between an inspired teacher and a motivated student will remain essential.
Assessment has to be aligned with the core purpose of helping kids flourish and all of this should be reflected in the learning environments of the future.
To make this happen, we need visionary leadership at every level of our education system with ambitious, impactful, and scalable education innovations that are effective globally. The world of education is full of hardworking specialists who are making this happen every day.
Our mission at HundrED is to give them the recognition and visibility they deserve.” – HundrED
This year’s summit was centered on the theme “The Beautiful Risk of Innovation” and brought a curated group of speakers, education innovators, and experts to Helsinki, in three venues: the Hanaholmen Conference Hotel, the Helsinki City Hall and the Jätkäsaari Comprehensive School. Juhana Vartiainen, the Mayor of Helsinki, held the opening address, while various speakers presented their ideas and innovations during the three days long summit. The Global Collection Awards Ceremony took place on the first day and announced the 100 innovations in K12 education along with three special awards: the Rapid Response Award, the Academy’s Choice Award and the Innovator of the Year Award.
According to the results of the HundrED Global Collection 2023, this year, the collection highlighted the important role of teachers in education innovation; the continued need for students to develop 21st century skills, including social and emotional learning; an increasing focus on student wellbeing and mental health; and equity in education.
“Being present at the HundrED Global Summit this year, meeting innovators from every corner of the world, from South Africa to US, from Chile and Mexico to Bhutan and India, from Botswana and Spain to Finland and Canada, and the list goes on, discussing pressing issues that need to be addressed in the field of education, made us realized that we are not alone, that everywhere around the world educators are working hard to improve locally what the educational system is too slow to achieve. We are once again honored to have been selected in the HundrED Global Collection 2023, grateful for the opportunity to learn from our peers and to present our unique way of improving education in Romania. With the help of teachers and built environment specialists, who bring their real-world experience into the classroom, we seek to train those who will build the world of tomorrow.” – arch. Mina Sava, De-a Arhitectura President
The HundrED Academy Members shared their thoughts about De-a Arhitectura’s work:
“This innovation helps the different stakeholders (parents, teachers and other adults) with a common platform from which education can serve its original intent of ‘experiential learning’ as well as grooming future citizens.”
“[The] Innovation is scalable as the resources are freely available, translated and implemented across many schools.”