NOT FOR

THE FEW

BUT FOR
MANY
 THE FINNISH EDUCATION MODEL 

– AND THE ACADEMIC RESEARCH BEHIND IT – 

IS BENCHMARKED WORLDWIDE
 Counter to the main stream

WHAT MAKES
THE FINNISH
APPROACH
DIFFERENT

Less More

TESTING CHILD’S PERSPECTIVE


COMPETITION CREATIVITY & PLAY

PERFORMANCE EXPLORATION
RANKINGS ENCOURAGEMENT

SCHOOLING SOCIO-EMOTIONAL SKILLS
STILL NOT COMPROMIZING 

ACADEMIC LEARNING RESULTS
© HEI Group
 INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM 

BEHIND THE HEI SCHOOLS

UNIVERSITY OF PILVI TORSTI, FOUNDER
 MILLA KOKKO LASSE LIPPONEN ANNE RUSANEN
MEMBER OF FINNISH CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HEAD OF PEDAGOGICAL HEAD OF DESIGN,
HELSINKI
PARLIAMENT CO-FOUNDER CONTENT,
 CO-FOUNDER
The University of Helsinki 
 CO-FOUNDER
State Secretary, Finnish Experienced business Design and creative director with
is the oldest and largest
Ministry of Education 2013-15. professional and strategist A professor of education, 
 15 years of experience in brand
university in Finland. It has
Over 20 years of experience in with deep knowhow in brand with special reference to 
 building, concept designing, and
repeatedly been ranked among
international education. 
 and concept building, early childhood education, 
 marketing communications for
world's top universities. 

One of the three founders 
 marketing strategies and at the Department of Teacher leading companies and
The Department of Teacher
of United World College in customer experience both in Education, University of organizations.
Education of the University of
Mostar 2006 which has offered Finland and internationally. Helsinki.
Helsinki is the most versatile
international education for https://fi.linkedin.com/in/
unit providing teacher
over 700 students to date. https://fi.linkedin.com/in/ Visiting professor and lecturer annerusanen
education in Finland.
millakokko for early education and teacher
Adjunct professor at the training in many universities.
University of Helsinki.
https://fi.linkedin.com/in/lasse-
https://fi.linkedin.com/in/ lipponen-352742a
© HEI Group pilvitorsti
 OFFERING A RESEARCH-BASED
PRESCHOOL CONCEPT 

ON A LICENSING MODEL
AROUND THE WORLD.
Leveraging volume to make a well-designed product available 

to as many children as possible.

© HEI Group
 THE HEI CONCEPT
A SCALABLE MODEL AND A BRAND FOR LICENSING

1) HEI 2) HEI 3) HEI 4) HEI 5) HEI

CURRICULUM
 TEACHER LEARNING COLLECTION OPERATIONS

MATERIALS TRAINING
 ENVIRONMENT
Constantly advancing Professional Thoughtfully designed Carefully selected 
 Global community and
pedagogical approaches development program 
 learning environment learning materials support or operators
for teachers

© HEI Group
 (1) HEI
CURRICULUM

MATERIALS
Constantly advancing
pedagogical approaches

• Official curriculum document

• Sample materials:

1. Day/week/year programs

2. Lesson plans

3. Tutorial videos

4. Learning cards

© HEI Group
 (2) HEI
TEACHER
TRAINING
Professional development
program for teachers

• Teachers’ starting kit


(Manuals and online)
• Introduction training in

(face-to-face)
• Continuous training modules
(pathwright.com account)
• Mentor teaching period with
2 Finnish teachers onsite
• Workshops, seminars, events

© HEI Group
 (3) HEI
LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT
Thoughtfully designed
learning environment

• Design concept for

the creative learning
space based on
Nordic architecture
and design

© HEI Group
 (4) HEI
COLLECTION
Carefully selected 

learning materials

• Carefully selected 

learning materials (digital
& analog) that support the
HEI pedagogy
• heicollection.com

online store for learning
materials & interior
design items (planning
phase)

© HEI Group
HEI PLAY
HEI STORY
HEI EXPLORE
HEI EXPRESS
HEI CRAFT
HEI MOVE

© HEI Group
 (5) HEI
OPERATIONS
Global support and
quality control for
operators

• A-Z licensing process

• Quality assurance 

& control
• Brand design &

marketing support
• Management & leadership
models
• Consultancy & support
throughout the process

© HEI Group
 PLAY IN ITS
DIFFERENT FORMS
IS IN THE CORE OF
HEI SCHOOLS
APPROACH
HEI MARKETING MATERIALS Children do not play to learn but they
learn while they play. In fact, we adults
would be in a big trouble if we should
teach children all the things that they
learn by playing and through play:
to think creatively, to get along with
other people and cooperate effectively,
and to control their own impulses
and emotions.

THIS IS
Rollups Brochures HEI SCHOOLS

HEI SCHOOLS HEI SCHOOLS

PLAY IN ITS

THE CURIOUS
BRINGING UP
GENERATION
DIFFERENT FORMS
WELCOME TO HEI SCHOOLS! Helsinki International Schools (HEI) was
co-founded by University of Helsinki and experienced educational
and design experts. HEI Schools is responding to the increasing global
demand for early childhood education and recognition of the importance

IS IN THE CORE OF BRINGING UP CHILDREN

of high quality early education.

WHO ARE NOT ONLY

HEI Schools early education model is based on the world-known, proven
and tested research-based Finnish educational approach and Nordic

HEI SCHOOLS
heritage respecting high quality every-day design.

Embracing the Nordic values of accessibility and openness, HEI Schools

CAPABLE OF ADAPTING TO
wants to make first-class Finnish early childhood education available
THE CHANGING WORLD,
APPROACH
globally for children, teachers, parents and operators.

In HEI Schools we want to feed the creative minds and raise the children BUT CHANGING
THE WORLD THEMSELVES.
of 21st century. Children who are not only adapting to the changing
world, but changing the world themselves.

Welcome on board to the world of children with HEI Schools! This

Children do not play to learn but they book will guide you through the values and principles of our work and
learn while they play. In fact, we adults present the fundamental elements of the HEI model. Enjoy!
would be in a big trouble if we should
teach children all the things that they
learn by playing and through play:
to think creatively, to get along with
other people and cooperate effectively,
and to control their own impulses
and emotions.

THIS IS heischools.com

HEI SCHOOLS heischools @HeiSchools HEI Schools

HEI SCHOOLS HEI SCHOOLS

Famous Finnish Posters Flags

Preschool model

THE CURIOUS
BRINGING UP

GENERATION
WELCOME TO HEI SCHOOLS! Helsinki International Schools (HEI) was
co-founded by University of Helsinki and experienced educational
and design experts. HEI Schools is responding to the increasing global
demand for early childhood education and recognition of the importance
of high quality early education.
BRINGING UP CHILDREN

now available in WHO ARE NOT ONLY

HEI Schools early education model is based on the world-known, proven
and tested research-based Finnish educational approach and Nordic
heritage respecting high quality every-day design.

Embracing the Nordic values of accessibility and openness, HEI Schools

CAPABLE OF ADAPTING TO
wants to make first-class Finnish early childhood education available
THE CHANGING WORLD,

Baotou BRINGING UP
globally for children, teachers, parents and operators.

In HEI Schools we want to feed the creative minds and raise the children BUT CHANGING

P L
THE WORLD THEMSELVES.
of 21st century. Children who are not only adapting to the changing
world, but changing the world themselves.

THE CURIOUS
Welcome on board to the world of children with HEI Schools! This
book will guide you through the values and principles of our work and
present the fundamental elements of the HEI model. Enjoy!

GENERATION

A
heischools.com

heischools @HeiSchools HEI Schools

Y
© HEI Group
 2017
WE LAUNCHED
OUR FIRST
PILOT SCHOOL
IN THE CITY OF
BAOTOU
IN CHINA

© HEI Group
 CASE
HEI SCHOOLS BAOTOU, CHINA
OPENED SEP 2017

Children: 3-6 years old, maximum 300 students

Teachers: Finnish and Chinese Principals, 9 Chinese Kindergarten Teachers, 4 Finnish Kindergarten Teachers  
Families: Middle class / upper middle class families interested in international education. Paying tuition fee
Language: Chinese and English. English as a working language for all teachers and as “language shower” for children
Building: 4500m2 indoor space + large outdoor facilities. Gone through a total renovation process during summer 2017
Operator: Private Kindergarten operator, 100% owned by the City of Baotou
Concept and license provider: Helsinki International Schools Group (HEI Schools)
HEI BAOTOU (BEFORE)
HEI BAOTOU (AFTER)
HEI BAOTOU
HEI BAOTOU
HEI BAOTOU
TODAY:
+100 CHILDREN AND WAITING LIST
 HEI SCHOOLS
SECOND SCHOOL IN PLANNING PHASE BAOTOU OPENED
SEPTEMBER 2017
HAPPY PARENTS, TEACHERS AND CHILDREN
HEI SCHOOLS

JÄTKÄSAARI, HELSINKI 2020
Designed from the beginning as HEI Schools



 HEI HELSINKI
2018

HEI HEI BAOTOU

2017
HEI CHENGDU
HEI SOUL
2018

WORLD! HEI KUWAIT

2019
HEI RIYADH
2019
2019
HEI BEIJING

2019 HEI
HEI SHANGHAI

GUANGZHOU
2018
2019

HEI BRASILIA
2020

HEI SAN RAFAEL

2020 HEI MELBOURNE
2018
BRINGING UP
CHILDREN WHO
WILL CHANGE
THE WORLD