"Being among the nominees is a sign that we at Harno are moving steadily towards our goal – to create the best opportunities in the world for Estonian children and young people to acquire future education. And we are not doing this alone, but together with many innovative teachers, school leaders, employers, entrepreneurs, parents, the Ministry of Education and Research, and other educational partners – all of whom share the wish to equip our youth with the best future skills. Therefore, this recognition belongs to all of them as well," said Liina Kanter, Head of Education Innovation at Harno.
The following Harno programs have been submitted for the Promoting Economic Growth category:
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IT Academy is a comprehensive and systematic initiative for developing Estonia’s IT education by fostering long-term collaboration between the government, companies, and educational institutions. The program aims to improve the quality of vocational and higher education in the field of information and communication technology (ICT), support research and development, and ensure a pipeline of qualified specialists for the labor market, including through reskilling and upskilling opportunities. As a result of the program’s activities, dropout rates have decreased, the number of graduates has increased, and their skills now better match labor market needs. Today, every tenth student in Estonia chooses an ICT specialty, and one-third of them are women.
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ProgeTiger supports the teaching of informatics and technology in general education schools, helping students grow from passive users of technology into active developers and creators. The program offers a comprehensive approach to informatics education – from curriculum development and learning materials to teacher training and student events. One of its key tools is the ProgeTiiger.ee collection, providing teachers easy access to resources for teaching informatics, programming, and robotics. By 2025, almost all schools and kindergartens in Estonia will have participated in the program’s activities, with over 50,000 young people engaged in student events and more than 7,000 teachers trained.
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Digital Competence is an innovative program bringing artificial intelligence and digital teaching methods to hundreds of Estonian schools, reaching thousands of people through online micro-learning modules. The free online materials developed by Harno introduce the fundamentals, working principles, opportunities, and challenges of AI, offering practical guidance for teachers on integrating AI into learning – from using chatbots to creating visuals and editing videos. In addition to online materials, Harno organizes practical trainings where teachers and students experiment with AI-based learning tools during real lessons.
The development and implementation of the programs take place in close collaboration with Harno’s partners, including general education, vocational, and higher education institutions, educational organizations, employers, and government agencies. The activities are funded by the Ministry of Education and Research and the European Union.
Earlier this year, in February, the Education and Youth Board of Estonia (Harno) also received the international Global Future Fit Award. The recognition was presented at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, where Harno’s technology education solutions were praised for their long-term impact and practical applicability.
