Recently, at the invitation of the Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University (BNU) and the Sino-Finnish Joint Learning Innovation Institute, a cultural salon themed "Features of Finnish Education and the Development of Future Teacher Leadership," delivered by Honorary Professor Inkeri Ruokonen from the University of Turku, was successfully held at Leyu College, BNU Zhuhai.

Professor Ruokonen's research areas cover early childhood education, music education, teacher education, art pedagogy, learning environments, early gifted education, intercultural education, and creativity. During the event, she systematically introduced the basic structure of Finland's basic education, elaborated on the development path of teacher education leadership in Finland, and put forward practical and feasible suggestions on how to construct teacher education leadership.

At the outset of the event, Professor Ruokonen voiced her admiration for BNU Zhuhai's stunning natural scenery and rich cultural heritage. Following this, she offered a brief overview of Finland's distinctive geographical location and natural landscapes.

At Professor Ruokonen's initiative, the faculty members and students present joined hands in singing songs and exchanging stories of their recent joys, fostering a warm, harmonious, and vibrant atmosphere.

Professor Ruokonen systematically analyzed the core characteristics of Finland's K-12 education system: ranging from the educational framework of "parallel academic and vocational tracks" to the core philosophy of "lifelong learning"; from the structure of free compulsory education for students aged 6 to 18, to the curriculum design featuring "both uniformity and flexibility" and the assessment model without national standardized examinations; and further to the multi-level student support system covering "general support" and "intensive support". All these aspects fully demonstrate the humanistic warmth and scientific essence of Finnish education. She paid special attention to the educational differences between China and Finland, focused on expounding the pivotal role of the 10th grade in educational transition, and inspired the teachers and students present with solid data and vivid cases.

Centering on the core theme of "cultivating future teacher leadership", Professor Ruokonen interpreted the connotation of modern educational leadership in Finland from multiple dimensions: she clarified the ten key tasks and three core dimensions for educational leaders, emphasized the enabling value of the "mentorship system" for teacher development, and proposed practical approaches for leaders—such as flexibly adopting diverse leadership styles and adhering to regular assessment and reflection. She further put forward systematic suggestions for cultivation, covering key dimensions including self-awareness and professional competence enhancement, teaching practice refinement, collaborative innovation capacity building, decision-making and problem-solving skill training, learning community leadership, and lifelong learning practice. These suggestions provide teachers and students with an actionable guide that combines theoretical depth with practical operability.

Throughout the event, there was frequent interaction between the two sides. The professor answered the questions raised by teachers and students with patience, and the collision of ideas sparked the wisdom of education.

Amid warm applause, the event drew to a successful close.

As part of the feature events for the 2nd BNU Zhuhai International Cultural Festival themed "Diverse Cultures Bloom, Youth Walks Side by Side", this cultural salon takes vibrant cultural dialogues as its medium, serves as a platform for cross-cultural exchange,enabling both Chinese and international faculty and students to deepen their understanding of global cultures through interaction. The event contributes to fostering a youthful, open, and inclusive international atmosphere on campus, while amplifying and showcasing the enduring and blossoming diverse appeal of the International Cultural Festival.