Educational Leadership in Estonia
Explore educational leadership in Estonia where research-based knowledge, professional practice and exchange with Estonian education leaders come together.
The Academy for Educational Leadership (HAAK) at Tallinn University integrates research, leadership development and educational practice. We design international learning programmes that offer organisations the opportunity to explore Estonia's approach to educational leadership, engage with local expertise and practice, and reflect on how these insights might inform their own contexts.
Each programme is designed in close collaboration with our partners. The format, themes, experts and educational organisations involved are tailored to your learning goals and context.
Learning from Estonia, not simply visiting Estonia. Our programmes are designed to go beyond seeing how the education system works in Estonia. We create learning experiences that connect research, practice and professional expertise, giving participants opportunities to explore ideas and consider what might be relevant and valuable in their own setting.
We believe that educational leadership cannot be reduced to a single model or transferred unchanged from one context to another. That is why every HAAK programme begins with your organisation's questions and learning goals. Together, we identify the themes that matter most, select experts and educational organisations, and design opportunities for meaningful learning, dialogue and reflection.
Why learn with HAAK?
- Connect research with practice
- Explore educational leadership through Tallinn University's research expertise and practices in Estonian education organisations.
- Learn from practitioners
- Meet education leaders and experts who are directly involved in developing schools and the wider education system.
- Explore education in context
- Visit schools and other educational organisations selected according to your learning goals.
- Reflect and apply
- Go beyond inspiration by discussing what you observe, connecting it with research and considering how relevant ideas could be explored in your own context.
- Co-design the experience
- We develop each programme together with the partner organisation, based on its objectives, interests and learning needs.
Curious what this could look like for your organisation? Tell us what you'd like to explore.
Grounded in the Future School approach
Our international programmes draw on Future School: Evidence-based Leadership for Collaborative School Culture, an approach developed at Tallinn University. Future School connects educational leadership, school improvement and evidence-based practice. It supports schools and education organisations in strengthening collaborative leadership, using evidence to guide improvement and co-creating better conditions for students' learning.
- Eisenschmidt, E., & Vanari, K. (2025). How to Unpack the Black Box of School Culture – A Conceptual Framework for School Improvement in Estonia. Leadership and Policy in Schools, 1–18.
- Future School at Tallinn University ↗
- Programme leaflet ↗
What can we explore?
Our programmes can focus on a wide range of educational leadership and school development topics, including:
Leadership
- Leadership for learning
- Teacher leadership
School improvement
- School improvement and evidence-based development
- Teacher professional learning and collaborative learning
- Evidence-driven decision-making and data use
- Co-creation for improving students' learning
Curriculum and self-evaluation
- Curriculum and assessment
- Change management and sustainable improvement
Estonian education system
- Leadership across the education system
- Lessons from Estonia's education system
The focus can be adapted to your organisation, professional interests and learning goals.
Ways to learn with HAAK
These formats are starting points, not fixed packages. Every programme is co-designed with the partner organisation.
Expert Sessions
A focused session on a selected educational leadership topic, combining expert input with facilitated discussion.
Expert Sessions can be designed for conference groups, leadership teams, first-time visitors or organisations seeking a focused introduction to a particular aspect of educational leadership in Estonia.
- Expert input on a selected topic
- Facilitated discussion and learning materials
- Opportunities to consider the topic in relation to participants' own contexts
- Insight into selected aspects of educational leadership in Estonia
- Ideas and questions for further exploration
Study Visits
Experience educational leadership in practice through a combination of expert sessions, visits to educational organisations and facilitated reflection.
Visits are selected together with the partner organisation based on the agreed learning objectives. Depending on the programme, these may include schools, municipalities, universities, national education organisations or other relevant partners.
- Expert sessions
- Visits to schools and other educational organisations
- Workshops and facilitated reflection
- Professional exchange with Estonian education leaders
Long-term Development Programmes
For organisations seeking sustained leadership development, educational improvement or longer-term professional collaboration, HAAK designs programmes that extend beyond a single visit and support learning and development over time.
A long-term programme is developed around the partner organisation's strategic priorities and learning goals. It may combine expert sessions, study visits, workshops, online meetings, peer learning, facilitated reflection and follow-up activities.
- A series of expert sessions
- Study visits to Estonian schools and educational organisations
- Leadership and organisational development workshops
- Peer learning and facilitated reflection
- Online follow-up sessions
- Support in connecting research-based knowledge with professional practice
See also our International Development Programmes ↗
Let's design the right learning experience for your organisation
Tell us what you would like to explore, who will be joining the programme in Estonia and what you hope participants will gain from the experience. We will work with you to design a meaningful learning experience that reflects your educational context, strategic priorities and learning goals.
Practical information
- Programme fees
- Fees are quoted per group. Indicative starting prices are provided for selected programme formats, while tailor-made programmes are quoted separately.
- What is included
- Programme preparation, expert facilitation, programme coordination and learning materials are included unless otherwise agreed.
- Travel & accommodation
- Travel, accommodation, meals and local transport are not included unless otherwise agreed. Local transport in Estonia can be arranged by HAAK for an additional fee.
- Language
- Programmes are delivered in English unless agreed otherwise.
- VAT
- Prices are exclusive of VAT.
- Planning ahead
- We recommend contacting us at least 8 weeks before the planned programme. Longer-term programmes require earlier planning.