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TLU Centre of Excellence in Educational Innovation

Tallinn University's Center of Excellence in Educational Innovation (HUT) was established in 2015 with the aim of developing an interdisciplinary research field focusing on evidence-based and innovative lifelong learning, teacher education, school management and educational policy.

Educational innovation is dynamic and constantly evolving, responding to technological advances, societal changes, and economic demands. HUT takes a broader view of educational innovation, based on the need to create a research-based basis for the formation and establishment of a new learning and teaching culture in Estonian education.

In the period 2015–2023, HUT focused on digital learning environments and tools and new technology-enriched methods for promoting learning analytics and research. In the years 2024–2026, HUT focuses on the development of learning, teaching and flexible learning paths in formal and non-formal education, evidence-based school development, the dimension of lifelong learning in a technology-rich environment as well as the field of sustainable education.

HUT's research activities are divided between four directions

HUT's activities are divided into four research and development areas, which are integrated with each other and, in addition to international research activities, have a clear perspective on solving challenges in the field of Estonian education and society at large.

1. Learning and teaching in formal and non-formal education aims to achieve a sustainable learning society, research-based modeling of practices and evaluation of effects.

Ongoing research and development projects: 

  • , 2025-2028

The project will establish a Teacher Academy aimed at creating innovative teacher education programmes for Maker Education. Additionally, the project will develop the Maker Competency Framework, necessary learning modules, and resources, and deliver joint training courses. The project will include evaluative studies, identify effective practices, and deliver policy recommendations to inform education policy makers in the participating countries and at EU level.

  • 2024–2027

The project aims to understand the current situation with the implementation of inclusive practices in the first stage of Estonian schools (i.e., grades 1-3), support the development of teachers' and support specialists' competencies in applying inclusive practices to support all students, and assess the impact of the professional development program on teaching and learning in inclusive classrooms.

  • , 2024–2027

The aim of the project is to develop a theoretically grounded framework and instruments to investigate the characteristics of scientific habits of mind, and systems thinking in upper secondary school students as well as research instruments for assessing teachers' knowledge related to systems thinking; to create digital expert-validated maps of the development of core scientific concepts to enhance students' systems thinking and to study their impact on students;  and also increase the competence of science teachers through training.

  • , 2023–2025

The project aims to enhance scientific excellence and research potential in the
field of research on integrating formal education and workplace learning for students in basic and secondary schools.

  • , 2022–2025

The project aims to promote and facilitate digitalisation among teacher educators in Europe (and beyond).

  • , 2021–2024

The project aims to co-develop and implement innovative teaching and learning approaches to concrete policies for capacity building in the digital, entrepreneurial, STEM/STEAM innovation and sustainability fields, from which young women from rural areas and Higher Education students would benefit.

  • , 2024

The aim of the project is to understand relations between place-based cultural space creation and sustainable development in peripheral regions of Estonia.

2. Lifelong learning in a technology-rich environment develops learning and teaching practices integrated with new technologies and examines their impact on learners, organizations and society.

Ongoing research and development projects:

  • , 2025-2028

WINDEE project aims to enhance digital well-being in education by equipping students and educators with tools, training, and environments that support healthy, focused, and engaging use of digital technologies. It envisions a future where digital education empowers learning while safeguarding mental, emotional, and physical well-being—integrated into policy and practice through collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based strategies across Europe.

  • , 2025-2028

The LED Education project aims to address the challenges of the global transformation of education by creating enabling digital learning environments that increase learner engagement, well-being and educational outcomes. The project aims to integrate advanced digital tools, personalised mentoring and inclusive practices to ensure a more equitable and effective learning experience. Unlike traditional digital learning, the project team will provide a safe space/environment that supports the learning process and the teaching staff. This project directly supports the competition's focus on innovative digital education solutions. LED Education proposes to improve the digital education ecosystem and bridge the digital competence gap identified in EU strategic policies. 

  • , 2022–2025

The goal of the project is to develop and pilot new innovative e-learning solutions in adult education in experiential learning practices.

  • , 2023–2025

The project aims to be a flagship for digital education innovation, raising the profile of European digital education in general, as well as the European Digital Education Hub and the Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027.

  • , 2023–2027

The project aims to develop digital educational technologies and support cooperation between academia and businesses.

  • , 2023–2025

The GOT project aims to shift towards data-driven and evidence-based methods of providing digital education in the University of Cape Coast and the University of Education, Winneba and changing the thinking of researchers, educators and digital solutions providers.

  • , 2024–2026

The goal of the project is to develop methods of co-creation for understanding digital cultural heritage, using it in various fields and transferring knowledge related to heritage.

3. Evidence-based school development focuses on a learning and teaching culture that supports the development of the learner by developing the ability of schools to manage evidence-based and collaborative change.

Ongoing research and development projects:

  • , 2022–2029

The aim of the project is to create a development program of up to three years that promotes a learner-centered culture and evidence-based management, and to develop criteria and principles for selecting educational institutions participating in the development program to involve the administrator of the educational institution participating in the development program.

4. Education and sustainable future research direction addresses societal challenges of sustainable development, focusing, among other things, on the field of sustainable education.

Ongoing research and development projects:

The goal of the project is to develop horizontal green skills.

  • , 2024–2026

The aim of the framework contract is to create a strong and flexible partnership between ministries and research consortias, which is to supprt the Estonian climate aims through research-based policymaking. 

  • , 2024–2026

STEAMkitchen aims to contribute to the transformation of the educational practices in higher education, to provide teacher educators as well as preservice teachers concrete instruments and experiences for implementing STEAM principles into home economics learning practices with focus on sustainability issues.

  • , 2024–2027

The project aims to develop a European-scale research and innovation based hub at Tallinn University - Science Kitchen, with a sustainable management and research performance, strong networking and finance generation capacity to become an independent and internationally recognised actor in the field of Home Economics.

The Center of Excellence in Educational Innovation is coordinated by the council:

Contact

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Head of the Center of Excellence in Educational Innovation, terjev@tlu.ee