EEA AND NORWAY GRANTS

FUND FOR BILATERAL RELATIONS

INITIATIVE PROPOSAL

Title of the initiative: Knowledge exchange for the development of STEM education and after-school activities.

Implementing entity (beneficiary state entity):

In Estonian: MTÜ Eesti Teadushuvihariduse Liit (later we use shortened name TEAHU). Area of

interest is named: Loodus- ja täppisteaduste ning tehnoloogia valdkond and shortened term is LTT.

Estonian STEM* Education Union (NPO in Estonia)

*STEM is an approach to learning and development that integrates the areas of science, technology,

engineering and mathematics.

Partner(s) (minimum one donor state entity):

FIRST Scandinavia (foundation in Norway)

Bilateral priority area identified by the JCBF beyond the programmes:

promotion of core European values, such as respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy,

equality, the rule of law and the respect for human rights for all people, regardless of their

racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender

identity;

v E-governance (digitalization)

eastern partnership

v equality and equal treatment

competitive business environment, sustainable and adaptive governance (based on

“Competitiveness Plan for 2020” approved by the Government of Estonia)

Allocation (total sum)

(A more detailed project budget description in the activity plan):

Altogether 251 000 euros, containing:

• FIRST Scandinavia project management costs 110 160 euros

• Eesti Teadushuvihariduse Liit project management costs 12 550 euros

• FIRST Scandinavia delegation in Estonia 48 550 euros

• Estonian delegation to Norway 79 740 euros

Short description of the initiative:

(background, aim, participants, activity plan, budget outline, communication and dissemination)

Background:

Norway is internationally known for its effective concepts in the field of STEM - especially with the

NEWTON centers, launched by the FIRST Scandinavia foundation. The foundation also runs the First

Lego League* (FLL) program, which is also widely implemented in teaching robotics in Estonia.

*First Lego League guides youth through STEM learning and exploration at an early age. From

exploration to discovery and then challenge, students will understand STEM basics and apply their skills

in an exciting competition while developing study habits, confidence and teamwork skills.

FIRST Scandinavia is a private equity-based foundation providing equal access to quality STEM

education through Newton Rooms (owned or managed by local authorities). In addition, FIRST

Scandinavia has been involved in the implementation and organization of projects and STEM concepts

in several countries.

There is currently no unified STEM strategy in Estonia, but the need to develop one has been

recognized. There are also initiatives and will to develop the field. There are different forms of research

centers, nature houses, and interest groups providers, all of which support the teaching of STEM in

formal and non-formal education. Shortcomings show in the provision of STEM education at an equal

level in remote areas. The provision of education in the field of STEM, both at the formal and non-

formal level, varies from region to region. Several processes are taking place in the field and in the

educational landscape (legislation, greater responsibility is moving to local governments, etc.) It is the

best time to collect best practices.

Estonian STEM Education Union gathers providers and facilitators of STEM education and is a strategic

partner in the field to the Ministry of Education and Science. In order to develop the field in the best

and sustainable way, it is important to collect and know the practices used elsewhere and to get

acquainted with various possibilities for developing longer-term strategies. Getting to know FIRST

Scandinavia and Norway's STEM strategy definitely offers this.

Although it is not likely that we would order the establishment of a Newton center in Estonia through

FIRST Scandinavia, we can offer FIRST Scandinavia representatives to establish contacts with specialists

in the field who can be clients and also partners in the trainings they organize and in other projects.

We can also offer an overview and examples of concepts currently operating in Estonia, which may

prove useful in their further work, for example, when introducing concepts in other countries.

Aim:

Exchange and share knowledge, experience and best practice of STEM Education and strategies.

between the countries of entities with the purpose for STEM field. Both - to start developing a STEM

strategy in the future in Estonia and find solutions for better practices that can be used already in

the present.

To the project representatives of Estonia it gives an important input for the development of the

STEM strategy. Especially since the FIRST Scandinavia team has a broader picture of the STEM

strategies of other countries thanks to the introduction of the NEWTON concept to other

countries. In addition, exchange of knowledge - and exchange of experience - gives ideas for

better/more resourceful use of existing conditions in Estonia. We could also use the knowledge

of founding.

For representatives of Norway, getting to know Estonia's concept so far offers ideas and input

for further work in introducing their concept to other countries.

Building partnerships and networking between entities or their members for future cooperation in

joint projects or attending to courses.

For the Estonian participants, contacts and knowledge exchanged during the project provides

opportunities for the development of the field at several levels (ministry, municipality, school

administrators, operators of STEM field activities).

For Norwegian participants, the project primarily offers further cooperation contacts in the

First Lego League concept for various joint projects and events at both the professional and

youth level. But also in the rest of the STEM field to find lecturers and participants for various

trainings and learning activities organized by FIRST Scandinavia.

Participants:

Participants from Estonia:

Members of Estonian STEM Education Union, members of the board and employees and policy makers

in the field of STEM.

a) Participants of the foreign visit - 40 people.

b) Participants of the brainstorming session from various interest groups during the visit of

Norwegian representatives. Gathering of 50-100 people interested (policy makers, operators

in the field, representatives of local governments, educational institutions and entrepreneurs).

c) Knowledge from each event will be shared also with the members of the Union (130

organizations and persons)

Participants from Norway:

Representatives of FIRST Scandinavian concepts, implementers of the First Lego League concept.

About 22 representatives.

Activity plan:

- Representatives of the Estonian STEM Education Union (including board members and

employees, as well as policymakers in the field of STEM), visit FIRST Scandinavia's

headquarters in Bodo, Norway. There will be a visit to the activity centers of FIRST Scandinavia.

An introduction to the concepts and an overview of Norway's STEM strategy and good

examples from elsewhere will be heard. Important topic in the discussions is the operation of

the STEM field and development opportunities in rural areas, for children to have equal

possibilities developing STEM knowledge.

- The first brainstorming meeting with the trip participants - regarding collected ideas,

possibilities applying them to existing conditions or using them in the long-term strategy.

Meeting format is encounter (held in Norway).

- Sharing the knowledge gained during the field trip and the ideas generated from it with other

members of the union. Meeting format is encounter and/or hybrid (held in Estonia).

- Trip of FIRST Scandinavia representatives to Estonia (opportunity to visit at least two cities).

There will be a visit to STEM field centers and providers representing different formats

(discovery center, hobby school applying the FLL concept).

- Joint event/ exchange of experience with representatives of the union and FLL concept

providers in Estonia.

- Development seminar in the field of STEM with the representatives of FIRST Scandinavia for

an extended interest group (including representatives of ministries, representatives of local

governments, heads of educational institutions, operators of activities in the field) who have

expressed a desire to attend. The topic: practical milestones for developing STEM strategy and

inventive ideas for using existing opportunities.

Budget Outline:

Altogether 251 000 euros, containing:

• FIRST Scandinavia project management costs 110 160 euros

Project management and mission cost 3 €12 960,00

Seminar in Estonia (4 days) 22 €71 280,00

Seminiar in Norway (4 days) 6 €25 920,00

• Eesti Teadushuvihariduse Liit project management costs 12 550 euros

Project management and mission cost 1 €5 150,00

Seminar in Estonia (3 days) 5 €1 200,00

Seminiar in Norway (4 days) 4 €6 200,00

• FIRST Scandinavia delegation in Estonia 48 550 euros

International travel costs 22 €13 200,00

Accommodation cost 22 €6 600,00

Food cost 22 €6 600,00

Local transportation 22 €2 000,00

Attending workshops 22 €1 650,00

Meeting with representatives of TEAHU 30 €1 500,00

Open seminar to everyone in the field (STEM) 100 €15 000,00

Unexpected expenses €2 000,00

• Estonian delegation to Norway 79 740 euros

International travel costs 40 €21 600,00

Accommodation cost 40 €28 800,00

Food cost 40 €17 280,00

Local transportation 40 €5 400,00

Attending workshops 40 €4 410,00

Meeting with representatives of FIRST Scandinavia & TEAHU and FLL representatives 40

€900,00

Unexpected expenses €1 350,00

Communication and dissemanination:

- Information about the upcoming project and registration is shared with members of the

union through the members mailing list.

- Information about project supporters is shared with each announcement related to the

project (advertisement, registration letter, social media posts)

- Updates and pictures about the project will be shared directly on the Union's social media

channels.

- Members/and interested parties will be notified of presentations and seminars within the

project by letter and/or via social media.

- Communication regarding the joint FIRST Scandinavian representatives meeting with TEAHU

led by Norwegian representatives will be done by e-mail and/or through social media

channels.

Activity plan:

Activity Time Location Cost Participants

Detailed planning, preparations and project management from Estonian NPO

October 2024 -

April 2025

Estonia 12550€ 1 (project manager, 4 members of board of the union, who attend as seminar lecturers etc)

Detailed planning, preparations and project management from the foundation or Norway

October 2024 -

April 2025

Norway 110160 € 3 (project managers, seminar lecturers)

Estonian STEM specialists visit Bodo, Norway

February 2025 Bodo, Norway

78840€ 40

Participants of the visit hold a reflective seminar

February 2025

(last day of

visit)

Bodo, Norway

900€ (meeting room rent)

40

Reflective seminar from the participants to other union members

March 2025 MS Teams Salary cost for board members attending meeting hour (already in the planning section.)

-130

FIRST Scandinavia team visits Estonian STEM Union member organizations

April 2025

(first day of

the visit)

Tallinn+ other (Estonia)

32050 22

STEM education (informal ant other) development seminar for an extended interest group

April 2025

(second day of

the visit)

Tallinn or Tartu

15000 (organizing and rent)

70-100

Joint event/experience exchange of FLL concept representatives in Estonia.

April 2025

(among the

visit)

Estonia 1500€ (room rent) 30

Collecting feedback, completing reports and publication of summaries

April-July 2025 Estonia, Norway

Cost already included in project management

Project managers from each participant

Planned results1

1 Please refer to the Results Guideline

OUTPUT INDICATOR TARGET

Estonian STEM Union representatives visit to First Scandinavia, Norway

40- representatives: - have visited FIRST Scandinavia

in Bodo.

40representatives from Estonia: -have knowledge of the existing STEM strategy and best practices used in Norway - have built partnership opportunities for future projects with the representatives the STEM field in Norway.

Estonian STEM Union representatives brainstorming meeting

Estonian STEM Union participants of the field trip:

- have their first brainstorming meeting for discussing priorities of future STEM strategy in Estonia.

Estonian STEM Union participants of the field trip (40) -have knowledge of each other’s viewpoints and values according to the future STEM Strategy in Estonia; -have agreed on the priority points for the STEM field strategy, also using the excisting possibilities.

Estonian STEM Union members meeting

Estonian STEM Union members: - have shared the knowledge

and best practices of the STEM field in Norway, also proving STEM on equal levels in smaller areas

- have shared the viewpoints for future STEM strategy.

Estonian STEM Union members (130 organizations and individuals):

- Have shared knowledge and best practices further on the STEM field activists.

- Have discussed viewpoints and priorities for future STEM strategy.

Trip of FIRST Scandinavia representatives to Estonia

FIRST Scandinavia representatives: - Have visited STEM field

centers and providers in Estonia

FIRST Scandinavia representatives (20?): -have knowledge of the existing projects and practices in Estonia - have built partnership opportunities for future projects with the representatives the STEM field in Estonia.

FIRST Scandinavia representatives hold an event (with representatives of the FLL in Estonia).

FIRST Scandinavia representatives: - Have held an encounter event (with TEAHU and representatives of the FLL concept in Estonia.)

FIRST Scandinavia representatives and Estonian FLL providers and teachers (30-40): -have built partnership opportunities for future projects with the representatives the FLL concept in Estonia.

-Development seminar in the field of STEM with the representatives of FIRST Scandinavia for an extended interest group (including representatives of ministries, representatives of local governments, heads of educational institutions, operators of activities in the field) who have expressed a desire to attend.

Discussion seminar meeting in encounter/hybrid format have been held in Estonia on the topic: “Practical milestones for developing an STEM strategy and inventive ideas for using existing opportunities”.

Discussion seminar meeting on the STEM development topic has been held for extender interest group from different organizations. Discussion seminar has a broad target group that can have important role in the development of the STEM strategy in Estonia. (wider target group).