Sino-Finnish Joint Learning Innovation Institute (JoLii)

Beijing Normal University (BNU) has established long term relationship with Finnish universities in collaboration of academic research, teacher training, education science and learning science. Based on the Memorandum of Cooperation between The Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and The Ministry of Education and Culture of The Republic of Finland on Strengthening Comprehensive Cooperation on Education signed in 2015, Beijing Normal University and the University of Helsinki as the national coordinating universities, enter into the agreement to establish the Sino-Finnish Joint Learning Innovation Institute (JoLii) and implement the concept of “Sino-Finnish Learning Garden”. The Memorandum of Understanding concerning the establishment of the Sino-Finnish Joint Learning Innovation Institute was signed on 16 November, 2015.

JoLii aims to co-create inclusive, student-oriented learning solutions for better fostering 21st century skills among students in China and Finland, and involves the networks of the Chinese and Finnish universities, schools and enterprises. JoLii has established six centers: Learning Research Innovation Center, Learning Garden Experience Center, Teacher Development Center, Education ICT Center, Dual Degree Center, and Education Research Center.

In 2020, JoLii has signed the extension agreement (2020-2030) to continue its cooperation for another decade. JoLii’s partner institutes have increased to 11 members in Finland, including 10 universities (University of Helsinki, Aalto University, University of Tampere, University of Jyväskylä, University of Oulu, University of Eastern Finland, University of Turku, University of Lapland, University Consortium of Pori, Åbo Akademi University) and 1 company (Educluster Finland Ltd);14 members in China, including 7 universities (Beijing Normal University, Peking University, East China Normal University, Southwest University, Shaanxi Normal University, Northeast Normal University, Central China Normal University), 2 companies（Netdragon Websoft Inc. and YUANFUDAO), 2 education societies (Chinese Society of Education and EduChina Group) and 3 schools (Beijing Zhengze School, The Third Affiliated Middle School of Beijing Normal University and Asia-Pacific Experimental School of Beijing Normal University). In 2021, JoLii has been collaborated with the Global Innovation Network for Teaching and Learning (GINTL), a network in which Finnish higher education institutions, together with partners from India, China and Africa, co-create research-based solutions to global educational challenges and collaborate in research and education (https://gintl.org/).