The study, commissioned by the Nordic Council of Ministers and conducted by a group of researchers headed by the University of Nordland in Norway, identifies clear visions at political level of enhancing young peoples’ creative and innovative skills. However, a number of structural barriers and attitudes still preclude implementing these visions in the school system.

An education system that makes pupils and students creative, flexible and innovative is one of the keys to maintaining Nordic competitiveness in the globalised knowledge economy.

The study does not advocate adding more subjects to the timetable. It calls for new teaching methods and new ways of organising education. According to the report, it is important to move away from traditional subject-based teaching, which considers entrepreneurship a separate activity, towards innovative teaching in which entrepreneurship becomes a way of thinking that permeates the whole of the education system.

The study also concludes that new methods, e.g. in nature studies, have potential for reducing drop-out rates, and it calls for closer focus on practical and creative subjects such as handicrafts and music.

According to the researchers, the increased use of tests, as per PISA, often leads to the emphasis being on factual knowledge and mechanical skills at the expense of problem-oriented teaching and creativity. Unlike traditional subjects such as maths and reading, it is difficult to quantify the results of prioritising innovation and entrepreneurship, so better evaluation methods are needed if creative skills are to be accorded sufficient priority.

Creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in the Nordic education system is also the theme of one of the globalisation projects in which the Council of Ministers for Education and Research is involved. The project will be presented in greater detail at an event organised by the Nordic Council of Ministers, 27-28 April. Places are still available.

The think-tank Monday Morning has written an article summarising the studies on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Education and Research. Link to the article and studies below.

Siv Merethe Lien
Phone +45 33 96 02 80
Email sili@norden.org

Jarle Sjøvoll University of Nordland Telephone +47 75 51 77 66 E-mail jarle.sjovoll@uin.no