Estonia’s education system has attracted wide international interest, with hundreds of delegations visiting every year. To provide a more systematic overview, we are introducing a new online course in English: “Understanding Estonia’s Education System”, available on Udemy.
Estonia’s education system has gained international recognition for strong PISA results and for pioneering the use of digital tools in classrooms. Each year, thousands of policymakers and education experts visit Estonia to learn more. This course provides a structured, fact-based overview — accessible from anywhere in the world.
The course focuses on some of the most frequently asked questions about Estonia’s education system, including:
- How teachers are prepared and supported, and what professional autonomy looks like in practice
- How equity and inclusion are ensured across the system
- How curriculum and assessment are designed and used
- How digital learning has evolved from the Tiger Leap to AI in schools
…plus other key aspects that shape Estonia’s education today.
What makes the course especially valuable is the range of voices it brings together: from the Ministry of Education and Research, the Education and Youth Board (Harno), universities, school leaders, and practising teachers. Even the most carefully planned study visit could not offer such a broad spectrum of perspectives in one place.
With 30 concise videos (around 1.5 hours in total), additional materials, and real-life examples, the course is designed for policymakers, school leaders, teachers, and anyone with a professional interest in education. In addition to expert insights, the course includes authentic video material from Estonian schools, showing the daily routines of students, teachers, and school leaders. It can serve as preparation for international cooperation and study visits, or as a stand-alone resource. At the moment, the course focuses on general education, but we plan to expand it over time.
The course was developed by Education Estonia, initative by Estonian Education and Youth Board in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Research and leading experts from across Estonia’s education community.
