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TLU Centre of Excellence in Educational Innovation

The Centre of Excellence in Educational Innovation aims to initiate and carry out interdisciplinary research projects, and—through a research network—to develop an interdisciplinary field focused on evidence-based teacher education, school leadership, education policy, and educational technology. The Centre approaches educational innovation from a broad perspective, based on the need to establish a research-based foundation for the development and implementation of learning, teaching, and leadership cultures in Estonian education, in both formal and non-formal settings, while engaging all stakeholders in the educational innovation ecosystem.

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.

The research areas of HUT are:

HUT's activities are divided into five 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 main goal of the project is to determine how to support and guide individuals, organizations, and communities in making more sustainable choices. A key component of the project is the Open Lab approach, which helps facilitate collaboration among various stakeholders from the public sector, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.

  • , 2023–2024

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

  • , (2025–2028)

The aim of the project is to develop new biodegradable packaging materials along with supporting production, design, and circular economy solutions. Researchers and entrepreneurs will collaboratively develop bio-based and biodegradable plastic materials using renewable raw material sources.

  • , (2025–2028)

The project supports the development of trust and collaboration between universities to advance the European micro-credentials exchange system.

  • , 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.

5. Artificial intelligence in education

Researchers at Tallinn University have extensive experience in studying smart learning technologies across a wide range of educational settings—from schools and universities to workplace learning. Their strength lies in combining technological expertise with a deep understanding of learning processes and institutional capacity. Currently, this expertise is primarily focused on the use of artificial intelligence in education.

The focus is on solutions based on human–AI collaboration, such as supporting learners’ self-regulation and enhancing the teaching process. In addition, research is conducted on the didactics of artificial intelligence, and institutional capacity is being developed for its responsible use. To bring these activities together, the AI & Learning Lab has also been established at Tallinn University.

  • , (2024-2028) 

The project proposes a novel approach and prototype for hybrid regulation of learning, in which artificial intelligence supports learners in regulating their own learning. To achieve this goal, data related to Estonian students’ learning will be analyzed, and an open learner model will be used as a pedagogical tool. This model enables learners to monitor, control, and understand their own learning, as well as to track and regulate it independently.

  • , (2025-2028)

The project results provide practical and evidence-based guidelines for teachers, educational institutions, educational technology developers, and policymakers to support the ethical and productive integration of AI into education.

  • , (2026-2028) 

The aim of the project is to help Tallinn University become a leading actor in the evidence-based and pedagogically informed use of artificial intelligence in education, guided by the values of human-centered and inclusive learning.

  • , (2026-2029) 

A systematic, scalable, and ethically grounded capacity is being developed for the application of generative artificial intelligence in general, vocational, and higher education.

  • , (2025-2026) 

The readiness, opportunities, and strategies of Tallinn University researchers, faculty, and students for applying artificial intelligence (AI) in research and the learning process were examined, with a focus on learning, teaching, learning strategies, sustainability, ethics, and values.

Research groups

The research groups of the Institute of Educational Sciences at Tallinn University aim to conduct high-level research in the fields of teacher education and educational sciences, inclusive education, educational leadership and innovation, lifelong and non-formal learning, as well as early and primary education.

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Council of the Center of Excellence in Educational Innovation

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

Contact

Katrin Männik
Head of the Center of Excellence in Educational Innovation
katrin.mannik@tlu.ee

 

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