Finland and Kuwait Expand Cooperation in Education and Advanced Technologies
Ambassador Juha Mustonen outlines opportunities for cooperation in education, environment, security, investment and tourism
The TImes Kuwait Report
Finland believes the next big step in Kuwait’s education reform may not be about what children learn, but how they learn and, importantly, how teachers are prepared to support them. That was one of the key messages from Finnish Ambassador to Kuwait H.E. Juha Mustonen, who accompanied Finnish Under-Secretary of State for International Trade Jarno Syrjälä during a two-day visit to Kuwait aimed at opening new areas of cooperation between the two countries.
Speaking to The Times Kuwait following meetings with Kuwait’s Minister of Education and other officials, Mustonen described the discussions as “very friendly” and “very fruitful”, with education emerging as one of the most promising areas for deeper Finnish-Kuwaiti cooperation. Finland, he said, is ready to share its experience not only in teacher education and higher education, but also in environmental technologies, the circular economy, nuclear and radiation safety, advanced technology, investment and tourism.
The teacher at the centre of education reform
Kuwait has already made significant efforts to modernize its education system, particularly at the primary level, the Ambassador said. The next challenge, however, is to look more closely at the teaching process itself and at the people who stand at the centre of every classroom. “We know what to teach to children, but now we need to also improve how to teach these issues to our future generations,” Mustonen said.
That shift from simply deciding what students should learn to understanding how they learn best is an area where Finland believes it can share valuable experience. Finnish education places strong emphasis on teacher preparation, professional development and student-centred learning. Teachers undergo extensive academic and pedagogical training, with all teachers holding master’s degrees.
“The way of teaching is pupil-centred, student-centred,” Mustonen said, explaining that the learning environment itself plays an important role in motivating students and supporting better outcomes. For Kuwait, the Finnish experience could therefore be relevant not simply at the curriculum level, but in strengthening the professional role of teachers.
The discussions could eventually lead to a high-level Kuwaiti delegation visiting Finland to study its education system and examine areas where the two countries can learn from each other. “There is mutual willingness to have this dialogue,” Mustonen said.
Beyond the classroom
The potential partnership does not end with schools. Higher education is another area where Finland is hoping to attract greater interest from Kuwait. Mustonen invited Kuwaiti students to explore Finnish universities, which offer an increasing number of English-language master’s programmes, particularly in engineering and sciences, as well as programmes in business and the humanities.
For Kuwaiti students, he said, studying in Finland also means becoming part of an international academic environment, with students from different countries studying and living together. The Ambassador sees this people-to-people dimension as an important part of building long-term relations between the two countries. Students who study abroad, he noted, often become bridges between societies, creating connections that can later extend into research, business and professional cooperation.
Finland’s experience meets Kuwait’s environmental challenges
Education was not the only area discussed during the visit. Environmental cooperation also featured prominently, with Finland offering expertise in circular economy, recycling, waste management and soil remediation. These are areas of particular relevance to Kuwait as it continues to address environmental challenges and looks toward more sustainable methods of managing resources.
Mustonen highlighted Finnish technologies and expertise in the remediation of contaminated soil, referring to Finland’s involvement in work connected with the restoration of soil affected by the oil spills that followed Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait. The experience provides a tangible example of how cooperation between the two countries can extend beyond commercial interests and into areas directly connected with Kuwait’s environmental recovery and long-term sustainability.
The circular economy offers another potential area of cooperation, with Finland having developed expertise in recycling, resource efficiency and technologies aimed at reducing waste and making greater use of existing materials. For Kuwait, the concept is increasingly relevant as the country looks at how economic growth can be accompanied by more sustainable use of resources.
Nuclear and radiation safety
Another potential field for cooperation is nuclear and radiation safety. Finland has developed extensive experience in nuclear and radiological safety, including regulation, emergency preparedness and the management of risks associated with nuclear and radiation-related activities. Mustonen said this experience could provide opportunities for technical exchanges and knowledge-sharing with Kuwait, particularly as countries across the region place greater emphasis on preparedness, resilience and the protection of critical infrastructure.
The visit also had a strong business component. A Finnish business delegation accompanied the visit, including companies working in security and defence-related technologies. The companies held meetings with Kuwaiti institutions, including the National Guard, to explore possible solutions to challenges facing Kuwait.
Mustonen said there was considerable scope for practical cooperation because some of the challenges confronting Kuwait are also relevant to Finland.That creates an opportunity for Finnish companies to bring their technological expertise while also developing solutions in partnership with Kuwaiti institutions.
Opening the door to investment
Investment is another area where Finland wants to strengthen engagement with Kuwait. The Ambassador pointed to opportunities in deep technology, clean technology, health and life sciences, as well as rapidly growing Finnish technology companies. Finnish investment-promotion structures could help Kuwaiti investors better understand opportunities in Finland, while also supporting Finnish companies seeking partners and investors in Kuwait.
For Finland, the relationship is therefore not simply about attracting capital. It is also about connecting Kuwaiti investors with companies and technologies that could benefit from international partnerships and expansion.
From vacations to ‘coolcations’
And then there is tourism an area where Finland believes Kuwaitis may increasingly discover a different side of Europe. While Finland’s winter attractions, particularly the Northern Lights and snow-covered landscapes, remain major draws, the Ambassador also sees considerable potential in summer travel.
As Gulf travellers increasingly look for ways to escape the intense summer heat, Finland offers forests, thousands of lakes, open spaces and significantly cooler temperatures. Mustonen described the emerging trend as “coolcations” holidays built around escaping extreme summer temperatures. Winter, meanwhile, offers an entirely different experience, from snow activities to the Northern Lights. Finland is also preparing a new tourism platform expected to launch early next year, with information for international visitors, including content in Arabic.
As Mustonen put it, there is a “mutual willingness” to continue the dialogue. The next step could be a high-level Kuwaiti visit to Finland allowing Kuwait’s education leaders to see first-hand how a country that has built its international reputation around education, innovation and human development approaches the classroom of the future.
