HEI Schools, a Finnish early education company, and SEGi University and Colleges in Malaysia have signed an agreement to cooperate in developing SEGi’s Early Childhood Education Teacher Diploma program in Malaysia. With this new partnership, the SEGi University and Colleges will incorporate and use the content of the HEI Schools Teacher Diploma program in its 2.5 year ECE Teacher Diploma program across three college campuses (Kuala Lumpur, Subang Jaya and Penang) beginning in June 2021. The students enrolled in SEGi's 2.5 year Teacher Diploma program will receive the HEI Schools Teacher Diploma on progressive Finnish ECE when graduating from the program.
The HEI Schools Teacher Diploma program consists of ten modules that cover the principles of Finland’s early education pedagogy, from special needs and inclusion to play-based learning. Experienced Finnish teachers worked closely with Professor Lasse Lipponen from the University of Helsinki and other early education experts to create a cutting-edge online program. They utilized the latest educational research provided by the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Helsinki, which ranked 22nd in the world according to QS University rankings. The SEGi students enrolled in the 2.5 year Teacher Diploma program will also receive HEI Schools Teacher Diploma when graduating.
Professor Lasse Lipponen
Professor Lipponen commented, “I have had the privilege to lecture and connect with many early education professionals and academics in Southeast Asia, and I have seen first-hand the growing interest in Finnish early education in Malaysia and other countries in the region. The cooperation between HEI Schools and SEGi University in raising a new generation of teachers in Malaysia is a great opportunity for growth on both sides, and I look forward to seeing where this partnership will lead.”
This is the first partnership SEGi has entered into with a Finnish education concept. SEGi has long been recognized as a premier leader in early childhood teacher training, championing professionalism in the early childhood industry since 1999. In 2011, the Malaysian government appointed to champion the improvement of the nation’s preschool teachers under the Economic Transformation Plan (ETP). SEGi has also been on the executive committee of the Malaysian ECCE Council for the past ten years.
SEGi College Campuses
"We see this collaboration as part of our ongoing efforts to strive for educational excellence,” says Ms. Stella Lau, CEO, SEGi Group of Colleges. “The HEI Schools Teacher Diploma program offers us a perfect platform for incorporating the successful Finnish ECE approach into our Early Childhood diploma. With the HEI program embedded nicely within our diploma, we are confident that our students will be immersed in a stimulating and powerful learning experience that impresses upon them the lifelong impact that they will have on young children. They will graduate with the confidence and skillsets that discerning employers seek, both within and beyond Malaysia. Early childhood practitioners in our country need more than just the mandatory Diploma in Early Childhood to make a difference, which is why SEGi has chosen to partner HEI Schools.”
Milla Kokko, Co-Founder and CEO of HEI Schools, also commented: “At HEI Schools, our mission is to bring high-quality education to as many children and families in the world as possible. With this partnership, we will get much closer to achieving that goal and we cannot wait to get started.”
Students will begin enrolling in the SEGi Teacher Diploma program including the HEI Schools Teacher Diploma program in June 2021.
For PR/Communications-related matters with SEGi: Ms. Raudhah from Group Marketing Department; +6016-4577117; raudhahibrahim@segi.edu.my
For other matters with SEGi: Mr Li Chun Young (CY) from Strategic & Digital Marketing Department; +6014-9994340; lichunyoung@segi.edu.my
For business opportunities with HEI Schools: Mr. Heikki Vartia, heikki.vartia@heischools.com and the Partnerships Team at sales@heischools.com
For PR/Communications-related matters with HEI Schools: Ms. Anne Rusanen, anne.rusanen@heischools.com
HEI Schools Teacher Diploma Program
The HEI Schools Teacher Diploma program is developed by Professor Lasse Lipponen from the University of Helsinki and the HEI Schools pedagogical team. It is designed for teachers who wish to acquire a deeper understanding of the Finnish play-based pedagogy.
HEI Schools
HEI Schools (Helsinki International Schools) was co-founded by the University of Helsinki and experienced educational and design experts. Embracing Nordic values of accessibility and openness, we want to make high-quality early childhood education available globally. HEI Schools offers scalable, easy-to-implement solutions to bring Finnish ECE to countries around the world through its licensing and subscription models.
Finnish-style pedagogy takes a research-based approach with creative, high-level teacher training. Having the University of Helsinki as a co-founder and shareholder differentiates HEI Schools from other early childhood education concepts because we are able to constantly develop our pedagogical model based on the latest research.
SEGi
SEGi University and Colleges first opened its doors as Systematic College in 1977 in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s commercial district to offer globally recognized professional qualifications. Since then, SEGi has experienced significant growth by adapting and catering to an increasing demand for tertiary education and professional qualifications in Malaysia. Known as one of the largest private higher education providers in Malaysia, SEGi now serves 25,000 students in five major campuses located in Kota Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Subang Jaya, Penang and Sarawak.
