Finland’s on-going success in international education rankings is the envy of many countries but the education system in the small Nordic country steers away from standardised tests and long school hours. Educational reforms dating back to the 1970s have built up “a culture of responsibility and trust within an education system that values teachers’ wisdom in judging how to promote a good life for the students”, says Finnish academic, Associate Professor Hannu Heikkinen. A senior researcher at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research, and a visiting academic at CSU’s Research Institute for Professional Practice, Learning and Education (RIPPLE) where he is an adjunct assistant professor, Associate Professor Heikkinen is visiting Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Australia from Friday 1 to Tuesday 19 February. “Unlike countries such as Korea and China, who match our success in international tests, Finland’s school hours for teachers and pupils are among the smallest in the world and school autonomy is still quite high. Finns have encouraged creativity and freedom for schools and teachers. The Finnish example shows that education is not about competing but more about taking care of others,” Associate Professor Heikkinen said.