The Higher Education Pedagogies for Teacher Education (HEP-TED)
The Higher Education Pedagogies for Teacher Education (HEP-TED) project is a collaborative capacity-building initiative implemented under Finland’s Higher Education Partnership Programme, happening between January 2024 and August 2026. It brings together Finnish and Rwandan higher education institutions to strengthen teacher education through pedagogical renewal, enhanced management capacities, and sustained cross-institutional collaboration. In alignment with the BRIDGED project principles, HEP-TED contributes to building equitable and knowledge-based cooperation between higher education systems.
The project focuses on improving the quality and relevance of teacher education in Rwanda, particularly in relation to competence-based curricula and labour market needs. Its activities are structured around three interconnected outcomes: enhancing management and quality assurance practices; advancing pedagogical development through learner-centred and competence-based approaches; and strengthening institutional collaboration. These are pursued through joint curriculum development, training programmes, study visits, and peer-learning activities involving academic staff, institutional leaders, and quality assurance actors.
A central feature of HEP-TED is its emphasis on co-creation and system-level impact. The project supports the deep and lasting integration of new pedagogical and managerial practices into institutional structures, including postgraduate programmes in higher education pedagogy and leadership. Digital pedagogy is a key component, with the institutionalisation of local teams of ‘digital champions’ to support the use and update of technology-enhanced learning across institutions. In parallel, the project promotes inclusive and gender-responsive approaches, aligning with national priorities in Rwanda and Finland’s development policy framework.
The partnership is conducted by University of Helsinki, Tampere University, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences, University of Rwanda – College of Education, and Rwanda Polytechnic, with the Rwanda Higher Education Council as an associate partner. Through this collaboration, the project fosters long-term institutional linkages and regional engagement.
As HEP-TED progresses toward its completion in August 2026, it is expected to deliver strengthened quality assurance systems, improved pedagogical competencies, and closer alignment between higher education and societal needs.
Find out more:
HEP-TED blog (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/projects/higher-education-pedagogies-teacher-education/news)
LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hep-ted).
