StarT partner countries

The StarT programme is a Finnish initiative, launched and organized by the LUMA Centre Finland. In Finland and our partner countries StarT is organized on a national level. As StarT continues to spread around the world, we are proud to announce that we have already established several partnering agreements.

A national StarT office allows better national support for the participating StarT teams, as they can have support in their native language, and national StarT events can be organized. Depending on the local representative, a national StarT Festival and a national StarT Gala ceremony may take place – please contact your local representative for further details! 

Our StarT partner countries

Azerbaijan The StarT representative in Azerbaijan is the Center of strategic development at the Azerbaijani State Pedagogical University located in the capital city Baku. This year ASPU celebrates 100 years of existing. Education is provided in three languages. Contact information: PhD Shirin Mammadova, Head of Strategic Development center at ASPU shirin.hayat(at)yahoo.com
China The StarT representative in China is the China STEM Curriculum Education Research Center. The China STEM Curriculum Education Research Center belongs to China Education Department which is responsible for the education reform and curriculum development and promotion in China. Contact information: Sun Xiaokui: sunxiaokui@moe.edu.cn +8618911669335 More on the StarT China website: pbl.com.cn
Jordan The StarT representative in Jordan is Innovation for Creativity Development Association (ICDA). ICDA is a Jordanian non-profit association, established in 2013 and registered with the Ministry of Culture. It is concerned with the development of the capacities of children and youth through the provision of various academic, technical, social and educational services, especially in the areas of talent, creativity and innovation. ICDA aims also to improve students’ attitude towards science and supports their practices of scientific methodology, project-based life-long learning, critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills. It also seeks to enable teachers, students, and supervisors to manage and conduct science, math and technology projects. Find the contact details and read more on the website of StarT Jordan: https://ebtikar-innov.org/
Kazakhstan The StarT representative in Kazakhstan is Oylab Education LLP. The company works with kindergarten, school and university teachers offering consulting and training services. Contact information: Oylab Education LLP, Uly Dala st. 6/2, ap.72, 010000 Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan Ruslan Kiikov, General Director of Oylab Education oylabkz(at)gmail.com See the Facebook website for additional information.
Lithuania The StarT representative in Lithuania is Kaunas Santara Gymnasium. Kaunas Santara Gymnasium is an IT and economics gymnasium where teaching and learning is based on research and practice, and where  personalities – leaders are educated in cooperation with social partners.  Read more on the website of StarT Lithuania: Click here to access the website Contact information: Rasa Valackaitė – Pranckūnienė tel. +37064035130 startinlithuania@gmail.com Kaunas Santaros gymnasium,  Baltų pr. 51, LT-48239 Kaunas Lithuania https://www.santara.kaunas.lm.lt/
Montenegro StarT’s represent in Montenegro is the NGO Association of Innovative Teachers of Montenegro “Zbornica CG”. The Association of Innovative Teachers “Zbornica CG” was founded on October 28, 2014 and brings together more than 300 innovative teachers, teachers who have won national and world awards. The Association “Zbornica CG” is the first and so far the only organization that organizes and implements online teacher training throughout Montenegro.  Read more on the website of StarT Montenegro: http://zbornicacg.com/startmontenegro/  Contact information: Dusanka Vujicic:  dudavujicic@gmail.com Dijana Milosevic: dijana961@gmail.com
Serbia The StarT representative in Serbia is the “Veljko Petrovic” Grammar school. Grammar School “Veljko Petrović” in Sombor started its work on 11th November 1872 and the teaching has been done in two languages, Serbian and Hungarian. Knowledge, success and talent are highly promoted and supported there. Great attention is paid to the intellectual, emotional, social, moral and physical development of pupils, to the widening of their interests, to use of their knowledge, making workshops for out-of-school activities, skills essential for individual and teamwork. Grammar School “Veljko Petrović” has described its vision as an “OPEN SCHOOL”. Our wish is to cooperate in order to learn from each other, with each other, to widen our network of cooperation, good relationships, by cherishing the spirit of tolerance, non-xenophobia, cosmopolitan spirit, empathy, and all this to be prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. Read more on the website of StarT Serbia: Click here to access the website Contact information: Colleges Veljko Petrovic Sombor: gimso@mts.rs Contact persons: Principal Dušan Mišković Coordinator Dr. Lidija Nerandzic Canda nerandziccandalidija@gmail.com
Turkey The StarT representative in Turkey is the Erentay Education Consultancy. Erentay Education Consultancy aims at creating a motivating and inspiring platform for presenting and exchanging the unique and innovative approaches and ideas of both STEM teachers and young learners, whilst addressing the issues related to science learning and sustainability in Turkey by cooperating with European and overseas projects. Contact information: Nilgün Erentay, erentayegitim@gmail.com
Ukraine The StarT representative in Ukraine is “Educational 3D Hub”. Educational 3D Hub is a Ukrainian organization with a mission to foster innovation and improvement in education and drive better opportunities for students by bringing together people, resources and ideas, and accelerating the dissemination of research in forms that are relevant to and usable by educators and the sharing of educators’ practical knowledge and successful practice. Contact information: Kaliuzhna Marharyta, verritka@ukr.net, +380958962817 79070 Lviv, 12 Olexandra Dovzhenka St. t.
Vietnam StarT is brought to Vietnam by Wise Consulting Finland Oy (WCF). The programme is promoted and implemented by WCF and its authorized partner Global Enabler/edumate. Being present in Vietnam for over 5 years, WCF has become a trusted partner offering and promoting Finnish education excellence to schools and educational organisations in the country. Read more on the website of StarT Vietnam: Click here to access the website Contact information: Dieu Nguyen dieu.nguyen@wcf.fi info@edumate.vn +84 37 513 17 00

Becoming a StarT partner country

So far we have had participants in StarT from over 40 countries. We are always on the lookout for new partners from countries where there is no national StarT office yet, so if you would be interested in organizing StarT activities in your country, do not hesitate to get in touch with us: luma-keskus ((at))helsinki.fi

As our partner country, the local StarT office takes care of the practical arrangements and dissemination of StarT. As a result, the participants can have support in their native language and enjoy local StarT events, such as StarT Festivals. We will provide you with the materials that you can translate, and the framework and schedule for the process.

What does a national StarT office do? 

Everyone wanting to participate in StarT from our partner countries reports their work and registers to their national StarT office. The national StarT office selects a national jury to decide the best national project teams and best educational practices that will participate in the international StarT competition.

As a national StarT office you can also organize a national StarT Festival in your country. It is an event where teachers and students get to present their projects and best practices. In 2018-19, Estonia, China, Jordan and Turkey organized their own national StarT Festivals.