Ambassador Mustonen to 'Al-Rai': Kuwaiti-Finnish Cooperation in Basic and Higher Education
- Kuwait has taken significant steps to modernize its education system.
- The Finnish education experience can offer Kuwait valuable expertise in curriculum development and enhancing the role of teachers.
- We are ready to exchange expertise in the circular economy, security, investment, and tourism.
The Finnish Ambassador Non-Resident to Kuwait, Juha Mustonen, stated that his country sees broad opportunities to enhance cooperation with Kuwait in several fields, foremost among them education and teacher training, alongside the circular economy, environmental technologies, nuclear and radiation safety, advanced technology, investment, and tourism.
Mustonen clarified, in an interview with "Al-Rai" following meetings held during the visit of the Finnish Undersecretary of State for International Trade, Jarno Sirén, to Kuwait, that discussions with Kuwaiti officials, including Minister of Education Jalal Al-Tabtabaee, were "very friendly and highly productive," noting that education emerged as one of the most promising areas for expanding cooperation between the two countries.
He said that Kuwait has taken important steps in modernizing its education system, particularly at the basic education level, but that the next phase could focus more heavily on the teaching process itself and on the teacher as the central pillar of the educational process.
He added that the challenge is not only about determining what children should learn, but also about how to teach them this knowledge and skills in a way that suits future generations.
Mustonen pointed out that the Finnish experience places great emphasis on teacher preparation and professional development, and on student-centered learning, noting that teachers in Finland undergo advanced academic and pedagogical training, and generally hold master’s degrees.
He explained that the educational environment itself plays a crucial role in motivating students and achieving better results, considering that the Finnish experience can offer Kuwait valuable expertise not only in curriculum development but also in enhancing the professional role of teachers.
He revealed that the discussions could lead to a visit by a high-level Kuwaiti delegation to Finland to directly observe the Finnish education system and discuss areas where the two countries can exchange expertise, emphasizing a "mutual desire" to continue this dialogue.
The ambassador noted that potential cooperation is not limited to school (basic) education but also includes higher education, urging Kuwaiti students to explore Finnish universities that offer an increasing number of master’s programs in English, particularly in engineering and sciences, as well as programs in business administration and humanities.
He highlighted that studying in Finland allows Kuwaiti students to engage in an international academic environment that brings together students from different countries and cultures, considering that this human interaction can form a long-term bridge between Kuwaiti and Finnish societies and pave the way for future partnerships in scientific research, business, and professional fields.
He noted that Finland possesses expertise and technologies in soil remediation, recalling Finnish participation in efforts related to land reclamation damaged by oil spills following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
He viewed this expertise as a tangible model of cooperation between the two countries in a field that extends beyond commercial interests to support environmental recovery efforts and long-term sustainability.
He added that the circular economy, including recycling, resource efficiency, waste reduction technologies, and material reuse, represents another area where Kuwaiti-Finnish partnership could expand.
He clarified that this could pave the way for exchanging expertise and technical knowledge with Kuwait, particularly given the growing regional interest in preparedness, resilience, and the protection of critical infrastructure.
On the economic and security fronts, the visit was accompanied by a delegation of Finnish companies, including those operating in security and defense technology sectors. They held meetings with several Kuwaiti institutions, including the National Guard, to discuss technological solutions to the challenges facing Kuwait.
Mostonen stated that there is significant scope for practical cooperation, especially since some of the challenges Kuwait faces are also linked to experiences and challenges encountered by Finland, enabling Finnish companies to offer their technological expertise while simultaneously developing solutions in collaboration with Kuwaiti institutions.
The ambassador emphasized the importance of strengthening investment relations between the two countries, pointing to opportunities in deep technology, clean technology, health, and life sciences, as well as among Finnish companies operating in rapidly growing technology sectors.
He explained that Finland’s investment promotion frameworks can help Kuwaiti investors identify available opportunities in the Finnish market, and can also support Finnish companies seeking partners and investors in Kuwait.
He noted that the objective extends beyond attracting capital; it also aims to connect Kuwaiti investors with companies and technologies that can benefit from international partnerships and expansion into foreign markets.
