International projects
Haukipudas upper secondary school is one of 50 ASP schools in Finland (Associated Schools Project Network under UNESCO). ASPnet includes some 7,900 institutions at all levels in 176 countries. ASP schools are committed to put into practice UNESCO principles in their curricula. The new ASPnet Strategy and Plan of Action places emphasis on reinforcing the four pillars of Learning for the 21st Century (learning to know, to do, to be and to live together) and promoting quality education.
Since 1946, the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program has helped nearly 23,000 teachers and administrators contribute to mutual understanding between the United States and countries around the world. In the school year 2006-2007, two Finnish teachers took part in a teacher exchange: English teacher Anne Ontero from Haukipudas Senior High School and Tauno Rajaniemi from Pyhäjoki. Robert Thompson, who replaced Anne, teach English at Haukipudas Senior High School. (More...)
In recent years, emphasis has been laid on internationality. In addition to a wide variety of languages taught here (English, German, French, Swedish, Russian and Finnish), we have launched several special projects.
We make annual one-week excursions to other countries. We also have international performers (musicians, theatre and dance groups) in our school events. (More...)
Another essential part of our international relations is the many-sided co-operation with our twin cities, Kronstadt (Russia, excursions), Cesis (Latvia, student exchange) and Steinheim (Germany).
Exchange students
Each year one or two of our students takes a leave for a year to go to a foreign country as an exchange student. Usually they go to the USA, but our students have visited Canada, England, Germany, Hungary, Japan and Switzerland to name a few. Afterwards, these students share their experiences in foreign language and other classes. It goes without saying that language skills acquired during one year in a foreign country outdo years of studying in school.
Haukipudas upper secondary school has had foreign exchange students coming from Australia, Canada, Estonia, France, Hungary, Mexico and the USA.
One example: Maaike from Belgium
Sponsoring students in developing countries
In 1981 the teachers in our school decided to sponsor a student in a developing country. When students heard of this, they also wanted to participate. The school contacted "Save the Children Fund" in order to find children needing financial aid in developing countries. Soon we received the names of ten children, one for the teachers and nine for the students.
Our students and teachers understood the importance of education and made a commitment to finance the schooling of these children. Also, it was understood that education helps both the person receiving it and his or her community.
The sponsoring project has continued over 25 years, and we are proud to have the longest running continuous sponsoring project in the entire country. During these years we have helped children in India, Pakistan, Kenya, Virgin Islands and Lebanon to receive basic education.
Student exchange with Cesis Upper secondary school in Latvia
Since 1993, we have had an student exchange program with our twin city Cesis in Latvia. Every year, five to six Latvian students spend a week or two here in Haukipudas. They live with families of our students, go to school and make excursions to various sites both here and in Oulu.
Every year our students are invited to visit and enjoy Latvian hospitality in the beautiful and historical city of Cesis.
This kind of exchange is one of thebest ways to cultivate internationalism. Possible prejudices towards alien cultures disappear when one gets a chance to see everyday life in a foreign country. Real and warm friendships and kindness of Latvians stay forever in our memories. We believe that we have given them pleasant experiences as well. Even after visits we keep in touch with each other by letters, telephone and e-mail.
The Kummi programme for the exchange students in the University of Oulu
Every year the University of Oulu looks for kummi-families for its international exchange students and each year the teachers and students at the Upper Secondary School of Haukipudas seek cultural exchanges for the school. Since 2005, these two objectives have been brought together and the Upper Secondary School of Haukipudas has been operating as a "kummi-school" for two international exchange students studying international teacher education at the University of Oulu.
Through the kummi programme, the international exchange students will have an opportunity to get to know Finnish students as well as the Finnish upper secondary school system and its traditions such as Independence Day celebrations, Christmas festivities, School Leaving Party and the Day of the Old Dances. In addition, the exchange students have had an opportunity to participate in the school's trips abroad.
Respectively, the exchange students present their countries, cultures and languages to the students of the Upper Secondary School of Haukipudas during their foreign language classes approximately ten times during the school year. In addition, international theme days, the program of which the exchange students are responsible for, are arranged every autumn and spring on United Nations' Day and Europe Day.
