Do top PISA rankings drive Estonian innovations?

The 2018 rankings from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) placed Estonian students first in Europe in an aggregated score testing reading mathematics and science among 36 European states.

Now it’s been revealed that the 2018 study also included the testing of the students’ financial literacy. Estonia once again placed first. There’s no doubt that Estonia is the “newest education powerhouse”, the absolute best in Europe!

As a triennial international survey, PISA evaluates the educational systems worldwide by testing the knowledge and skills of 15-year-old students. On a global scale Estonia scored 547, Finland – 537, and Canada – 532. The rest of the top ten were Poland, Australia, USA, Portugal, Latvia and Lithuania.

Worldwide some 600,000 15-year-old students completed the PISA assessment in 2018, representing 79 countries, including 36 OECD states. In Estonia this was 5316, or 75 percent of those 15-year-old students. Russia had 25 percent of this group participate. While it may be a malicious suggestion, some have observed that all participating countries should be required to have the same proportion of that particular student population tested – in essence most of the students rather than the least – to avoid the possibility of only handpicked high achievers competing. Also, an authentically random selection of student would eliminate any selection of bias.

It must also be noted that Estonian students have won hundreds of medals at educational Olympiads over the last decade. The PISA results (Estonia ranking first in reading, math and science in Europe and first in financial literacy globally) have implications much wider than a recognition of excellence in educational policy and methodology. The PISA results are translatable to the international business world.

Other research has shown that Estonian students have less fear of failure than their peers in other countries. They believe they can improve their intelligence and are willing to expend what it takes to benefit them in the future. Fully 70% expect to gain post-secondary school education.

It’s not unexpected that Estonians are far from meek in business. In 2017 Estonia was ranked number in entrepreneurial activity according to the World Economic Forum. It’s not only the much touted Skype, Playtech, TransferWise and Bolt that have made their international mark, there are fully 650 startups in Estonia ready and willing to conquer the global market.

The “Tiger Leap” as promoted by ex-president Toomas Hendrik Ilves became the new norm. One of first in the world in digitizing its schools and offering modern technology in teaching, Estonia equipped students with skills for the future and this ability has been pivotal in the country gaining a world class reputation for its boldness in information technology innovation.

Smart solutions, such as digital textbooks, e-learning materials, digital class diaries, digital assessments and digital databases have been in common use for years in the education system.

Estonia has rightfully qualified for a winning brand – “Education nation – for the smartEST people in the world”. It’s an engaging slogan which not only helps to boost education technology companies but also draws attention to the country’s competence, experiences, training, ingenuity and general know-how.

Estonia’s adeptness in information technology has been confirmed by many international assessments, including the the 2019 International Innovation Scorecard of the Consumer Technology Association. Ranked first among 61 countries, Estonia even topped the USA. Estonia was followed by Switzerland and Finland, with Latvia coming in at number 22.

There’s no doubt that Estonia’s success in developing IT innovations that make it through to the marketplace is related to its education policies. But this achievement has also been driven by other factors. Estonia was one of the quickest to shake off its Soviet encumbrances and become open to the world. It immediately welcomed Western advice and policies.

Estonia had a relatively unhindered and peaceful transition to democratic institutions and procedures. It had no major ideological and political fault lines which may have slowed the pace of progress.

Estonia’s political leadership was considerably younger than their post-authoritarian counterparts – some important ministerial portfolios, including that of the prime minister, filled by individuals still in their early 30’s and by ex-pats from the West.

The country had a successful neighbour, its linguistic kin, Finland, whose influence cannot be dismissed. Estonians, as opposed to all the other captive peoples of Europe were able to enjoy Western news and entertainment from Finnish TV broad casts by simply angling their TV antennas appropriately, something that authorities could not successfully block. Estonia was known to Russians in the USSR as ‘Europe’. This must enter the equation when explaining Estonia’s progress.

Estonia’s ‘innovation culture’ is well rooted. Innovation will lead to more innovation, the pandemic notwithstanding.

LAAS LEIVAT