A University of Helsinki spinout exports research-based early childhood education pedagogy to 50 countries.
In September 2026, the HEI Schools Ekamai Ramintra daycare centre opened in Bangkok, Thailand. Its operations are based on HEI Way pedagogy, the cornerstones of which are curiosity and creativity; active participation; culture of trust, sustainable way of living and learning everywhere, all the time, and especially that children are allowed to learn through play.
The daycare centre is one example of how Finnish early childhood education and care elicits interest all over the world.
HEI Schools was established in 2015. From the beginning, the company's goal was to export research-based Finnish early childhood education to international markets. The first HEI Schools daycare centre opened in China in 2017. There are now 27 HEI Schools daycare centres worldwide.
"From our perspective, the key issue in Finnish early childhood education is how do children learn? We often say that 'how' precedes 'what'," says Inkeri Aimonen, the CEO HEI Schools.
Learning based on play motivates further learning
Finnish early childhood education leans on play-based learning, agency and socio-emotional development.
"In Finnish early childhood education, play and play-based learning have always had, and continue to have, a central role in supporting children's development and learning," says Professor of Early Childhood Education Lasse Lipponen of the University of Helsinki, one of the founders of HEI Schools.
This approach is also evident in HEI Schools' curriculum and daycare centre operations.
HEI Schools is a research-based concept. The core team continuously monitors what is going on in early childhood education research and adds the latest research knowledge and expertise to the concept.
In its curriculum, the company invests in children's wellbeing and making learning inspiring and meaningful for them, which is particularly important as children's mental health challenges are on the rise globally.
The aim is not to provide children with ready answers, but to encourage independent thinking. This is useful amidst the flood of information and in the era of artificial intelligence.
"Children investigate, experiment and occasionally fail. All of this helps them understand various ways of solving problems," says Inkeri Aimonen.
A positive learning experience
Learning many things is difficult. Lasse Lipponen says that even difficult things, however, can be inspiring when learning is designed in a pedagogically meaningful way and with children's perspective in mind. Mathematics is a good example.
"It can be taught to children with the help of a workbook and an exercise booklet but maybe the world of children is better reached through play. It is an explorative approach to the world of mathematics."
In addition to content, play also teaches social skills. Moreover, self-awareness and self-confidence also improve.
"If learning is a positive experience, children will be open to learning new things later on in life," says Inkeri Aimonen.
Why the current global interest in early childhood education?
The demand for high-quality early childhood education is growing globally. The employment of women and mothers increases the need for daycare centres. However, it is difficult to find skilled early childhood education staff. UNICEF and UNESCO that millions of early childhood education teachers are needed.
Unlike in Finland, early childhood education is often run by private companies globally. When HEI Schools was established, the idea from the start was to export expertise abroad. The University of Helsinki joined as an investor and has supported the spinout in obtaining funding.
HEI Schools collaboration constitutes a licensing agreement between the company and the customer, or the owner of the daycare centre. HEI Schools provides the curriculum, teacher training and a facility concept, as well as continuous support for teaching and marketing. The daycare centre itself is responsible for staff recruitment and operations.
Another brand, Lillipods, has been devised alongside the HEI Schools brand. In addition, HEI Schools offers continuing education for teachers as online courses and collaborates with three universities in Malaysia and the Philippines.
Early years matter
Lasse Lipponen believes that policymakers' interest in early childhood education grew globally in the early 2000s. At the time, James Heckman, Nobel Prize laureate in economics, was publishing his research. Heckman's central claim is that one dollar invested in early childhood education generates seven in returns for society.
For Lipponen, the most important aspect of this observation is that early childhood education can smooth out children's differences in learning, skills and subsequent learning outcomes.
"We have at last come to understand more broadly that the early years are important years. Curious children are the future."
