Results of HEI ICI projects 2020-2024
The Higher Education Institutions Institutional Cooperation Instrument (HEI ICI) supported cooperation projects between higher education institutions in Finland and the developing world to enhance and develop higher education. The programme is followed by the Higher Education Partnership (HEP) programme, running from 2024 to 2026.
Between 2020 and 2024, the HEI ICI programme received €11.2 million in funding, allocated to nine projects across eight countries. The projects developed the distance learning capacity of higher education institutions in the Global South and supported wider access to higher education for students.
The themes of the projects were solving the global learning crises, climate adaptation and mitigation and innovation development to increase employability. The funded projects built digital learning environments, strengthened the pedagogical capacity of teachers in e-learning, developed distance learning platforms and IT skills, and reinforced links between higher education institutions and working life.
The most significant achievement of the programme period was the improvement of higher education quality in partner countries in Africa and Asia. The HEI ICI pprogramme involved 45 HEIs in the partner countries: 14 in Asia and 31 in Africa, together with 11 Finnish HEIs. Finnish HEIs and their partners worked together to reform nearly 40 degree programmes and over 300 courses across different fields of study. Additionally, over 18,000 staff members from partner HEIs received training to support their professional development.
A significant number of projects had direct links to national policies and strategic objectives, such as teacher education reform, higher education digitalisation, and student-centred learning. Several projects also established partnerships with broader stakeholder networks, including government institutions, the private sector, and civil society organisations.
The HEI ICI programme is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland as part of Finland’s development cooperation, and it is administered by the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI).
Get to know the HEI ICI projects
21stCT Nepal
The 21st CS Nepal project introduced student-centred teaching methods and digital skills in every province of Nepal. As the project concludes, online courses and master’s programmes will continue to thrive.
CLIDEV
The CLIDEV project developed education related to climate change in Vietnam. Initially, there was scepticism about online teaching, but attitudes improved as experience was gained.
GeoICT4e
The GeoICT4e project provided Tanzanian students with real-life challenges which were solved using geoinformation and digital technology.
MOPEDE
In Ethiopia, online courses were previously seen as somewhat elitist and inefficient methods of teaching. The MOPEDE project changed these attitudes and developed vocational teacher training to become more student-centred and blended.
OLIVE
The OLIVE project digitised a large part of Palestinian teacher training. There was a need for it even before the coronavirus and the war. In the future, the most important thing will be to provide a safe and inclusive learning environment, say the project partners.
PBL-BioAfrica
In the PBL-BioAfrica project, students tackled real-world problems alongside businesses. The teaching methods were entirely new, and universities opened up to both the business world and communities.
SUSIE
The SUSIE project revamped pedagogy in three Tanzanian universities. The idea behind the project is that innovations must be developed locally, and universities should open up to communities, allowing students to acquire work-life skills.
TEPATE
Poor learning outcomes are largely due to outdated teaching methods, says a Mozambican teacher. The TEPATE project made classrooms more welcoming and dialogue-focused places.
TOTEMK
The TOTEMK project updated the skills of trainers of teachers in universities to align with Kenya’s new pedagogy. Competence-based learning has been well received.