This project highlights the importance of using culturally responsive teaching methods that recognize and value the diverse identities of children. It focuses on strengthening the intercultural competence of staff working in early childhood education and preschool settings, helping professionals better understand and support children from different cultural backgrounds.

Intercultural competence is also emphasized in the national curricula of the participating countries, as a key part of ensuring ethical and sustainable education.

The main goals of the project are to build a strong network between educators at partner institutions and to develop a solid knowledge base around intercultural collaboration in early childhood and preschool education. By encouraging cross-border cooperation, the project aims to improve the ability of staff to help children develop intercultural skills, tolerance, and solidarity — essential qualities for navigating today’s increasingly diverse societies.

The project also aims to lay the foundation for co-creating new knowledge and building a collaborative network among educators working with intercultural interaction in early childhood education and preschool. This collaboration brings together professionals from Vasa (Ostrobothnia, Finland), Luleå (Norrbotten, Sweden), and Tromsø (Troms County, Norway).

Specific goals for the project:

1) To build a well-functioning network for educators at the partner institutions, with a focus on early childhood and preschool education.

2) To develop a strong knowledge base around intercultural work in early childhood and preschool education. Throughout the project, we will build professional relationships and gather insights that can be used in teacher education at the participating institutions.

Once the project is completed, the network will have a solid foundation of knowledge and a plan to apply for funding for a regular project. In that next phase, we aim to develop a model for intercultural collaboration in early childhood and preschool education.

Ultimately, this initiative will strengthen the role of professionals in promoting social inclusion and preventing exclusion — benefiting children, their families, and society as a whole.

The project runs during 2025. Materials produced will gradually be published here on Kompetens.fi.

Project partners