New Zealand and Estonia Strengthen Education Ties Through High-Performing Education Collaboration

When Estonia’s Education and Research Minister, Dr Kristina Kallas, touched down in New Zealand this week, it was not just a standard diplomatic visit. It turned into a genuinely valuable exchange between two countries that care deeply about lifting student achievement and shaping education systems that actually work for young people.

New Zealand’s Education Minister, Erica Stanford, welcomed Dr Kallas and made it clear why this visit was of great importance. Estonia isn’t just “doing well” in education, it is consistently one of the top performers in the OECD’s PISA rankings, especially in reading, maths and science. For a small country, Estonia punches well above its weight and New Zealand is keen to learn how they do it.

Minister Stanford has been making a point of connecting with global education leaders as part of her effort to bring evidence-based, effective practices into every New Zealand classroom. And Estonia has plenty to offer. Beyond academic success, it is known for strong equity across its system and impressive access to digital technology for students, something many countries still are struggling with.

During the visit, Dr Kallas also spoke highly of New Zealand’s own education reforms. She even mentioned specially that other European countries are watching closely to see what New Zealand is doing. She was especially supportive of New Zealand’s knowledge-rich curriculum, which aligns closely with Estonia’s long-standing approach.

Among many highlights of the trip, one was the Symposium hosted by Auckland University of Technology on Teaching and Learning. Dr Kallas delivered an address about Estonia’s AI-Leap (TI-Hüpe) programme, an initiative that prepares students to work with artificial intelligence by embedding AI literacy and advanced thinking skills across schools.

Minister Stanford pointed out that AI presents a huge opportunity for New Zealand too. The government is already rolling out new secondary subjects to help young people gain the digital and AI skills they will need in the future workforce.

Beyond the formal events, Dr Kallas spent time visiting schools in both Auckland and Wellington. She met with students, principals and senior officials from the Ministry of Education, NZQA and the Education Review Office. These visits gave her a closer look at how New Zealand is shaping its curriculum, assessment systems and quality assurance.

The two countries don’t just share interests in schooling, they’re also aligned in science and research. So Dr Kallas met with the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor and Universities New Zealand, including members of the Research Committee, to discuss opportunities for deeper collaboration.

By the end of the visit, Minister Stanford described the conversations as insightful and valuable and praised the work Estonia continues to do in its education system. The overall tone of the week was clear..Both nations want to lift student outcomes, strengthen equity and prepare young people for a world that’s changing faster than ever and they recognise they can do more by learning from each other.