STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

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What is STEAM Turku?

STEAM Turku is a science and technology pathway that brings together early childhood education, basic education and upper secondary education in the City of Turku. The core idea of STEAM is learning by doing together, through experimental and community-based approaches. STEAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. STEAM pedagogy uses these themes as approaches to develop learners’ problem-solving and interaction skills.

STEAM Turku supports every learner in Turku in finding their own path into the worlds of science, arts and technology. We inspire learners to engage in creative problem-solving and support learning outcomes through STEAM pedagogy. Our vision is that, through STEAM pedagogy, we prepare children and young people in Turku for everyday life and working life in ways we cannot yet even imagine. Through STEAM, they learn, among other things, problem-solving and collaboration skills, how to utilise creative processes, and how to learn through experimentation – skills that are essential for building the future and solving the most complex challenges of our time, together and across disciplines.

Vision: Turku’s STEAM ecosystem is nationally and internationally recognised, respected and attractive as a pathway to studies and working life in future technologies, natural sciences, and creative fields.

Mission: To strengthen and develop a cross-level, cross-disciplinary science and technology pathway that connects different stages of education, increases the attractiveness of technology and natural sciences, and inspires exploration, experimentation and creativity. In addition, the aim is to strengthen STEAM pedagogy and create new forms of cooperation between different actors across Southwest Finland.

Objectives:

  • The STEAM Turku science and technology pathway supports every learner in Turku in finding their path into the worlds of science, arts, and technology. STEAM is part of the everyday life of all early childhood education units, schools, and upper secondary institutions, as well as teachers’ pedagogical toolbox. Everyone is offered an equal opportunity to participate in STEAM activities.
  • Through cooperation with higher education institutions at key transition phases, the aim is to ensure that 50% of each age group continues to higher education.
  • The STEAM Turku ecosystem actively involves different City of Turku service areas as well as representatives of stakeholders, and companies.
  • The attractiveness of higher education in technology, natural sciences and creative fields is strengthened by developing cooperation across teacher, subject, grade-level, and institutional boundaries, as well as with higher education institutions and working life. Cooperation between the City’s service areas and projects is enhanced, for example to slow down segregation trends.
  • Future-oriented digital solutions, teaching content and methods, as well as learning materials and learning environments, are further developed internally and in cooperation with stakeholders to support children and young people in growing into active, independent and confident future-makers.
  • The achievement, establishment and dissemination of results and good practices are supported, and the utilisation and dissemination of outcomes from previous projects are ensured as part of ongoing development work.

Check out the STEAM materials

More information about STEAM Turku and the materials aimed at teachers can be found on STEAM Turku's own website.

Check out the STEAM Turku website (in Finnish) Guide on how to start the STEAM activity (in Finnish)

STEAMit! – ideas for all educational levels

Nuori esittelee STEAMit lopputyötään opettajalle. Taustalla muita ihmisiä. (Picture: Toni Puurtinen)

STEAM Turku encourages you to try out a new and innovative way of learning. The STEAMit! experiments are aimed at the units of the City of Turku. Their purpose is to promote cooperation between different educational levels, schools, early childhood education and care, basic education, vocational institutes, upper secondary schools, higher education institutions, and companies.

Check out the new STEAMit! experiments and get inspired for your teaching! 

STEAMit! experiments

STEAM courses in upper secondary schools (in Finnish)

Opiskelijoita tutustumassa robotiikkaan. (Picture: Nanna Madetoja)

STEAM courses are organised by upper secondary schools in Turku and open to all upper secondary school students in Turku.

The STEAM courses integrate different subjects, collaborate with different educational institutions and companies, study phenomena, deepen learning, and create something new. You can register for the courses of your choice through the guidance counsellor at your school. For more information, contact the course teacher.

Learn more about the åppi application

Piirroshahmo Aurajoen rannalla. (Picture: Jenni Sormunen)

Did you know that there is a lot of interesting and fascinating history along the River Aurajoki? Ready to learn it in a fun way?

Developed in Turku, åppi is an augmented reality (AR) learning application that encourages students and city residents to move around the River Aurajoki. Users find AR checkpoints on the River Aurajoki and use them to learn more about Turku’s diverse history and nature. The contents of the application were created by upper secondary school and higher education students in Turku.

The application was developed in cooperation between the City of Turku and CTRL Reality. Åppi is funded by the Finnish National Agency for Education. 

åppi in a nutshell

  • Find AR checkpoints along the River Aurajoki and learn more about history and nature in Turku.
  • The AR checkpoints are marked on a map on the app.
  • At its longest, the route runs from the Cathedral to Turku Castle.
  • There are also checkpoints in Ruissalo, Vanhalinna in Lieto and on the island of Seili.

Teachers’ instructions

  • The application is well suited for teaching history, religion, geography, biology, visual arts, and languages, among other subjects.
  • The package contains ready-made assignments for different subjects.
  • The application can be used in small groups or in pairs.
  • AR checkpoints are saved in the application gallery, which you can then show to the teacher.

Safety on the River Aurajoki

  • Remember to follow traffic rules and walk on the sidewalks.
  • Be careful in traffic. Do not disturb traffic or other people.
  • Do not use the app when crossing the road, near the edge of the river, or when riding a bike or other vehicle. 
Download åppi

Åppi destinations on the map

Eat the Baltic Sea Clean challenge

TSYK Upper Secondary School challenges all schools and daycare centres in Finland to eat local fish from the Baltic Sea every year on Baltic Sea Day.

Domestic fish can be used to remove phosphorus from waterways, which reduces eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. By eating local fish, local fishermen are also supported.

Almost 200 daycare centres and schools are already participating in the Eat the Baltic Sea Clean challenge.  In addition to TSYK Upper Secondary School, STEAM Turku and Turku Vocational Institute, the John Nurminen Foundation, Kaarea Oy, the Baltic Sea Day, the Baltic Sea Challenge, the LUMA Centre of Southwest Finland, the Unique Archipelago Sea, the Turku Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Finnish National Agency for Education are participating in the challenge. In 2026, the challenge will be implemented for the 7th time.

 

Syödään itämeri siistiksi

Cleaning the Baltic Sea by eating together

Turun Suomalaisen Yhteiskoulun lukio annually challenges all Finnish daycares and schools to eating locally produced fish. Read about it in Finnish.

See the participants on the map and join in