Building Bridges in Education in Malta is a collaborative Erasmus+ project between ETE Academy from Malta and LessonApp from Finland. As part of the project activities, the Malta Teaching Festival was held in Malta on 30 April 2026, gathering around 150 educators to explore innovative, research-informed teaching practices and practical classroom ideas in an inspiring international environment.

The day opened with a thought-provoking keynote, “Smart Planning, Great Teaching: Mastering Innovative Lesson Design”, delivered by pedagogical director Johanna Järvinen-Taubert. Her presentation set the tone for the festival by inviting participants to consider how well-structured, flexible lesson design can significantly improve student engagement and learning outcomes. Many participants showed particular interest in the tools available for evidence-based lesson planning, including the Finnish digital platform LessonApp. The central message resonated clearly: pedagogy grounded in research truly makes a difference.

Throughout the day, educators engaged actively in hands-on workshops led by experienced Finnish trainers and teachers. In the session “Meaningful Tech: Enhancing Student Engagement with Digital Tools”, Matleena Laakso introduced a range of simple yet effective digital tools that support active learning and classroom interaction. Participants had the opportunity to experiment with the tools themselves, and one of the most memorable moments was a lively movement-based activity break that many teachers were eager to bring back to their own classrooms.

In “From Questions to Discovery: Engaging Students Through Inquiry”, Dr. Kati Keski-Mäenpää guided participants into the principles of inquiry-based learning. Teachers explored concrete strategies to spark curiosity, foster critical thinking, and promote student-led learning. The session also encouraged participants to design ideas for cross-curricular projects that could strengthen collaboration between subjects and students.

At the same time, “Step Outside: Integrating Movement and Adventure into Your Teaching” with Kaisa Tuomarla introduced the basics of adventure pedagogy. Participants experienced learning through action as they took part in a series of collaborative challenges and problem-solving tasks spread across the hotel’s Piazza Marina area. The workshop atmosphere was filled with energy, laughter, and a strong sense of shared discovery.

Feedback from the festival was highly positive. Participants valued the practical nature of the workshops, the active learning approach, and the inspiring international atmosphere. The Malta Teaching Festival clearly demonstrated how collaboration across countries and innovative pedagogy can build meaningful connections in education and create impactful learning experiences for both teachers and students.