Dubai-based Equilibrium Management Consultants announced today that they have signed an agreement with Fun Academy – the Finland-based Fun Learning company and spinoff of Rovio Entertainment – to launch kindergarten schools across the Middle East starting September 2017 in Dubai.
The agreement was signed on 5th October in Dubai at the Finnish Embassy in the presence of H.E. Ms. Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, Minister of Education and Culture of Finland and H. E. Ms. Riitta Swan, Ambassador of Finland to the United Arab Emirates. Ms. Renu Punjabi, Director at Equilibrium and Ms. Sanna Lukander, Fun Academy CEO formalized the partnership that will allow Equilibrium to bring the Finnish Fun Learning approach to kindergarten education in UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Renu Punjabi, Director at Equilibrium said, “The approach to education in Finland is second-to-none and consistently earns top places in global rankings, and we are excited to be bringing the Fun Learning approach of Fun Academy Kindergarten to the Middle East. Our Middle East partnership with Fun Academy underscores the priority of Equilibrium to enable children to enjoy learning, while at the same time applying the Finnish expertise to education. With 10 strategic objectives outlined in the UAE Ministry of Education’s Strategy 2010-2020, we are committed to supporting these objectives by delivering excellence in the learning environment to prepare young people for the knowledge economy.”
Sanna Lukander, CEO of Fun Academy and former VP Education at Rovio Entertainment stated, “Our aim is to coach teachers to adapt the Fun Learning approach and environment that is both exhilarating and transformative. We have combined Finnish expertise in education with a strong background in entertainment to create the Fun Learning approach designed to support the curiosity, explorative minds and enthusiasm of young children. Equilibrium Management Consultants shares our education philosophy and approach to learning, and we are delighted to be partnering with them to share the Fun Academy Kindergarten experience with teachers and children across the Middle East.”
Fun Academy is creating a global network of kindergartens sharing best practices and learning from and with each other with locations currently in China, Singapore, USA and Finland, all delivering the unique Fun Learning approach adapted to their cultures. Students up to six years old learn in fun and innovative ways, taught by teachers trained to help their students reach a healthy balance of rest, play and work alongside healthy nutrition and physical exercise.
In October 2016 the World Economic Forum ‘Global Competitiveness Report 2016-2017’ ranked the institutions of Finland – primary schools, health and other national institutions – as #1 globally.