CREFO research centre welcomes dignitaries from the Republic of Estonia

On Aug. 21, the Centre for Research in Franco-Ontarian Education (CREFO) hosted a delegation from Estonia – including their Minister of Education and their Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassadors to Canada.

CREFO director Emmanuelle Le Pichon-Vorstman and Professor Emeritus Jim Cummins represented CREFO in the delegation, welcoming them to OISE. 

CREFO, an interdisciplinary research centre, takes an in-depth analysis at the educational and social communication of the Francophonie in Canada and internationally.

The Republic of Estonia has had strong diplomatic relations with Canada since the early 1990’s, recognizing the restoration of Estonia’s independence. Canada supports branches across language, military, and security as allies within NATO among many other contributions. 

The delegation included: 

• Kristina Kallas, Minister of education and research
• Reet Marten Sehr, Faculty Advisor at OISE, and the Chair of the Board of the Estonian Central Council in Canada (EKN)
• Gert Auväärt, Ambassador designate of Estonia to Canada
• Tiina Tarkus, Counsellor, Political, Economic, Consular and Cultural Affairs
• Dr. Peeter Mehisto, Honorary Research Fellow from University College London 

The OISE-Estonia collaboration was a point of interest for the Estonian government, their enthusiasm for Canadian educators drawing them to OISE, whose teachings they find remarkable.

“They wanted to meet since we have a collaboration with the Estonian education [ministry] for the last four years,” says Le Pichon-Vorstman, who is an associate professor of educational linguistics in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning (CTL).

 “They come with 40 school stakeholders and [presentations by researchers once or twice] every year to understand [the Canadian education system] and how they can make it work in Estonia.”

“[They] learn language teaching Programs and French immersion programs as a component of that,” adds Cummins, who was based in CTL.

The visitations are reciprocated to advise them on policy and education – Le Pichon-Vorstman being invited to Estonia in April 2025.

She says that both sides mutually came to an agreement that “as researchers in education, it’s always interesting to hear about other countries and how they deal with education given the political situation.”

As the summit concluded, they shared remarks of the experience.

“Very often students think that in research in education we cannot have any impact on the society,” says Le Pichon-Vorstman. “The meeting from today proved the contrary. In fact, these discussions are making the policies of tomorrow and changing how children are educated around the world.” 

“We as researchers can have huge impact on the policy all around the world, even here at OISE.”

For Cummins, the discussion highlighted the fact that education is at the centre of society’s identity and that is being contested in very volatile ways right now within Estonia – especially of the global situation with the proximity of war. 

“The historical situation – in terms of Estonia’s relationship to Russia since the beginning of the Soviet Union – all of those historical complexities as well as the current fear and loathing that exists within Estonia in relation to Russian policies [are very prevalent] right now,” he says. 

All of this is being played out within the education system right now in very complex ways. 

“Ways where research, evidence – what might work best, what programs might be most effective – are in dialogue with the sociopolitical situation and it’s conflicts,” Cummins said.

The collaboration remains open for years to come, and CREFO is happy to always open to further partnerships.