LED Nordic: A Hybrid Seminar on Nordic Learning Environment Design 

LED Nordic: A Hybrid Seminar on Nordic Learning Environment Design
Wednesday 15th of April 2026 from 9:00 to 12:00 AM (GMT)

Registration: Until Friday the 10th of April 2026, see here: REGISTRATION FORM 

We are pleased to invite you to a hybrid seminar targeted for all those interested or involved in the design and research of physical learning environments: researchers, municipal representatives, educational administrators, school directors, teachers, architects, designers, etc. 

It is organised as a part of the “Impact of Learning Environment Design on Teaching, Learning, and Wellbeing: A Nordic Perspective” (“LED Nordic”) project funded by the Nordplus Horizontal 2024 to 2026, involving researchers, municipal and company representatives from all five Nordic countries. 

Our aim is to strengthen transdisciplinary and multiprofessional networks amongst professionals and experts in learning environment design and research.

Place: The seminar is held in Edda, a cultural building of renown on campus in Reykjavik, Iceland. Online participation is enabled by a stream link provided for registered participants.  

Program highlights:

• Presentations by the hosts from the University of Iceland and the City of Reykjavik reflecting educational environments in Icelandic school buildings of recent design.

• Nordic researchers showcase findings from LED Nordic project activities conducted in 2024 to 2026, including a review of Nordic learning environment research and photo documentation collected during school visits in all Nordic countries.

• Keynote from professor Jennifer Charteris, an invited speaker from Australia, on respatialisation in schools, redesign and reimagination of pedagogy, as well as local accounts of school administration and teaching practices in innovative learning environments.

Free lunch and guided tours:

A free lunch and short tour through a recently renovated campus building, Saga, assigned to educational sciences will be offered right after the seminar. It will also be possible to visit a local school of innovative design later in the day. (Depending on the interest, we may need to limit the number of visitors based on the order of registration).

Date: Wednesday 15th of April 2026 8:30 - 12:00

Registration: Untill Friday the 10th of April 2026, see here: REGISTRATION FORM 

Language: English

Accessibility: Event space is accessible for all

On site address: Edda – House of Icelandic, Arngrímsgata 5, Reykjavik

Online address: To be provided upon registration

Recordings: Selected parts of the program will be recorded and shared with registered participants.

Organizers: The University of Iceland, School of Education and the City of Reykjavik together with LED Nordic, lead by the University of Jyväskylä. The Association of School Directors in Iceland, furthermore, takes part in the event. 

Payment: Free of charge

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PROGRAM

LED Nordic: A Hybrid Seminar on Nordic Learning Environment Design
Edda - The House of Icelandic, Arngrímsgata 5, Reykjavik
Plenum room E-103

8:40–9:00
Arrival and registration

Chair: Anna Kristín Sigurðardóttir, University of Iceland

9:00–9:05
Welcoming words

9:05–9:35
Torfi Hjartarson, University of Iceland and Þórdís Eik Friðþjófsdóttir, Reykjavik City:
Innovative learning environments in recent Icelandic school buildings

9.35–9:50
Tiina-Maria Mäkelä, University of Jyväskylä:
Introduction to LED Nordic

9:50–10:10
Palmyre Pierroux, University of Oslo and Bodil Hovaldt Bøjer, Royal Danish Academy:
Review of Nordic research literature on physical learning environments, themes and methods

10:10–10:30
Coffee break with refreshments

10:30–11:00
Kirsten Haase, Gladsaxe Municipality, Denmark; Colin Campbell, Ecophon, Sweden; Markku Lang, Oppimaisema Oy/Sari Lehtonen City of Helsinki, Finland; Siv Marit Stavem, Norconsult, Norway; and Þórdís Eik Friðþjófsdóttir, City of Reykjavik, Iceland:
Photographs from pilot study visits to school buildings in Nordic countries

11:00–11:10
Raija Kattilakoski, Positiimi:
Inclusion and Nordic learning environment design

11:10–11:35
Jennifer Charteris, University of New England, Australia:
Respatialisation in schools: redesigning spaces and reimagining pedagogy

11:35–11:50
Gerður Magnúsdóttir, principal of Barnaskóli Kársness, Kópavogur, Iceland:
Making the most of new learning environments in daily school practice

11:50–12:00
Closing words

Saga, newly renovated campus building for educational sciences, by Hagatorg, Reykjavik

Háma, campus restaurant in Saga
12:15–13:00
Free lunch for seminar participants

13:00–13:40
A guided tour through selected parts of Saga

Barnaskóli Kársness, a preschool and compulsory school for grades 1–4,
a brand new school building at Skólagerði in Kópavogur

Barnaskóli Kársness
14:30 to 15:30
School visit

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Further information:

Local coordinator:
Prof. Torfi Hjartarson
torfi@hi.is
School of Education
University of Iceland

LED Nordic project coordinator:
Dr. Tiina-Maria Mäkelä
tiina.m.makela@jyu.fi
Finnish Institute for Educational Research
University of Jyväskylä