NTNU Professor Ting-Chia Hsu Leads Delegation to the University of Turku’s Learning Analytics Center to Advance International Collaboration in Digital Learning and Computational Thinking
On August 7–8, 2025, Professor Ting-Chia Hsu, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Technology Application and Human Resource Development at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), led a team on a visit to the University of Turku’s Learning Analytics Center (TRILA) in Finland for academic exchange.
TRILA is led by Professor Mikko-Jussi Laakso, with key participation from Professor Jari Metsämuuronen, a renowned scholar formerly with the Finnish National Education Evaluation Centre, and Dr. Jo Van Hoof, head of the TRILA STEM group. The center focuses on evidence-based approaches to advancing adaptive digital learning. The discussions centered on integrating educational data from local governments to inform policy recommendations, employing learning analytics to identify common student error patterns, and leveraging artificial intelligence for data analysis and learning support.
In recent years, Professor Hsu has concentrated his research on computational thinking (CT) education, actively promoting the international adoption of his team’s CT educational board game and fostering cross-border collaboration through the Bebras Challenge. She is also preparing the joint research proposals with Finland’s ViLLE digital learning platform. On August 7, the NTNU delegation visited the University of Turku research team responsible for ViLLE. On August 8, they met with Einari, a TRILA graduate now working at Eduten, a company specializing in classroom-based gamified digital mathematics content. Eduten collaborates with partners across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, and in 2020 received the UNESCO Prize for Adaptive Learning Platforms.
According to the University of Turku’s press release, TRILA expressed its sincere appreciation for the NTNU team’s visit. During the exchange, the two sides engaged in stimulating discussions covering topics such as CT assessment, AI task design, and the application of AI in data analytics and learning support. The TRILA team also enjoyed a seminar featuring Robot City, a CT educational game presented by NTNU doctoral student Megan Zu Heng Khoo, and an analysis of BeLLE (Bebras + ViLLE) learning analytics results presented by TRILA doctoral student Heidi Kaarto. On the second day, Einari from Eduten shared insights into the early development of ViLLE and Eduten.
TRILA noted that such international academic exchanges hold significant value for research and development and help lay a solid foundation for future collaboration.
This visit not only strengthened the roadmap for joint initiatives in digital learning and CT between NTNU and the University of Turku but also showcased NTNU’s growing visibility and influence in the field of international CT education. Looking ahead, both institutions aim to explore further cross-border cooperation, integrating artificial intelligence, learning analytics, and gamified design to foster global educational innovation.