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Given the current global challenges in education and digital transformation, there is a need to create high-quality technology-enhanced physical and psychosocial learning environments (LE), as these critically impact teaching, learning and wellbeing. It is essential that experts in education, architecture and technology work together to represent the multifaceted aspects that make up a LE, improving both the quality of the teaching-learning processes and well-being. 

On one hand, there is international interest in Finnish LE (LED) design, renowned for its innovative and transformative approach to education. On the other hand, Finnish LE experts wish to broaden their understanding of LED practices in different contexts. However, existing international university networks and cooperation to share multidisciplinary experience in the field of LED are scarce. Specifically, financing opportunities for joint projects between countries in northern Europe and Latin America are practically non-existent in this area.

The Multidisciplinary perspectives on Learning Environment Design ("MultiLED") project funded by led by the Finnish National Agency for Education, aims respond to the above-mentioned needs by facilitating a multidisciplinary and international perspective on LE design. It does so through the staff mobility and joint teaching activities involving the development of hybrid seminars and open online course materials.

The collaboration between the three participant higher education institutions, Aalto University, Ģ��ֱ�� and Universidad ORT Uruguay, also includes documenting good practices in LE design in the participating countries. In this way, the project brings together the competencies in education, architecture and technology of the three universities to create a high-quality teaching and learning environment.

Ultimately, the project aims to manage new forms of cooperation between universities and provide opportunities for staff from distant universities to work together in imagining the future of LE design considering the cultural, economic and social particularities of the two countries.

The project started in September 2023 and ends in December 2025. Project activities include short teaching visits, development of course materials, hybrid seminar series, and documentation of good practice in LE design in participant countries. The course materials and documents developed will be used in the courses of each of the universities with the intention of sharing them with a wider international audience. This will be complemented by outreach events in the two participating countries.

Anticipated project results include:

·         New open online course materials including a series of recorded multidisciplinary seminars on designing learning environments.

·         Good practices shared in LED.

·         Greater contact between professors, researchers and administrative staff of the three universities.

·         Connection with LED experts, beyond the project participants.

·         High-quality instructional materials (including videos, to openly share and deepen knowledge in the LED field internationally).

The project is led by Dr. Pirjo Sanaksenaho, Dean of the Department of Architecture at Aalto University in collaboration with Dr. Tiina Mäkelä, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research the Ģ��ֱ��, and Dr. Paula Cardellino, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture at Universidad ORT (Uruguay).