["European Journal of Education, Volume 61, Issue 2, June 2026. ", "\nABSTRACT\nOver the past 30 years, higher education has increasingly focused on student‐activating methods and teacher learning, emphasizing active, self‐regulated and collaborative learning. This study examines applying Finnish educational psychology principles in a United Arab Emirates course as a first part for a Post Graduate Diploma in Education. The course used a flipped classroom design with online and face‐to‐face components. Data from summaries of students' learning diaries showed that two‐thirds of reflections were elaborative or insightful in nature, indicating that the participants started to put theoretical understanding into practice in school contexts. The study contributes to understanding how modern educational approaches may work in intercultural contexts.\n"]