About Department:
Contact Information:
Department of Home Economics and Craft Science:
PO Box 8 (Siltavuorenpenger 10)
00014 University of Helsinki
Finland
Section of Home Economics Teacher Education:
Tel. +358 9 191 29781 (departmental coordinator)
Section of Craft Science and Textiles Teacher Education:
Tel. +358 9 191 29705 (departmental coordinator)
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Department in
Brief
Background
The Department of Home Economics and Craft Science was established on the 1st of August, 1998 in the Faculty of Education. The Department was combined from the former sections of Home economics and Craft Science & Textile Teacher Education, which had been run within the Department of Teacher Education since 1975. The three disciplines represented within the new department are home economics science, craft science and science of education, the latter emphasising the pedagogy of either home economics or crafts science.
The Objectives of the Department are:
- to create new knowledge and reinforce Finnish culture and everyday life in the household and family activities, textiles, clothing and crafts design
- to create conceptual frameworks for understanding and analysing human creative and productive activities; the aim can be personal, practical, artistic, pedagogic or professional
- to develop home economics and craft science and their teacher education by providing undergraduate, postgraduate studies and continuing education; and by promoting the development of lifelong learning.
- to undertake high-quality research with focus on new methodological approaches, and to promote partnerships with national and international researchers and different networks.
The Department’s main field is education for subject teachers
in home economics and craft science and textiles, together with
research and development in these areas. A major share of the
research is specifically related to craft science and home economics.
The aim of the studies is to develop expertise which is wide-ranging,
thorough and multi-disciplinary and to ensure that the education
provided is flexible and applicable to different purposes.
Home Economics and Home Economics Teacher Education
Studies in home economics build a foundation for understanding household and family life, for characterising its individual and societal importance. It aims at developing knowledge and skills for everyday activities in a changing world. Home economics can be described as a combination of personal development, healthy lifestyles, social responsibility, sustainable development and use of resources and cultural heritage. The studies focus on nutrition education and food culture, on family studies and on consumer and environmental issues, all based on human aspects and everyday life. At advanced level students take a closer examination of the theoretical basis of the discipline and reflect home economics as a teaching subject. Efforts are being made to rearrange the program and to enable an understanding of the basic character of everyday phenomena and to clarify what is required of teaching and research in the present and future society.
Home Economics & Home Economics Teacher Education focuses mainly on the school context and adult education. But the expertise of home economics also extends to different stages of human life and to its aims to meet the requirements of life long learning. International dimension has been adopted as an important element in the section’s work. In home economics, Finland is a forerunner in developing university studies and teacher education in Europe
Craft Science and Textiles Teacher Education
The section of textiles, clothing and craft design studies (craft science) presents a framework for researcher and textile teacher education for all levels of the comprehensive school and adult education and for the other textiles sector. Craft science plays an important part in educating e.g. future teachers and designers for the Finnish society. This can be done with a combination of craft science and science of education either of which can be the major subject of the degree program. The degree program allows additionally a voluntary minor subject choice with which there is a possibility to reinforce the desired professional profile. Such minor studies can be school subjects e.g. mathematics or languages for a school teacher or any other university subject for other kinds of job profiles. Craft science as home economics is a forerunner in developing university studies and textile teacher education in the European context.
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