Research at the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Helsinki focuses on human growth, development, behavior and learning. Researchers examine their topics from various perspectives, including the social, communal and individual. Research objects are educational systems, learning environments and learners. Our research aims towards the realization of cultural and social possibilities for the wellbeing of an individual and a society in a changing world.
Research topics in the research focus area Education, society and culture include Finnish schools and education policy, schooling and education, work, organizations and development, action, agency and inclusion, equality, gender and global responsibility, skills, design and art in variable forms.
Research topics in the research focus area Learning and interaction include curriculum design, learning, teaching, learning environments, learning how to learn, learning difficulties, development, interaction, innovative methods, discipline-based learning or subject didactics, community learning and expertise.
The Faculty of Educational Sciences has had an international Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) since 2020. The purpose of the SAB is to support the strategic development of the Faculty towards the cutting-edge of international educational research and teaching. SAB serves as support for the Faculty’s management and critical partner in developing the Faculty’s activities.
As a rule, the term of office of the SAB members is four years. Four to six experts with faculty-relevant expertise in both educational research and education, as well as assessment and leadership roles in the field are invited to the SAB Group.
The members of the SAB for the period 2020–2023 are:
The University of Helsinki scores highly in international comparisons of research and teaching in the educational sciences: it is among the leading Nordic and European universities and around the top 50 in the world.
The University of Helsinki defines quality as expedient operations and high-quality results.
In the latest research assessment of the University of Helsinki the scientific quality of research at the Faculty of Education was assessed "Excellent", societal impact of research "Excellent, even outstanding" and research environment and unit viability "Very good to excellent".