We asked the new fellows about their expectations and plans related to the development of teaching. Read more about all the new fellows of the Teachers’ Academy on its website.
University Lecturer Jaana-Maija Koivisto says that she is happy and proud to have been selected for the Teachers’ Academy. She intends to continue to develop teaching in a project already launched.
“We are carrying out a project at the Faculty of Medicine which utilises AI-generated model patients in teaching. We hope to receive funding to develop this as a teaching method and conduct related research,” Koivisto explains.
Collaboration and international engagement
Senior University Lecturer Kaisa Hahl is planning to visit another university for a longer period to familiarise herself with how teaching is developed there. Her expectations for the Teachers’ Academy relate particularly to the exchange of ideas.
“As I’m teaching future subject teachers in foreign languages at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, I hope that I’ll be able to exchange thoughts and ideas particularly on the themes of multiculturalism and internationalism,” says Hahl.
Professor Eeva Sippola is interested in collaboration in teaching.
“I would like to receive tips on how teaching at a university could make use of collaboration with parties external to the University.”
She is currently developing teaching in a project examining first language teaching in Somali and Arabic languages.
Study trips and teaching equipment
In addition to the network, the Teachers’ Academy is also a means of rewarding distinguished teachers: The new fellows of the Academy are selected through an assessment procedure, where the applicants’ teaching qualifications and experience are considered.
In recognition of their teaching merits, the new fellows will receive a four-year grant to be used in developing themselves as teachers. In addition to the personal grant, the home unit of the new fellow will also receive a separate four-year grant for developing teaching at the unit.
Many of the new fellows for 2025 are planning to use their personal grant, for example, on participating in conferences in their field and organising study visits. As the research conducted by Senior University Lecturer Rani-Henrik Andersson relates to Indigenous peoples, he wants to make study trips to deepen his understanding of Indigenous peoples both in Finland and further afield.
University Lecturer Johannes Pernaa and Senior Clinical Instructor Maria Kareskoski are both planning to renew teaching equipment.
“The aim is to acquire molecular models that meet the current standards as well as new textbooks,” says Pernaa, who teaches chemistry.
“We are planning to acquire a new simulation model for the skills workshop of students of veterinary medicine,” says Karekoski.
Network of active teaching developers
Fellows in the network share ideas among themselves and actively develop teaching at the University. Working groups are established to address topical questions in teaching. For example, a working group was established under the Teachers’ Academy in 2023 to consider the use of artificial intelligence in teaching.
“The observations made by the working group were valuable when the University was preparing its own guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence in teaching,” said Vice-Rector Kai Nordlund in his speech given at the award ceremony for the new fellows.