CELE - Home of international and multidisciplinary research on lifelong learning and education
Building on its work over the past two decades, the Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education CELE maps the major and emerging transformations that are reshaping societies in order to explore their implications for current and future education. Committed to the principles of inclusivity and equality, CELE houses research projects designed to understand how global and social forces shape educational policy and practice at the national and local levels. Sosiology of education, Comparative education, education policy studies, higher education, adult education, special education, youth studies, gender studies and history of education.
Research Themes that define the scope of CELE’s work include:
- Policy and Governance of Education
- Equality, Inclusivity, Sustainability and Social Justice in Education
- Transitions, Trajectories and Lifelong Learning
- Global and Social Transformations in relation to Education
Our Research Groups
Comparative and International Education Research Group
The emphasis of the work of the Comparative and International Education Research Group lies on guidance and supervision of doctoral theses, creation of scientific knowledge and construction of profound understanding in the field of comparative education. The salient aim of the research group is to support doctoral and postdoctoral research. The studies conducted within this research domain cover various topics from early childhood education to higher education, spread geographically across all continents and seek to contribute to the latest scientific discourses in comparative research.The group promotes scientific thinking and acquisition of advanced research skills, and, based on the foregoing, conducts in-depth research in the field of comparative and international education.
Research Group Members
Johanna Kallo, Academy Research Fellow
Risto Rinne, Professor Emeritus
Hannu Simola, Professor Emeritus
Fazal Rizvi, Visiting Professor
Elizabeth Eta, PhD
Gabriel Ezechukwu, Doctoral Researcher
Kalypso Filippou, PhD
Sevcan Hakyemez-Paul, PhD
Suvi Jokila, Postdoctoral Researcher
Olli Suominen, PhD
Xingguo Zhou, PhD
Adrita Ghosh, Doctoral Researcher
CELE Research Group for Educational Policy, Equality and Justice
The research group of educational policy, equality and justice at CELE promotes a wide range of research on educational policy, politics, governance, educational systems, equality and justice in education, and the educational trajectories of young people. The research group’s main focus is on internationally comparative and cross-disciplinary perspectives. The group brings together CELE researchers who are in different career stages and possess a broad range of methodological expertise.
The members of the group are active in applying research funding that it uses to conduct its projects and promote international mobility. The group promotes the writing of doctoral theses, publishing, postdoctoral careers, and disseminates its research results both inside and outside academia. The members of the group collaborate with various national and international research projects as well as with education policy makers and other educational stakeholders.
Research Group Members
Tero Järvinen, Professor
Piia Seppänen, Professor
Anna-Maija Niemi, University Research Fellow
Aino Nevalainen, Doctoral Researcher
Elina Nikula, Doctoral Researcher
Fazal Rizvi, Visiting Professor
Heli Tirri, Doctoral Researcher
Iida Kiesi, Doctoral Researcher
Jaakko Honkanen, Doctoral Researcher
Jenni Tikkanen, Postdoctoral Researcher
Kaspian Herrala, Doctoral Researcher
Katariina Löfblom, Senior Researcher, Doctoral Researcher
Larimatti Teelmäki, Doctoral Researcher
Mari Siipola, Project Researcher
Markku Vanttaja, University Research Fellow
Nina Nivanaho, Doctoral Researcher
Piia af Ursin, Senior Researcher, Research Coordinator
Sonia Lempinen, University Teacher
Suvi Jokila, Postdoctoral Researcher
Taina Heinonen, Doctoral Researcher
Terhi Pasu, Project Researcher, Doctoral Researcher
CELE Research Group for Higher and Adult Education (AHE)
The research group gathers together researchers who are interested in higher and adult education in the societal, political and cultural context. Different types, forms and levels of education is examined in the contexts of global and national education policy and societal transformations. Theoretically, the research relies on sociological, socio-historical and socio-cultural research traditions as well as policy studies. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are applied. The research involves issues of equity and social justice when possible. The main research fields cover: 1) policy and governance of HE and lifelong learning, 2) Access and widening the participation, 3) Student engagement and agency, 4) Educational pathways and career trajectories, 5) Working life research and academic work, and 6) Governmentality and the formation of ideal subjects in educational settings and wider society.
The AHE group supports doctoral thesis writing, postdoctoral careers, academic publishing and public dissemination of research results.
Projects:
Current research project:
Recently ended projects:
Changing University Institution and Equalities in Academic Work, 2021-2022
Higher Education Graduates' Employability and Social Positioning in the Labour Market (HighEmploy), 2018-2022
Alternative Paths to University (TRY), 2018-2020
Research Group Members
Ulpukka Isopahkala-Bouret, Professor
Arto Jauhiainen, Professor
Päivi Siivonen, Associate Professor
Heikki Silvennoinen, Professor
Masroor Alam, Doctoral Researcher
Paulina Chavez Rodrigues, Doctoral Researcher
Gabriel Ezechukwu, Doctoral Researcher
Kalypso Filippou, University Lecturer
Nina Haltia, University Research Fellow
Annukka Jauhiainen, University Lecturer
Suvi Jokila, Postdoctoral Researcher
Anna Jolkkonen, Doctoral Researcher
Yoojin Kim, Doctoral Researcher
Heikki Kinnari, Senior Researcher
Meri Kotamäki, Doctoral Researcher
Hanna Laalo, Postdoctoral Researcher
Mervi Lahtomaa, Doctoral Researcher
Anne Laiho, University Lecturer
Outi Lietzén, Doctoral Researcher
Hanna Nori, University Research Fellow
Raakel Plamper, Doctoral Researcher
Sangge Qi, Doctoral Researcher
Tiina Tuijula, University Lecturer
Markku Vanttaja, University Research Fellow
Somang Yeo, Doctoral Researcher
Inclusive and Special Education
Inclusive and special education studies focus on individual, community and societal levels. We acknowledge the importance to see need of support in wider context but not forgetting the individual factors. The research in this group varies from disability studies to immigrant studies, from medical model to social model and from early childhood to adulthood. We have both cross-sectional, longitudinal and intervention studies. Both quantitative and qualitative paradigms are represented.
Main research themes are as follows:
- Special education and inclusive school reform – values, policy and implementation in school level
- Social and emotional difficulties / challenging behavior
- Learning and learning difficulties
- Intervention studies
Research Group Members
Minna Kyttälä, Associate Professor
Anna-Maija Niemi, University Research Fellow
Joel Kivirauma, Professor Emeritus
Minna Saarinen, University Lecturer
Marianna Heinonen, University Teacher, Doctoral Researcher
Johanna Mäki-Havulinna, University Teacher
Sonia Lempinen, University Teacher
Outi Arvola, Post-doctoral Researcher
Milla rantamäki, Project Researcher, Doctoral Researcher
Susanna Valkama, Doctoral Researcher
Paula Laakso, Doctoral Researcher
Marja Junttila, Doctoral Researcher
Laura Heimo, Doctoral Researcher
Maija Gerke, Doctoral Researcher
Examples of CELE’s Current and Aspirational research topics:
- Regional and Within-School Inequalities
- Pupil Selection Policies and Practices
- Constructing Learning Outcomes in Europe
- Privatization, Commercialization and Commodification of Education, the Work of Edu-Business
- International Organizations and their Futures thinking, Anticipatory governance
- Social Inequalities and Transition from School to Work
- Student Mobilities and Internationalization of Higher Education
- Reimagining Lifelong Learning in Risk Societies
Head and coordinator of Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education CELE
Recent publications
Exclusively Included? Finland’s Inclusion Success Story and Hidden Dual System of Mainstream and Special Needs Education (2023)
(Refereed article in compilation book (A3))Social Justice and Neoliberalising Cameroonian Universities in Pursuit of the Bologna Process: An Analysis of the Employability Agenda (2023)
(Refereed article in compilation book (A3))Jotain vanhaa, jotain uutta (2023)
International Encyclopedia of Education (2023)
(Editorship of a scientific special issue, book or conference proceedings (C2))
Previous events
CELE research group Inclusive and Special Education seminar with Fulbright Scholar, Associate Professor Sean Wachsmuth, Minnesota State University, USA
9.15–9.30 Seminaarin avaus ja tutkimusryhmän esittely | apulaisprofessori Minna Kyttälä
9.30–10.30 Associate Professor Sean Wachsmuth: A Sample of American Intervention Research
10.30–11.00 Tohtorikoulutettava Marianna Heinonen: Sosiaalis-emotionaalinen tuen tarve – käsityksiä tutkimassa
11.00–11.30 Yliopistotutkija Anna-Maija Niemi: Erityisopetuksen ja erityisen tuen tarpeen merkitykset koulutuselämänkulun kerronnassa
11.30–12.00 Yliopistonlehtori Minna Saarinen: Itsenäisesti vai kavereiden perässä? Vertaissuhteet ja maahanmuuttotausta koulutusvalinnoissa
12.00–12.15 Tilaisuuden päätös
Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education CELE, University of Turku, will organise 2nd December a discussion of UNESCO’s Futures of Education initiative report.
December 2, at 2–4 p.m. (EET) at the online-webinar
UNESCO will launch its long-awaited report 'Reimagining our futures together: a new social contract for education?' on 10th of November 2021. The UNESCO report asks us to rethink the ways in which knowledge, education and learning have the potential to address some of the most serious challenges we face in an increasingly complex, uncertain and fragile world. It expresses great confidence in education’s capacity to address issues of social fragmentation, strains to natural ecosystems, and threats to peaceful coexistence across cultural divides. While acknowledging that recent technological developments can enhance human welfare, the report also notes that these developments pose serious ethical concerns and challenges for governance. It invites us to reimagine a future in which a new social contract is negotiated,that puts education at the heart of our attempts to build peaceful, just, and sustainable futures for all.
How realistic is this agenda for transformation and how should we approach the work that needs to be done to realize the report’s bold aspirations?
You are most welcome to join a discussion of the challenges for education posed by this report, led by an international panel of experts:
Dr. Noah Sobe Senior Project Manager, UNESCO Futures of Education Initiative
Emeritus Professor and Visiting Professor Fazal Rizvi (University of Melbourne, University of Turku)
Professor Kristiina Brunila (University of Helsinki)
Academy Research Fellow Johanna Kallo (Academy of Finland, University of Turku).
Chair: Professor Piia Seppänen Director of Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education CELE (University of Turku)
Programme
2 p.m. Event commences online
Dr. Noah Sobe: Introduction to the UNESCO report
Comments from Professor Fazal Rizvi, Professor Kristiina Brunila and
Academy Research Fellow Johanna Kallo
3:10 p.m.
Questions from audience
4 p.m.
Event concludes
3rd December at Educarium EDU 3 (Assistentinkatu 5)
10–11 My CELE friends: Get to know your colleagues
- explore the halls of 3rd Educarium and learn something new about your "CELE friends" by visiting
their doors | Ystäväkirjat ovilla
Open doors at CELE library & meeting room
12.00 Opening | Director of CELE, Professor Piia Seppänen
12.15 Lecture: Risk Society and Prospects of Lifelong Learning | Visiting Professor Fazal Rizvi (join online)
13.45 Professor talk: Koulutuskilvoittelu tasa-arvon haasteena – Positional competition is a challenge for egalitarian education | Professor Ulpukka Isopahkala-Bouret
14.00 Coffee
14.30 Book projects with national and international collaborators of CELE - Introducing three edited book projects (join online)
14.30–15.00 Fazal Rizvi, Bob Lingard and Risto Rinne (eds.) 2022: Reimagining globalization and education policy (Routledge)
15.00–15.30 Martin Thrupp, Piia Seppänen, Jaakko Kauko and Sonja Kosunen (eds.) 2022: Finland’s Famous Education System - Unvarnished insights into Finnish schooling (Springer)
15.30–16.00 Päivi Siivonen, Ulpukka Isopahkala-Bouret, Michael Tomlinson, Maija Korhonen, Nina Haltia and Katri Komulainen (eds.) tba: Rethinking graduate employability in context. Discourse, policy and practice (negotiation Palgrave Macmillan)
16.00–16.15 Closing