Strategic Action Plan of the Faculty of Education, 2026–2030
The Faculty of Education is an influential pioneer and partner in research and education.
Our Faculty is a respected research and education community and a strong network influencer in the field of education regionally, nationally, and internationally. Our activities are based on impactful research in learning and education and high-quality teaching based on it.
We build a sustainable future by educating teachers and other experts in the field of education and training and by producing critical and future-oriented research. We boldly anticipate changes in society and the challenges of working life and respond to them by promoting ethics and democratic values. Our operations are innovative and multidisciplinary.
Trust in research-based knowledge is basic to a prosperous and democratic society. Our research and instruction lay the groundwork for a future defined by sustainable development. Moreover, we develop the quality of our activities in cooperation with our partners. Strengthening cooperation and participation is emphasised in all areas of our action plan.
Focus Areas of the Faculty's Research and Education
Through our focus areas,we promote education, justice, and a sustainable future.
- Teaching, learning, and education – a bold agent of the future
- Education, equality, and equity – a builder of a democratic society
- Teacher education and continuous learning –a contributor of sustainable expertise.
Strategic Goals
Subgoals and actions
Communal research infrastructures are consolidated
- Supporting collaborative practices and a research culture
- Strengthening the identity, profiling, coordination, and international cooperation of research centres
- Integration of staff into research teams and projects
- Harmonisation of the organisation of research at the faculty level
The conditions for research and the impact of research are strengthened
- Promoting new, bold research initiatives
- Strengthening the participation of staff in international and national networks of scientific communities
- Strengthening the conditions for research carried out with core funding
- Diversification of the targets and means of funding applications and strengthening support in the application phase
- Supporting publishing activities and promoting creative practices of scientific writing and ethical use of technology
The quality and quantity of doctoral degrees are developed
- Developing the attractiveness of doctoral training and the recruitment of doctoral researchers
- Development of supervision practices in doctoral training and expansion of the supervisor pool
- Increasing cooperation in the supply of education of doctoral programmes and UTUGS
- Supporting doctoral researchers in attaching themselves to the scientific community.
Subgoals and actions
Education creates research-based and communalcompetence
- The training of competent teachers and other experts in educational sciences takes into account national strategies and is based on anticipating competence needs
- Strengthening the principles of sustainable development in the content and practices of education
- Gaining the skills to guide and teach a wide range of learners and to respond to and solve new educational challenges in society
- Strengthening students' participation,agency, and skills in utilising research-based knowledge at different levels of education
The staff is skilled and innovative
- Promoting a strongly research-based and innovative educational approach
- Strengthening communal teaching culture and practices
- Supporting the pedagogical development of staff
Cross-border cooperation is increased
- Deepening interdisciplinary cooperation in education
- Strengthening working life connections both from the Faculty to the field and from the field to the Faculty
- Developing international degree programmes and enhancing Finnish language learning
- Intensifying national and international cooperation with higher education institutions
The foundation for continuous learning is strengthened
- Creating research-based continuous learning preparedness during studies
- Developing policies, implementation forms, and communications for continuous learning
- Long-term development of the provision of open university education
- Strengthening cooperation with secondary education institutions and building flexible transitions.
Subgoals and actions
Regional network and working life cooperation are strengthened
- Active participation and visibility in university-level impact activities
- Solidifying local cooperation and partnership sin the field of education
- Strengthening alumni activities and involving alumni in the Faculty's activities
The role of a national network influencer is established
- Supporting research-based decision-making
- Active participation in education policy discussions and research-based development of education
- Developing the continuous learning of experts in the field of education and expanding their supply of education
- Establishing the activities of Professors of Practice and Docents
International impact expands responsibly and sustainably
- Strengthening international impact through visiting professors, international research partnerships, and networks
- Developing forms of implementation of international cooperation in education
- Promoting the key international activities of the university community.
Subgoals and actions
The sense of community at the Faculty is intensified
- Strengthening the integration and participation of students, doctoral researchers, and staff in the Faculty's scientific community
- Increasing cooperation across unit boundaries
- Supporting a sense of community through on-site and remote work arrangements and facility solutions
Well-being of staff and students is improved
- Strengthening a positive,inclusive, and open atmosphere for work and study
- Enabling focusing on core tasks
- Supporting supervisor work and leadership
Staff competence is strengthened
- Ensuring the continuing education and continuous learning of personnel
- Strengthening multilingual and multicultural competence and organisational culture in the work community
- Strengthening the Finnish language skills and Finnish network connections of international personnel
- Versatile use of digital environments and systems and competence development.