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Itä-Suomen Yliopisto

Joensuu, Kuopio

Open university: Finnish Education and Society, 2025-2026

Open university
smart for good
Date:
1.9.2025 - 29.5.2026
Credits:
5 ECTS credits
Location:
-
Continuous learning category:
Teaching, education and psychology
Teaching format:
Online teaching, Independent learning
Price:
100 € (VAT 0%)
Jatkuva oppiminen verkkosivut

The online course covers the following topics:

  • Theoretical Traditions in Sociology of Education
  • The Meaning of Education
  • Historical development and basics of Finnish education system
  • Critical perspectives to education

Learning outcomes

After the course, the student

  • has knowledge of basic research frameworks and concepts in sociology of education
  • knows the societal functions of education, and can reflect on individual and social meanings of education in the Finnish context
  • knows the central theoretical traditions in sociology of education
  • has a general understanding of the historical development and current state of the Finnish education system
  • has progressed in critical thinking skills.

Please check the Peppi study guide for more information about the course.

This course is a part of the basic studies Lifelong Learning and Sustainable Development that also offer an open university route to a Bachelor Degree Programme of the same name at the University of Eastern Finland. Read more here.

Study methods: Online self-study course (learning tasks, essay, peer assessment of one essay); individual work 135 h.

Use of AI tools is prohibited when writing the essay and doing the peer assessment, and will be controlled for.

Learning material: Materials in the course online learning environment. In addition, selected parts of the following literature:

• Sahlberg, P. (2021). Finnish Lessons 3.0: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland? Third Edition. Teachers College Press.

• Serpa, S., & José Sá, M. (2022). The Importance of Sociology of Education for a Sustainable Future. MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-0365-3911-9

More information about the learning tasks can be found on the course Digicampus Moodle platform which will open in September.
Autumn 2025: Deadline for online learning tasks and submission of the final essay by Fri 14.11. and peer-assessment of two other essays on Sun 30.11.
Spring 2026: Deadline for online learning tasks and submission of the final essay by Fri 13.3. and peer-assessment of two other essays on Sun 29.3.

This course is a part of the Basic studies in Lifelong Learning and Sustainable Development. You may register for each course individually or by purchasing a study right for the whole basic studies module for the academic year 2025-2026. The price for individual courses is 20 €/ECTS credit and the price for the whole study module is 375€ (15€/ECTS credit point). This registration option for the whole study module is available until 31.10.2025.

After registration, please log in to the Lifelong Learning and Sustainable Development eLearn Moodle environment. You can find a link to the environment on the New Open University Student instructional site, which you will have access to after completing the course registration. You will receive the instructions via email.

The study fee is 20 euros per ECTS credit for individual study units, and 15 euros per credit for study modules. The study fee is paid at registration.

Please find more information: Registration, study fees and right to study | University of Eastern Finland (uef.fi)

By paying the study fee, the student receives a temporary right to study that entitles them to attend a particular course. The right to study is course-specific, and is required to complete the course as specified in the syllabus for the term, covering both teaching and course exams. If the course is continuously open for registration, the maximum time to complete the course is from 1 August to 31 July for that academic year.

Irrespective of time

Autumn deadline for learning tasks and essay is in October, Spring deadline in February.

English

English

Register for studies

Registration instructions

I Click the registration button on this page. You will be directed to our registration service with the study unit already selected. You can add several study units to your study cart before you continue. 

II Proceed to identify yourself using the Suomi.fi service. If you don’t have access to the Suomi.fi service, you may skip this phase. Fill in your personal information on the registration form, confirm your registration and pay the study fees.  

Please note that the registration is binding. For more information on study fees and payment and cancellation terms, please see: Registration, study fees and right to study | University of Eastern Finland (uef.fi). 

III Your registration will typically be processed in 2-5 working days. During peak registration periods, this may take up to 10 days. After this period, you will get an automatic message which includes a link to the starting instructions. Please read and follow the instructions carefully.  

 

If you have not studied at UEF before, you will also receive instructions for activating a UEF username. If you already have a UEF username, change the password to your account. 

 

Your username will receive full access rights when your study right begins.  

 

If you can’t find these messages, remember to check your email’s trash folder, and contact the open university staff if needed. 

 

If your employer will pay your tuition fee, please contact our academic affairs coordinator. Their contact information can be found below. 

Registration starts:
2025-08-07 09:00
Registration ends:
2026-03-17 23:59
Registration

More information about education

Profile picture: Sanna Vikla

Vikla, Sanna

Continuous Learning Specialist

Centre for Continuous Learning

+358504666591

Profile picture: Iina Airaksinen

Airaksinen, Iina

Academic Affairs Coordinator

Centre for Continuous Learning

+358504649747