All courses are held on-location at the organizing campus. Remote participation is not possible.
More courses will be updated in January 2026. Stay tuned!
Courses 2026
Philosophical Faculty
Course dates: 10-21 August 2026
Course code in Peppi: (TBA)
ECTS: 5
Campus: Joensuu
Learning outcomes
After completing the study unit, the student will be able to:
- understand concepts and perspectives underlying diversity in educational settings
- apply theoretical knowledge in observing and understanding learners’ diversity in education
- recognize and value cultural diversity and its significance in education, training, pedagogical activities as well as in individuals and their behaviours
- evaluate the significance of education and pedagogical activity for developing cooperation and mutual understanding between individuals in operational environments of education, in-school and out-of-school
Content
Key concepts: cultural iceberg, linguistically responsive teaching, multilingualism and multiculturalism in education, intercultural sensitivity.
Cultural traditions and diversity in educational encounters. Communication styles and values in teacher-student relationships.
Diversity and equity in education. Differentiated education, inclusive education
Responding to diversity in education and the role of special education.
Teacher collaboration in developing diverse education.
Further information
The maximum number of participants is 16.
Eligibility
The course is aimed at Finnish and international Master’s level students of Education in particular. Bachelor and Doctoral level students are also welcome given that they have a suitable background related to the field of education. Applicants from around the world are welcome.
NB! Course is organized in Joensuu, Finland. Remote/online participation is not possible.
Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology
Course dates: 17-21 August 2026
Course code in Peppi: LF00CS49-3003
ECTS: 2
Campus: Joensuu
Learning outcomes
The student learns the basics of illumination design and stray light analysis using the non-sequential mode of Ansys Zemax OpticStudio software.
Content
We will go through Ansys Zemax OpticStudio software introducing the sequential mode but focusing almost solely on the non-sequential mode. Most of the teaching is done by using the software, and each student gets to practice the software with classroom computers.
During the course we will teach how to create different light sources and how to approach illumination system design including optimization and tolerancing. We will go through how to add CAD objects into the design and do stray light analysis of an optomechanical system.
Modes of study
Active participation in lectures and exercises on-site. Advance study exercise.
Teaching methods and Learning material
Lectures and computer exercises using the software. Lecture notes and video material.
Further information
This particular summer school is organized on-site at Joensuu campus. The maximum number of students is limited to 25. The course will be held in English.
Qualifications
This summer school is suitable for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students in physics or in technology related fields with knowledge in optics / photonics fundamentals. It is beneficial to understand the fundamentals of ray tracing and have experience in using ray tracing software.
Course dates: 10-21 August 2026
Course code in Peppi: (TBA)
ECTS: 3-5
Campus: Joensuu
Course description:
Basics of machine learning (one day + practical component)
What is a machine learning model? Differences between supervised, unsupervised and
reinforcement learning modes of learning. Focus is on deep learning models, the basics of it will be quickly revised. Recently introduced self-supervised deep learning models will be introduced.
AI agents (two days of lectures + practical component)
The course introduces the basics of reinforcement learning and how autonomous systems can be implemented and trained. In the course we learn how to train software agents (such as playing games, dialog systems, etc.) and how to train physical agents such as robots through simulations. Some of the lectures in this section will be given by Dr. Andrew Melnik from Bielefeld University and Dr. Anssi Kanervisto from Microsoft Research, Cambridge.
Practice component (two days)
During the section, students implement a software agent that can play a computer game by
programming (Python). An agent is a statistical model whose parameters are then learned by playing the game. There are many different models and training algorithms, and it is expected that advanced students will be able to try several of these during these two days. During the final day, students’ agents are pitted against each other in a tournament and we will recognize three best performing agents.
Students will gain 3-5 ECTS (1 week: 3 ECTS / 2 weeks: 5 ECTS)
NB! Course is organized in Joensuu, Finland. Remote/online participation is not possible.
Course dates: 10-21 August 2026
Course code in Peppi: (TBA)
ECTS: 5
Campus: Joensuu
Learning outcomes
Upon completing this course, students will be able to:
1. Understand the fundamental principles and components of industrial robotics and
automation systems.
2. Analyze and design robotic systems for industrial applications, including kinematics,
dynamics, and control.
3. Apply programming techniques for robotic manipulators and automated systems.
4. Integrate sensors, actuators, and controllers into industrial automation workflows.
5. Evaluate and implement modern approaches in robotics, such as machine learning,
computer vision, and collaborative robots.
6. Critically assess the societal and ethical implications of automation and robotics in
industrial environments.
Content
Overview of robotics in industry; historical evolution, core applications, and trends. Social,
ethical, and environmental aspects of industrial automation. Robotic programming languages and frameworks (such as ROS 2), simulation environments (Gazebo, MoveIt), and task-specific programming. Fundamentals of forward and inverse kinematics, motion planning, and robot dynamics. Introduction to PID control, trajectory generation, and advanced control strategies. Role of sensors (vision, force, proximity) and perception in robotic systems. PLCs, SCADA, IoT, and their integration with robotic systems for automation. Collaborative Robots and Human Robot Interaction (concepts, safety standards, and applications of cobots in industrial settings). Applications of AI and ML techniques in robotics, including predictive maintenance and adaptive learning. Real-world examples of robotics and automation systems in manufacturing, logistics, and other sectors.
Modes of study
Lectures, exercises, and project work in Joensuu campus (School of Computing), participation only on campus (no online participation)
Learning materials
• Industrial Robotics: Theory, Modelling and Control (IntechOpen):
www.intechopen.com/books/6110
• An Introduction to Ethics in Robotics and AI (Springer Cham):
link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-51110-4
• Lecture notes and other online materials for self-learning from the UEF Robotics and
Robotics & XR courses (getting familiar with the materials before the summer school
course is recommended)
• Recommended book to purchase: The Industrial Robot Book (The Robotics Society in
Finland), industrialrobotbook.com/
Maximum number of participants: 20.
NB! Course is organized in Joensuu, Finland. Remote/online participation is not possible.
Course dates: 10-21 August 2026
Course code in Peppi: (TBA)
ECTS: 5
Campus: Joensuu
Learning Analytics (LA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have been increasingly integrated in education over the past decades. Both LA and AI have provided innovative ways to enhance teaching, learning, and improve decision making processes. Over the past years, they helped offer personalized learning, predictive analytics, automated assessment and feedback as well as supported teachers and administrators to offer innovative educational solutions. The recent rise in AI capabilities introduced several advancements that have changed how educational materials are developed, personalized, and delivered. Furthermore, AI is also changing the ways students’ data is collected, analyzed, assessed or researched.
This LA and AI in education course will offer a framework for understanding of the new emerging fields and explain how data can be optimally collected and analyzed in education. The course will address the principles of LA and AI, discuss the ethical issues, the main foundational principles and the theoretical background behind LA and AI. The course will also introduce real-life examples with real-data and authentic scenarios and applications where the attendees will practice with hands-on analysis.
More importantly, the course will introduce the tools and methods and train the attendees on using LA and AI methods. For instance, attendees will use process mining to analyze learning processes, practice sequence analysis to trace how learning unfolds, or apply explainable AI to predict students in need of help. Students will use AI to generate learning and assessment materials, analyze data, automate feedback or augment explainable AI.
The course’s main strategy will be building students’ knowledge and skills with an emphasis on hands-on practice with real-life data, tools and methods where the students will not only learn how-to but will also practice to do the analysis and build their skill set in LA and AI. Most importantly, the knowledge and skills acquired in the course can be easily transferable to other fields in which analytics and AI are relevant.
The instructors have vast experience in the field with over 200 publications, two LA and AI methodological books and have run the same course nine times with students from over 30 countries. You can look at the profile of them here Mohammed Saqr and Sonsoles López Pernas or the LA unit. All inquiries and questions about the course can be directed to [email protected]
NB! Course is organized in Joensuu, Finland. Remote/online participation is not possible.
Course dates: 17-21 August 2026
Course code in Peppi: (TBA)
ECTS: 5
Campus: Joensuu
The course introduces theoretical and analytical frameworks of environmental collaboration and conflicts in the field of e.g. natural resource governance, land use and nature conservation. The course includes the examination of real-world conflict cases, exercises and the development of collaboration approach, negotiation and mediation skills. Students are expected to work with concrete conflict cases along the course program.
The course is constructed around a framework of environmental collaboration and conflict resolution. It starts with an introduction of responsive and collaborative approach and participatory methods and continues with the theory and practice of collaboration governance, mediation and consensus building. It includes elements of interest-based negotiation theory at its core and builds on the collaborative model of consensus building.
Modes of study
Lectures, pre-course reading material, group works and field visit.
All students need to participate 80% of course sessions as well as actively carry out writing and reading outside of course sessions. The deadline for the final course diary including all reflections written during the course will be one month after the course. If you cannot fully participate in all these course requirements, you cannot get the ECTS credits.
Learning materials
Pre-course reading materials will be available for the students. Please, read the pre-course reading materials before the course. Those articles will help you to understand and follow the course. All students are expected to carry out literature search related to course topics. Lecturers will provide some additional lists of literature, which students could use for their course diaries.
Prerequisites
Bachelor level basic studies e.g. in field of environmental politics, forest policy and economics, environmental issues, natural resources governance, sociology or political science. Or studies/practical experience in environmental conflict situations.
Further information
Maximum 30 students. The course language is English. The course is organized on-site at Joensuu campus. It is not possible to participate online or remotely.
Course dates: 10-21 August 2026
Course code in Peppi: (TBA)
ECTS: 5
Campus: Joensuu
The course on “Ecology and Climate” change will focus on the interactions of climate change, soils and water in headwatersheds. Climate change will change soil processes quite drastically. As a result, aquatic ecosystems’ resilience is also affected because these are closely linked to soils. As an interdisciplinary project the summer school will deal with ecological, socio-cultural and economic aspects of climate change. There will be an important hands-on component where we will learn field and lab methods. The summer school will be organised jointly with the Eco2adapt and Microeco projects as a collaboration of the Universities of Eastern Finland, the University of Belgrade (Serbia), CATIE (Costa-Rica) and the Zhejiang A&F (China) Universities.
NB! Course is organized in Joensuu, Finland. Remote/online participation is not possible.
Social programme
Your stay here at the UEF will not be studying only - although that can be fun, too.
You can enjoy the eastern Finnish nature on your leisure time. Why not try out, for example, canoeing on the river or lake, play beach volley, go Nordic walking in the forest, take a sauna and go swimming in our beautiful lakes? Or you can just relax with your fellow students on the numerous terraces and cafeterias around our campus cities.
We hope you enjoy your stay in Finland. That’s why we will also organise some guided social programme during the weeks and the weekend.
Registration to the social programme is done separately from course application and course registration. Participants will be informed about registring for events separately by email.
NB! These events were organised in August 2025. Program for summer 2026 will be announced in late July 2026.
Monday 11 August
Welcome Dinner
Tuesday 12 August
Walking City Tour
Thursday 14 August
Hangout picnic
Saturday 16 August
Trip to Kuopio
Tuesday 19 August
Cruise to Lake Pyhäselkä
Wednesday 20 August
Sauna Evening
Friday 22 August
Farewell Dinner