The School of Educational Sciences and Psychology combines the competences of adult education, education, special education, psychology and counselling. Each of our study programmes provides skills for doing human-centric, important and valuable work.
Our school is an important social expert, operator and developer regionally, nationally and internationally.
125
Peer-reviewed publications (2022)
120
bachelor's degrees issued (2022)
155
master's degrees issued (2022)
Research
We do research in education, learning environments, learning, well-being, need for special support, technological solutions, evaluation, counselling, life course and health-related psychology.
Our research is multidisciplinary and it has a strong connection to and impact on the surrounding society and current phenomena. Our research objectives are closely related to developing and supporting learning, childhood education and care, education and working life.
Research areas
The primary focus of research in Education and Adult Education is on citizenship, educational philosophy and history, learning environments, liberal education, its various forms of impact and developmental evaluation.
Special education research is multidisciplinary and it is focused on people in need of support ranging from children in primary school to adults. Points of view include support for learning, well-being, technological solutions, assessment and learning environments. The special characteristic and strength of our research are longitudinal research frameworks, interventions and case studies.
The overarching theme of research in Career Counselling comprises counselling and the life course in their societal contexts. The main research themes are counselling processes and the assessment of their effects, the diversity of the life, education and career paths of individuals and communities, and research on and development of guidance services.
Multidisciplinary quantitative and qualitative research
Our research is multidisciplinary. We approach psychological phenomena from the perspectives of society and culture, life course, children and families, school and education, work, professions, and climate change. Research focuses on health, education, work and organisations, and forensic psychology.
We use a wide range of research methods. Our critical psychology research group utilises narrative and discursive methods to explore issues such as life courses, understandings of health and illness with their cultural connotations, and ideals of education and work and their meaning for people. The qualitative strand also includes our research on, for example, perceptions of psychologists and their professional practices.
We conduct register research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses to provide a comprehensive and reliable overview of findings from large datasets and individual studies. We use our quantitative research expertise to look at well-being at work and work ability, as well as depression and recovery. In the area of health psychology, we study the well-being of students and teachers in different countries and the well-being and work capacity of employees in a changing workplace. Our health psychology research also includes themes from positive psychology, such as empowerment, recovery from work and supporting well-being at work. In the area of forensic psychology, our research focuses on crimes against children, both from the perspective of children and offenders.
Research co-operation and dissertation supervision
- If you are interested in mental health and well-being research or forensic psychology, please contact Professor of Clinical Psychology Kirsi Honkalampi.
- If you are interested in occupational health psychology and health psychology issues, please contact Professor Taina Hintsa, Professor of Health Psychology.
- If you are interested in research related to critical psychology and qualitative methods, please contact Professor Katri Komulainen or University Lecturer Maija Korhonen.
- If you are interested in research issues related to school and student life, please contact University Lecturer Matti Kuittinen or Senior Lecturer Kati Kasanen.
- If you are interested in psychological issues and mental health in working life, please contact Marianna Virtanen, Professor of Work Psychology.
Our research groups and projects
Studies
The School of Educational Sciences and Psychology offers degree programmes in the following disciplines: psychology, education, adult education, special education and counselling. In addition, we organise training that leads to the qualification of special education teachers, career counsellors and psychologists. Our school also offers minor subject studies in these disciplines and separate qualifying or specialisation studies to be completed after degree studies, such as the Certificate Programme for Special Education Teachers (Early Childhood Education and Care), the Certificate Programme for Special Education Teachers, Specialisation training for psychologists in health psychology, and Qualification Studies for Career Counsellors.
Our modern learning environments, seminars, groups and online environments enable flexibility in studying. In addition, most of the study programmes include periods of practical training or on-the-job learning.
Your choice of major subject affects your employment opportunities, which include schools, teaching, counselling and human resources management, as well as becoming a psychologist or trainer. Broad-based skills and competencies will guarantee access to a wide range of jobs.
In addition to our Doctoral programmes taught in English (see below), we also offer a variety of degree programmes taught in Finnish. To learn more about our degree programmes, please visit our page in Finnish.
News and events
Contact information
Please find a comprehensive list of staff members in UEF Connect, where you can also search people by name or key word.
University of Eastern Finland’s Student and Learning Services is responsible for providing general study-related administrative services for students and staff, as well as offer support for applicants.
Postal address
University of Eastern Finland
Philosophical Faculty
School of Educational Sciences and Psychology
P.O. Box 111, FI-80101
Finland
Visiting address
Yliopistonkatu 7, Futura, Joensuu