Research team

Practice-based pedagogy

Education and training are in a state of flux, where change and uncertainty are constant. Continuous learning and changing skills needs, digitalisation and more personalised support needs are transforming teaching and learning.

But how should we learn and teach in a changing world? How to build a meaningful learning experience and an inspiring work-based learning environment? What kind of pedagogy supports learners’ personal needs and well-being and helps them to attach to the higher education community? In the Practice-based Pedagogy research group, we explore and develop different aspects of higher education and learning in a changing world.

Our research group is practice-oriented. We develop new methods and approaches based on research evidence.

By bringing knowledge and understanding to learning and quality education, we support students’ and teachers’ well-being, skills development and adaptation to changing job profiles. Research-based understanding in teaching development also provides support for pedagogical leadership and decision-making.

These we research and develop

  • linguistic and cultural diversity in higher education
  • pedagogical well-being and guidance
  • innovation pedagogy and competences
  • online learning environments and pedagogy
  • identification of competences, small sets of competences and electronic labels
  • multidisciplinary practice-based project learning
Meiju Keinänen

Our experts

The strength of our research group lies in the multidisciplinarity of the experts. Our operations combine field-specific expertise and versatile pedagogical competence with the strong financing and project expertise of TUAS project professionals. Key personnel are Maiju Keinänen ja Timo Halttunen.

  • Timo Halttunen

    Senior Advisor
    +358 50 431 1924
    timo.a.halttunen@turkuamk.fi
  • Tiina Hirard

    Senior Lecturer, Senior Lecturer
    +358 44 907 4992
    tiina.hirard@turkuamk.fi
  • Tarmo Karhu

    Senior Lecturer, Senior Lecturer
    +358 40 355 0189
    tarmo.karhu@turkuamk.fi
  • Poppy Skarli

    Senior Lecturer
    +358 44 907 4982
    poppy.skarli@turkuamk.fi
  • Piia Pesso

    Senior Lecturer
    +358 40 355 0386
    piia.pesso@turkuamk.fi
  • Piritta Saipa

    Senior Lecturer, Leader Practical Training
    +358 44 907 4984
    piritta.saipa@turkuamk.fi
  • Minna Björkberg-Suominen

    Senior Lecturer
    +358 40 355 0317
    minna.bjorkberg-suominen@turkuamk.fi
  • Meiju Keinänen

    Principal Lecturer, Principal Lecturer
    +358 40 355 0938
    meiju.keinanen@turkuamk.fi
  • Mauri Kantola

    Senior Advisor, Project Manager
    +358 50 385 4139
    mauri.kantola@turkuamk.fi
  • Mari Ketola

    Head of Education and Research
    +358 50 598 5347
    mari.ketola@turkuamk.fi
  • Katriina Vesanen

    Senior Lecturer
    +358 40 156 4005
    katriina.vesanen@turkuamk.fi
  • Kari Haajanen

    Senior Lecturer, Degree Programme Leader
    +358 50 598 5694
    kari.haajanen@turkuamk.fi

Learning environments are central to our activities, in particular the learning environments of the joint studies of the Technology and Business sector (mathematics, physics, languages, orientation and multidisciplinary project modules), which also serve as testbeds for RDI projects and as training and service products for external use.

We also work closely with the sector’s training and sector-specific learning environments and other research groups at Turku University of Applied Sciences.

Publications

Timo Halttunen, Christian Dragin-Jensen, Céline Kylänpää, Anders Karkov, 2023, Collaborative problem solving: a pedagogy for workplace relevance, The Nordic Journal of Vocational Education and Training (NJVET). Collaborative problem solving: a pedagogy for workplace relevance | Nordic Journal of Vocational Education and Training (liu.se)

Hirard, T. & Karaus, E. 2024. Complementary skills and networks for highly skilled immigrants. In (Kirjavainen, H. & Pettersson, A.) Higher education institutions supporting recent migrants. Turku University of Applied Sciences, reports 269. 37-42. https://www. theseus.fi/handle/10024/818716

Hänti, Sirpa, Keinänen Meiju, Välivirta-Havia Maria, Al-Bermanei Hazem, Ketola Mari and Heikkilä Jonna (2021) . Educator´s Guide for Designing Hybrid Learning Environments for the VUCA World, Course Material from Turku University of Applied Sciences.

Kantola, M. et al. 2023. Possible future scenarios for vocational higher education up to 2030, Futura.

Keinänen, M. (2019) Educating Innovative Professionals: a case study on researching students’ innovation competences in one Finnish University of Applied Sciences. Research Reports from Turku University of Applied Sciences 49.

Keinänen, M. & Välivirta Havia, M. (2022). Embedding Uncertainty in the Learning Process: An Evaluation Case-Study of VUCA Model in Education. Applied Degree Education and the Future of Learning, p. 151. Applied Degree Education and the Future of Learning SpringerLink

Keinänen, M. & Konst, T. 2024. Re-validating an assessment tool to identify, assess and develop higher education students’ innovation competence in online education. Book: Engaged Learning and Innovative Teaching in Higher Education. Springer.

Taru Konst, Tuija Koivunen and Mervi Friman, 2023, Building a sustainable future: ideas and perceptions of university staff, Foresight. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/FS-12-2022-0170/full/html

Paula Tyrväinen, Mauri Kantola & Sanna Simola, 2023, Building a CampusOnline portal for flexible learning. UAS Journal. building a CampusOnline portal for flexible learning – UAS Journal

Three smiling people sit on a staircase with a small table in the middle. On the table are three computers. The people are wearing colourful clothes.

Thesis in the Practice-oriented pedagogy research group
Practical training in the Practice-based pedagogy research group
YAMK research group studies

Continuous learning trainings for the research team
Specialist in Sustainable Tourism | 1 + 5 credits – Turun ammattikorkeakoulu (turkuamk.fi)
Uncertainty as an asset (incoming)
Networks to work – skills training for highly skilled immigrants
Preparatory training for higher education for immigrants

The Turku University of Applied Sciences Project Office offers support and guidance throughout the life cycle of an RDI project. Our project experts have years of experience and strong expertise in national and international funding programmes. We have more than 200 projects running every year, and our RDI activities have received more than €10 million in external funding.