Education, Teacher training
Major subject – Education, Teacher training
The aim of teaching is to influence individuals’ learning in a goal-directed manner and using different methods. Education (or pedagogy) refers to the study of education, teaching and schooling with a special focus of the education of children and youth. If you are studying to be a class teacher, your major subject will be Education, Teacher training. During your studies, you will gain the advanced knowledge and competence required of a teacher to meet the daily challenges at school and in society. You will reflect on the teacher’s professional identity and acquire tools to contribute to the inclusive school. You will learn about the development of children and youth, and become aware of gender issues, diversity and digitalisation in education. You will be trained in how to plan and implement teaching, while also gaining abilities to critically review your teaching on the basis of contemporary scientific theories.
Your studies in Education will be diverse, providing you with a broad foundation for your future profession. Subject didactics will be your first long minor subject, together with the different subjects and subject modules included in basic education. An important part of your studies is practical training, which you will complete in several periods at the Vaasa Teacher Training School or a language-immersion school and a field school of your choice.
Research
The subject combines research, practical experience and social engagement. As a Master of Education, you will have excellent opportunities to work in teaching, development roles and leadership positions within the education sector, as well as to progress to postgraduate research studies.
In relation to the primary school teacher training programme, national and international research is conducted in the field of pedagogy with a focus on teacher education, as well as subject didactics. The research focuses, for example, on the teaching profession of the future and how the Finnish education system is addressing future challenges such as individualisation, social exclusion, digitalisation and diversity.
In relation to the language immersion specialisation, national and international research is carried out relating to language immersion pedagogy, language- and subject-integrated teaching, language-aware and language-supportive teaching, bilingualism and multilingualism, and Swedish as a second language.
Career opportunities
The primary school teacher training programme qualifies you to teach grades 1–6 and in pre-school. The vast majority of those who have completed the programme work as teachers in primary education. Some graduates go on to further study and become researchers and university lecturers, whilst others may work as pre-school teachers, early years educators, language teachers, headteachers or training managers within various organisations. For example, there are teachers working at various foundations and many class teachers also find roles in television and the media, as well as in the music and entertainment industries. Studying pedagogy equips you with skills that are valuable in many areas of the labour market, not least within the school system!