Research on learning needs global and social science perspectives

The known reasons for the learning crisis are many: malnutrition, inadequate learning materials, alien language of instruction, absence of teachers, teacher/pupil ratio, and pedagogic practices in support of repeating rather than reflection. However, these problems are often consequence of challenges in governance and education policies.

Tiina Kontinen, who will start as an Associate Professor in International Development Studies in January 2020, emphasizes the global and societal dimensions in researching learning. The extant research in international development studies facilitates to understand issues such as dynamics of development interventions, colonial legacy inherent in educational systems and curricula, pathways leading to multiple inequalities, and diverse meanings the ordinary people attribute to education and learning.   

- Research and development on learning processes, learning materials and pedagogy are essential in addressing the learning crisis. The attempts to improve these areas might, however, be in vein if they are not embedded in the societal and political contexts, says Kontinen.

-We can recommend educational reforms that are excellent from our perspective and our experience. However, it is also important to realize, for instance, how a particular political settlement directs decision-makers to prioritize new school-buildings instead of focusing on improvements in learning taking place within these buildings, she continues.  

Education and learning enhance the possibilities of citizens to have a say on their own lives and environments. If children do not learn the basic literacy or mathematics in school, one can only assume that the learning outcomes regarding critical reflection and other citizen capacities are not excellent either.

The prevalent properties of a “good citizen”, such as alignment with authority and taking care of ones responsibilities, are often learned outside school, in the everyday practices as argued in the book Citizenship Practices in East Africa, just published by Kontinen’s research group.

Kontinen will coordinate the International Master’s Degree Programme Development, Education, and International Cooperation (DEICO) jointly organized by two Faculties. The curriculum combines international development studies and educational sciences.

-In addition to collaboration in teaching, my aim is to increase research collaboration revolved around the programme, both within our own university and in collaboration with universities in the global South. The analysis of global crises and search for their solutions requires multidisciplinary approaches, emphasizes Kontinen.

Please visit webpage for further information.

Further information:

Tiina Kontinen, email: tiina.t.kontinen@jyu.fi, tel. +358404856718
Communicatons Officer Anitta Kananen, anitta.kananen@jyu.fi, tel. 040 846 1395