VakaTuki - Support structures and management processes for early childhood service providers
The research project will be carried out in cooperation between the Universities of Eastern Finland, Helsinki, Jyväskylä and Oulu. Three sub-studies will be carried out, with the Universities of Eastern Finland and Helsinki being the main partners in the first sub-study, the University of Jyväskylä in the second and the University of Oulu in the third.
Table of contents
Project description
The aim of the VakaTuki research project is to find out how the amendment to the Early Childhood Education Act (540/2018) (1183/2021) on general, enhanced and special support in early childhood education and care will be implemented during its transition period (1 August 2022 - 31 December 2023). The study will examine the ways in which the law is implemented in different municipalities, such as the organisation of administrative processes, pedagogical solutions, staff resourcing and the involvement of carers. The research will provide information on the functioning of administrative processes, the needs for further development of the Act and how the new Act will guide the implementation of support and inclusion in municipalities and affect the needs of children and their carers participating in early childhood education and care.
The research project will be carried out in cooperation between the Universities of Eastern Finland, Helsinki, Jyväskylä and Oulu. Three sub-studies will be carried out, with the Universities of Eastern Finland and Helsinki being the main partners in the first sub-study, the University of Jyväskylä in the second and the University of Oulu in the third. In the first part of the study, the data was collected through an electronic survey from the heads of early childhood education and care in the municipalities. The survey data is nationwide in scope. This sub-study examines the administrative activities and processes related to the implementation of the Act at municipal level.
The second part of the study, carried out by the University of Jyväskylä, examines the change in the law through a survey of day-care centre directors. In the third part of the study, data will be collected through interviews and will examine the impact of the law change across the whole sector, from members of the Board of Education, to early childhood education professionals and child carers.
The research project is led by Professor Päivi Pihlaja of the University of Eastern Finland. The second sub-project will be led by Associate Professor Elina Fonsén from the University of Jyväskylä and the third sub-project by Professor Elina Viljamaa from the University of Oulu.
The project is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture.
More information on the research:
University of Helsinki:
Päivi Pihlaja, professori, tutkimushankkeen johtaja, paivi.pihlaja@uef.fi
Kata Kumpulainen, KM, projektisuunnittelija, kata.kumpulainen@helsinki.fi
Osahankkeiden johtajat ja tutkijat:
Jyväskylän yliopisto:
Elina Fonsén, dosentti, apulaisprofessori, osahankkeen johtaja
Lauri Heikonen, KT, tutkija
Oulun yliopisto:
Elina Viljamaa, KT, yliopistolehtori, osahankkeen johtaja
