Introduction to the Department of Education

Introduction to the Department of Education

At the Department of Education, we implement and develop our teaching and research in close cooperation with various actors in the field of education and training. We are also actively involved in international educational cooperation.

Introduction to the Department of Education

We train experts in adult education and pedagogy, special education, educational leadership, and early childhood education. We offer research-based Bachelor's and Master's degrees in national and international programmes, as well as postgraduate training in doctoral schools.

Our research activities are multidisciplinary and internationally networked. At the Department of Education, we implement and develop our teaching and research in close cooperation with various actors in the field of education and training.

History of the Department of Education

The Jyväskylä School of Education was established to train elementary school teachers on a two-year course. The picture shows the first year students in 1934. (Photo: University Museum)

The Jyväskylä School of Education was founded in 1934 to train elementary school teachers on a baccalaureate basis in two-year courses. In addition to the teacher's degree, it was possible to study separate courses in the field of education. In the early days, the college provided special privileges for graduates who had already obtained a master's degree to qualify as teachers.

In 1939, the school made it possible to take a postgraduate degree in elementary school teaching, but this did not prove popular, with teachers preferring to take individual courses in education.