Introduction to the Department of Teacher Education
Comprehensive and research-based teacher education is one of the strengths of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥. At the Department of Teacher Education, students can study to become teachers, as well as complete the pedagogical studies required to qualify as a subject teacher.
The Department of Teacher Education conducts multidisciplinary, applied, and theoretical research. Our research focuses on the processes of learning, teaching and guidance, on teaching and guidance, and on the future of schools and learning environments.
We are in close dialogue with various stakeholders in society, in particular schools and education. We are actively creating new forms of collaboration to develop the pedagogical culture of teacher education and schools.
The Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ was founded in 1863 as Finland's first teacher training seminary. Its first director was Uno Cygnaeus.
The seminar made a significant contribution to the development of Finnish education and culture. Many of its students became cultural icons. Students who studied in Jyväskylä include Minna Canth, Johannes Linnankoski and J. H. Erkko. The first Finnish-Sámi writer, Pedar Jalvi, also studied at Jyväkylä Seminary. The seminary gave women their first opportunity for higher education.
The modern form of teacher training emerged in the 1970s. Class teacher training became a Master's degree programme and the pedagogical studies of subject teachers became the responsibility of teacher training institutes. The Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ also started training student counsellors in 1973.
