It is time to announce this autumn’s FinEd Online Research Talks (FORT)! Our FORT events comprise one-hour online talks on current topics in educational sciences, showcasing the wide variety of research conducted in FinEd’s member universities. While the FORT events are targeted particularly for PhD researchers, other members of the scientific community, as well as all other interested parties, are also warmly welcome. Participation is free, hope to see many of you there!
2 October 2025, from 12:00–13:00
Science, theories, and values – Professor, Dean of Research Katariina Holma (University of Oulu)
The presentation examines foundational issues in the philosophy of science as they relate to educational research, focusing on the interconnected notions of science, theory, and values. It offers a reflective analysis of the nature of science and its role in society, highlighting the tension between the demand for objectivity and the diversity of human perspectives and theoretical frameworks. The discussion considers how theoretical assumptions shape the very understanding of research phenomena and emphasizes that the concept of education itself is open to multiple interpretations, each conditioned by the lens through which it is viewed. These divergent conceptualizations affect not only research design but also the formulation of questions and the interpretation of findings. Finally, the presentation explores the relation between science and values, asking which values are intrinsic to scientific practice, how external societal values influence inquiry, and to what extent researchers’ personal values should be seen as part of the research process.
Link to Prof. Holma’s talk https://uef.zoom.us/j/64397116794?pwd=gKUVkPxQ6RrFnZGjbVjYOzAbBgUqSX.1, Meeting ID: 643 9711 6794, Passcode: 588172
11 December 2025, from 12:00–13:00
Educating enterprising and employable higher education graduates: highfliers or exhausted achievers? Professor, Deputy Head for Research Päivi Siivonen (University of Turku)
The lecture is based on research done in a RCF funded project titled “Higher education graduate employability and social positioning in the labour market” (2018–2022). Employability is examined critically as an individualistic neoliberal discourse that assigns responsibility and sets new kinds of demands for higher education graduates. They must be creative, passionate and enthusiastic, innovative and risk-taking, as well as active, flexible and equipped with personal social skills. The lecture will demonstrate how graduates interpret and negotiate these demands. It will also show some of the consequences of continuous self-development to meet these demands for graduates themselves. It will be shown how young graduates need to prove their worth in organisations where they work to compensate for young age and lack of work experience as well as for female gender in the masculine subtext.
Link to Prof. Siivonen’s talk https://uef.zoom.us/j/67099609016?pwd=KRuWZnUEqi7zz35GDIh1cXG6UlfCBz.1, Meeting ID: 670 9960 9016 Passcode: 774726
