Previous research has identified a well-established link between teachers' beliefs and the practical implications of technology-enhanced learning (TEL). Until recently, there have been few studies of teachers' beliefs regarding their own role as developers of TEL in higher education. In this study, 18 university teachers' reflective writings on…

This article addresses teachers' challenges in relation to other stakeholders, in light of funding policies and evaluation mechanisms. In particular, a condition where pressures toward high pass rates or 'throughput' in the degree system provide a good negotiation position for students with little learning orientation as to their aspirations after…

This edited volume sets the stage for discussion on Education 4.0, with a focus on applied degree education and the future of work. Education 4.0 refers to the shifts in the education sector in response to Industry 4.0 where digital transformation is impacting the ways in which the world of work and our everyday lives are becoming increasingly…

In this large-scale study, higher education teachers' descriptions of their own learning were examined with qualitative analysis involving application of principles of phenomenographic research. This study is unique: it is unusual to use large-scale data in qualitative studies. The data were collected through an e-mail survey sent to 5960 teachers…

In this article, we aim to identify university teachers' experiences of their roles and practices in different internationalising higher education environments. Reflections on the university teachers' self-conceptions are examined using a specific story-writing assignment and content analysis of the stories teachers produce. The method was adapted…

Much progress has been made in integrating information and communications technology (ICT) into careers practice, but there is still room for improvement. An international lens is adopted to examine some key elements that contribute to the successful integration of ICT into careers practice. We start by exploring the role of policy, using the UK…

This year the Research Institute for Higher Education in Hiroshima University hosted an international conference in close collaboration with Hijiyama University. The main purpose of the 2008 conference was to enable the participants to give preliminary country/regional reports based on their national/regional surveys. This publication reports the…

Examines gendered structures and processes of primary teacher education in Finland from a historical perspective, asserting that Finnish female teachers have been and are educated to be the "responsible other" and to be marginalized in comparison to male teachers. The paper states that primary education is considered one of the…

This paper is presented as one stage of a dissertation project titled "Educational Reform as a Social Field: Structuration of Discourse in Teacher Education in Finland." It examines educational transformations and continuities through a discourse analysis of governmental committee reports on teacher education, focusing primarily on the…

A Finnish program of professional development among entry-level teachers over one year used teacher portfolios to promote reflection and self-assessment on teaching experiences. Developmental essays written by participating teachers were analyzed for their reflectiveness, degree of professional autonomy, and focus on contextual factors and…

Changes in staffing patterns of Finnish universities are examined, particularly the increase in administrative staff in relation to academic staff. Explanations are offered for the decrease in maintenance, service, and auxiliary research and teaching personnel. New skills that are required in these areas and relations between administrative and…

Content analysis of 441 electronic mail (e-mail) messages used by 31 Finnish undergraduate students investigated the use of the medium for practicing argumentation (grounding of stated claims) in two teaching modes: a tutor-led seminar and self-directed student discussion. Results indicated argumentation improved during the experiment, especially…

Data from interviews with Finnish secondary school teachers and students and student essays that examined teacher authority and moral dilemmas indicated that the most problematic conflicts related to teacher-determined punishment. Teachers used manipulative means to control classroom life. Their education had not prepared them to handle situations…

Although commitment to equal opportunities in employment has been a major component of European Community legislation and although increasing numbers of European women are entering professions, women throughout Europe still face many barriers to advancing in their professions. Since the early 1970s, European governments including Finland have…