{"id":284,"date":"2025-09-25T10:45:30","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T08:45:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.uef.fi\/uef-ypeda\/?page_id=284"},"modified":"2026-03-13T09:23:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T07:23:27","slug":"meet-the-team","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.uef.fi\/uef-ypeda\/meet-the-team\/?lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Team"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The UEF YPEDA team at the University of Eastern Finland was established at the beginning of 2024 to strengthen research and education in university pedagogy. We operate through collaboration between the School of Educational Sciences and Psychology and Student and Learning Services, and we promote the research\u2011based development of teaching at the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teaching<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We produce research\u2011based knowledge for use by the university community and support the development of the quality of teaching and learning. At the core of our educational offering is a 60 ECTS pedagogical programme that provides formal pedagogical qualification for teachers and is built on a research\u2011based curriculum. The implementation methods used in university pedagogy studies serve as a concrete model for teachers in planning, implementing, and developing their own teaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We conduct multi\u2011method research on university teaching and learning. In addition, we are responsible for the organisation of master\u2019s thesis, doctoral, and researcher seminars in university pedagogy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collaboration\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We are actively engaged in both national and international networks related to university teaching and learning, and we participate in research and development projects as well as expert working groups in collaboration with other stakeholders in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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University pedagogy team<\/h2>\n \n \n
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Heidi Hyytinen<\/p>\n \n

Professor<\/p>\n \n

University of Eastern Finland, Philosophical Faculty, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology<\/p>\n \n

Heidi Hyytinen, PhD, is a Full Professor of University Pedagogy at the School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland. Her research focuses on teaching and learning in higher education, with a particular emphasis on the development and assessment of generic skills. She has led and co-led several research projects in the field of higher education. <\/p>\n \n

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Neea Heinonen<\/p>\n \n

University Lecturer<\/p>\n \n

University of Eastern Finland, Philosophical Faculty, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology<\/p>\n \n

Neea Heinonen (PhD) works as a University Lecturer in University Pedagogy at the School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland. She teaches and supervises in both basic and intermediate studies in university pedagogy as well as in the master\u2019s thesis seminar in university pedagogy. Her research focuses on the development of university teachers\u2019 pedagogical expertise, particularly their ability to notice and interpret pedagogically significant situations in teaching and learning contexts (known as professional vision). In addition, her research interests include university teachers\u2019 conceptions of learning and teaching and how these are related to their observation and interpretation skills. Her experience is especially focused on multi\u2011method research designs and the use of eye\u2011tracking methods as part of university pedagogy research.<\/p>\n \n

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\n \"Sirkku\n <\/div>\n\n
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Sirkku L\u00e4hdesm\u00e4ki<\/p>\n \n

University Lecturer<\/p>\n \n

University of Eastern Finland, Philosophical Faculty, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology<\/p>\n \n

Sirkku L\u00e4hdesm\u00e4ki (PhD) works as a University Lecturer in University Pedagogy at the University of Eastern Finland. She is responsible for teaching in basic and intermediate studies, teaching practices, and the supervision of master\u2019s theses and doctoral dissertations. Her research interests include teachers\u2019 pedagogical use of artificial intelligence and related competences, such as digital competence, AI literacy, and self\u2011efficacy. In addition, she studies teachers\u2019 instructional design skills and their reflective skills related to pedagogical competence, as well as the methodological development of these areas. During the academic year -26, she is responsible for the development project Pedagogical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Assessment Processes.<\/p>\n \n

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\n \"Sanna\n <\/div>\n\n
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Sanna V\u00e4is\u00e4nen<\/p>\n \n

University Lecturer<\/p>\n \n

University of Eastern Finland, Philosophical Faculty, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology<\/p>\n \n

Sanna V\u00e4is\u00e4nen (PhD) is a University Lecturer in university pedagogy, teaching and supervising both basic and intermediate courses in university pedagogy and master\u2019s thesis seminar for undergraduate students. Her research interests include students\u2019 study-wellbeing, learning analytics, and flipped classroom, with a focus primarily on the higher education context. <\/p>\n \n

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Ulla Ritvanen<\/p>\n \n

Academic Affairs Specialist<\/p>\n \n

University of Eastern Finland, Student and Learning Services<\/p>\n \n

Ulla Ritvanen (M.Ed.) works as an Academic Affairs Specialist in Student and Learning Services. She teaches and provides guidance in the basic and intermediate university pedagogy courses, focusing particularly on teaching practice. She is also responsible for academic advising related to university pedagogy studies as well as recognition of prior learning processes. <\/p>\n \n

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Ilpo J\u00e4ppinen<\/p>\n \n

E-learning Specialist<\/p>\n \n

University of Eastern Finland, Student and Learning Services<\/p>\n \n \n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n \n
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\n \"Venla\n <\/div>\n\n
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Venla Hiltunen<\/p>\n \n

Academic Affairs Specialist<\/p>\n \n

University of Eastern Finland, Student and Learning Services<\/p>\n \n

Venla Hiltunen (MA) works as an Academic Affairs Specialist in Student and Learning Services at the University of Eastern Finland. Within the university pedagogy team, she is responsible for the study administration of university pedagogy studies, general study guidance, and internal communication.<\/p>\n \n

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Researchers<\/h2>\n \n \n
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\n \"Niko\n <\/div>\n\n
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Niko Loikkanen<\/p>\n \n

Doctoral Researcher, Project Researcher<\/p>\n \n

University of Eastern Finland, Philosophical Faculty, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology<\/p>\n \n

Niko Loikkanen is a doctoral researcher in the University Pedagogy Research Group at the School of Educational Sciences and Psychology of the University of Eastern Finland. His doctoral dissertation examines university teaching staff\u2019s AI-related literacy and competencies. In addition, he works as a project researcher in a project that develops AI based formative assessment practices.<\/p>\n \n

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Katja Suvanto<\/p>\n \n

Doctoral Researcher<\/p>\n \n

University of Eastern Finland, Philosophical Faculty, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology<\/p>\n \n

Katja Suvanto, MA, is a doctoral researcher in university pedagogy at University of Eastern Finland. Her research is about Finnish university students’ English language shame. Suvanto also works as a university instructor of academic English at University of Helsinki. <\/p>\n \n

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Henna Timonen<\/p>\n \n

University Teacher, Doctoral Researcher<\/p>\n \n

University of Eastern Finland, Philosophical Faculty, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology<\/p>\n \n

Henna Timonen, MA, works as a university teacher in the School of Educational Sciences and Psychology at the University of Eastern Finland. In her doctoral research, she examines questions of power and discourse in English Medium instruction (EMI) within the Finnish higher education context.<\/p>\n \n

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Lotta V\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4nen<\/p>\n \n

Doctoral Researcher<\/p>\n \n

University of Eastern Finland, Philosophical Faculty, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology<\/p>\n \n

Lotta V\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4nen is a doctoral researcher in the university pedagogy research group at the School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland. Her doctoral research examines higher education students\u2019 critical thinking skills, well\u2011being, and academic achievement, as well as the interrelations between these factors.<\/p>\n \n

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\n \"Jianjun\n <\/div>\n\n
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Jianjun Gordon Xu<\/p>\n \n

Doctoral Researcher<\/p>\n \n

University of Eastern Finland, Philosophical Faculty, School of Educational Sciences and Psychology<\/p>\n \n

Jianjun Gordon Xu, a doctoral researcher of University Pedagogy at the School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland. His research focuses on teaching and learning in higher education, with a particular emphasis on L1\/L2 writing motivation, writing assessment, and informal digital learning of English.<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The UEF YPEDA team at the University of Eastern Finland was established at the beginning of 2024 to strengthen research and education in university pedagogy. We operate through collaboration between the School of Educational Sciences and Psychology and Student and Learning Services, and we promote the research\u2011based development of teaching at the university. 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