The purpose of this book is to explain the function of the educationalists and educational research in Finnish society especially in developing the education system. Educational researchers, administrators, policymakers, teachers and other practitioners have worked in close cooperation in the development of the effective educational system. The aim has been to create equal learning opportunities. In this book Finnish educationalists describe education as understood and taught at Finnish universities, the roots of ongoing discussions in education, the function of educational knowledge in educating teachers and other experts, and the main contents in educating teachers and other educational experts.

The Editors: Ritva Jakku-Sihvonen, Ph.D., is Director of Quality Assurance and Monitoring at the National Board of Education. She is an expert on educational planning and evaluation.
Hannele Niemi, Ph.D., is Professor of Education and Vice-Rector at the University of Helsinki. Her research expertise is in teaching and learning and the development of teacher education.
The editors of this book have been responsible for the coordination of the Bologna process in the educational sciences and teacher education in Finland.

Contents: Ritva Jakku-Sihvonen/Hannele Niemi: Introduction - Michael Uljens: Education and Societal Change in the Global Age - Ari Kivelä/Pauli Siljander: Education in Finland - Theoretical Shifts of the Past Decades - Pauli Siljander: Education and «Bildung» in Modern Society - Developmental Trends of Finnish Educational and Sociocultural Processes - Päivi Atjonen: Educational Technology and Technology Education for a Better Private and Public Life - Principles and Practices from the Finnish Viewpoint - Pentti Hakkarainen: Curriculum Models of Early Childhood Education - Pertti Kansanen: Research-based Teacher Education - Leena Krokfors: Two-fold Role of Pedagogical Practice in Research-based Teacher Education - Veijo Meisalo: Subject Teacher Education in Finland: a Research-based Approach - The Role of Subject Didactics and Networking in Teacher Education - Viljo Kohonen: Towards Transformative Foreign Language Teacher Education: the Subject Teacher as a Professional Social Actor - Ritva Jakku-Sihvonen: Curricula for Majoring in Education - Anna Raija Nummenmaa/Tiina Soini: Post Graduate Studies in Educational Sciences.