Demystifying and Debunking ‘Lessons from Finland’ and ‘Lessons for Finland’
miNET is a hybrid research network formed initially in 2015 by researchers focused on unexamined blind spots caused by widening gaps in literature, knowledge, policy and practice(s) arising from uncritical thinking within education and explained by 20th century unquestioned assumptions. Blind spots within education are starkly evident when 21st century demographic realities connected to migration, mobilities and internationalization are examined in a critical light. This is especially clear with respect to Finland’s historical legacy of inclusion, access, social mobility and equality experienced across the general population. miNET’s research, teaching, and engagement is aimed squarely at the complexities of demographic challenges within society currently outpacing educator’s awareness and understanding of who is included in Finland’s education system – and who is not. The objectives of miNET include:
- Critically examining the structural and cultural possibilities and limitations of 21st century migration, mobilities and work/life integration driven by global higher education policy;
- Advancing a critical approach, modes of inquiry, and methods aimed at investigating migration, mobilities, and internationalization within education that manifest in wider society;
- Developing policy analysis and briefing material for government ministries and stakeholders throughout Finnish, Nordic, and European society;
- Identify, train, and connect scholars of migration, mobilities, and internationalization in order to strengthen the next generation of students, scholars and specialists in this area.
- miNET co-team leaders are part of the editorial team of JPHE - Journal of Praxis in Higher Education.
- miNET facilitates the trans-disciplinary master's thesis seminar: Contemporary Contested Complexity in Education
Team Leaders, Specialists and Coaches
- Hoffman, David - Docent, Senior Researcher, FIER, Co-Team Leader
- Ndomo, Quivine – Project Researcher, Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Co-Team Leader
- Khan, Jawaria - Doctoral Student, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, Co-Lead Developer, miNET Research Seminar
- Ballo, Anduena - Doctoral Student, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Communications Specialist
- Filippou, Kalypso - Post-doctoral Researcher, Faculty of Education, University of Turku, Thesis and Dissertation Coach
- Kärkkäinen, Katarzyna - Post-doctoral Researcher, FIER, Master’s Thesis Coach
- Ramamoorthi, Bhavani - Doctoral Student, Institute of Educational Leadership, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Master’s Thesis Coach
- Marouli, Maria-Nefeli, Master's student, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Research Intern
Members
- Cheng-Yu Peter, Pan – Assistant professor, Department of Pedagogy, NLA Høgskolen Bergen, Norway
- Ennser-Kananen, Johanna - Academy of Finland Fellow, CALS
- Korhonen, Sirpa - Doctoral Student, Faculty of Humanities, Intercultural Communication
- Lahti, Malgorzata - Senior Lecturer in Intercultural Communication, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Language and Communication Studies
- Mathies, Charles - Academy of Finland Fellow, FIER
- Moate, Josephine - Post-doctoral Researcher, Department of Teacher Education
- Olbertz-Siitonen, Margarethe - Ph.D. Senior Lecturer Dept. of Language and Communication Studies, Intercultural Communication
- Saarinen, Taina - Research Professor, FIER
- Sahradyan, Sonya - Doctoral student, CALS
- Säntti, Heidi Student, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Cultural Environment Research (JyU) and CEO, Graphic Designer and Entrepreneur at Family Creatives Oy, Jyväskylä
- Siekkinen, Taru - Project Researcher, FIER
- Stikhin, Anatoly - Doctoral Student, Faculty of Education
- Ruotanen, Anna Visualist and photographer, Family Creatives Oy, Jyväskylä
- Weimer, Leasa - Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships & Initiatives, Fulbright Finland Foundation