The leading principle of the Savonlinna Department of Teacher Education is to train ethically responsible teachers with an interest in culture and sustainable development who are able to reflect on and develop their own work and to carry out research supporting these aims. Multidisciplinary research into education, training, learning and learning environments is an essential part of the work of the college.

The Savonlinna Department of Teacher Education currently comprises some 700 students and 45 teachers. Degree programmes exist for prospective kindergarten teachers, teachers for primary and lower secondary schools, and teachers of domestic science and textile work. Students may specialise in several fields.

Future kindergarten teachers take the degree of Candidate of Education (i.e. Bachelor’s degree: 120 Finnish credit units) majoring in Pedagogy with special emphasis on early childhood education. Prospective teachers of primary/lower secondary school study for the degree of Master of Education (160 Finnish credit units), majoring in pedagogy. There is a wide choice of different minor subjects. Furthermore, those studying Domestic Science or Textile Science take the degree of Master of Education.

Students from our partner universities (SOCRATES/ ERASMUS partners, universities with bilateral agreements with the University of Joensuu institutions) and students from other colleges of education are welcome to study at our department.

We wish to plan an individually tailored study programme for each international student: our departmental coordinators and student tutors will provide you assistance in planning your studies in Savonlinna. The International Relations Co-ordinator will also assist visiting students in all practical and administrative matters.

As a visiting foreign student, you have a number of different opportunities for versatile study experience. During your exchange period in Savonlinna, you could, for example:

-participate in courses of Arts, Music, Sports/ Physical Education, Textiles, Domestic Science and other activities of practical nature – please note that the medium of instruction is usually Finnish; if needed, the instructions can be given partly in English

-choose courses from the other Savonlinna departments (School of Translation Studies or the Savonlinna Institute for Regional Development and Research/ Finnish University Network for Tourism Studies) if you have a sufficient knowledge of the language/ subject to follow the lectures (for example, Oral Expression in English or Sustainable Tourism)

-learn the basics of the Finnish language: Finnish for foreigners (beginner’s level) –course is arranged every year, usually beginning in September and continuing till May

-visit local schools / kindergartens and do comparative research on teaching at Finnish schools

-carry out individual research assignments with the assistance of our teaching staff; our teachers specialised, for example, in environmental education, sustainable development, ethics, learning in information technology environment, or early childhood education, can provide tutoring, guidance and advice in English and/or Swedish.

Foreign students can also take advantage of our modern facilities: several computer rooms for free use for all students (access to Internet and different electronic databases), and a well-equipped library with a wide range of journals and books in English/ other foreign languages, and an inter-library loan system enabling students to borrow books from other university libraries in Finland.

The relatively small size of our department will guarantee that all international students can get individual attention, and receive a warm welcome at our institution. Please contact the International Relations Coordinator for further information on studying at our department.