Doctoral Programme on Learning, Teaching and Learning Environments Research (OPPI)

The Doctoral Programme on Learning, Teaching and Learning Environments Research (OPPI) trains internationally oriented, professional researchers and experts in learning, teaching and learning environments, who promote scientific evidence-based development in different fields of education.

OPPI provides an international, multidisciplinary research atmosphere with leading researchers of learning, teaching and learning environment as the supervisors of doctoral researchers’ dissertations. The Doctoral Programme organises high quality courses and seminars for doctoral researchers, also in co-operation with the international and national partners. The research on learning and education is recognised as one of the areas of strength in research at the University of Turku.

The Doctoral Programme is linked to the research conducted at the Department of Teacher Education and the Centre for Learning Research (CERLI). In addition to the research themes related to learning and learning environments, central research themes of the doctoral programme are teaching and teacher education.  OPPI is part of the Finnish Multidisciplinary Doctoral Training Network on Educational Sciences (FinEd).

OPPI Contact Information

Email: edupostgraduate@utu.fi

Director of OPPI:
Professor Sara Routarinne

Coordinator of OPPI:
Coordinator Sanna Niukko

UTUGS Funded Doctoral Researcher Positions

PERIOD 2024-2027

  • Geraldine Chell: 1.1.–31.12.2024. Supervisors: Mirjamaija Mikkilä-Erdmann, Tuike Iiskala, Anna Dillon (Emirates College for Advanced Education, UAE)
  • Mikko Haavisto: 1.8.2024–31.12.2025. Supervisors: Janne Lepola, Tomi Jaakkola
  • Arttu Korkeaniemi: 1.11.2024–31.12.2025. Supervisors: Eila Lindfors, Marja-Leena Rönkkö, Teija Koskela
  • Tiia Lindfors: 3 kk vuonna 2024. Supervisors: Janne Lepola, Anne Sorariutta, Anu Kajamies
  • Sanni Mäntyoja: 1.9.2024–31.12.2026. Supervisors: Janne Lepola, Juli-Anna Aerila
  • Jere Riekkinen: 1.1.2024–30.6.2026. Supervisors: Mari Murtonen, Petri Nokelainen (TAU)
  • Pauliina Salonen: 1.1.2024–31.12.2025. Supervisors: Jake McMullen, Minna Hannula-Sormunen
  • Ville Salonen: 1.7.-31.12.2024. Supervisors: Mari Murtonen, Henna Vilppu
  • Anni Vidbäck: 1.1. –31.12.2024. Supervisors: Mirjamaija Mikkilä-Erdmann, Tuike Iiskala

PERIOD 2023-2026

  • Ahonen, Heini: 1.1.2023-31.12.2024. Supervisors: Tuire Palonen, Kai Hakkarainen (HY)
  • Harju, Heidi : 4 months in 2024 and 9 months in 2025. Supervisors: Minna Hannula-Sormunen, Jake McMullen, Jo Van Hoof
  • Österholm, Erika: 5 months in 2023. Supervisors: Mari Murtonen, Tuike Iiskala, Outi Kortekangas-Savolainen

One doctoral researcher did not wish to have their name published. 

PERIOD 2021-2024

  • Eskola, Anna (Funded period: 6 months in 2021 and 1.1.2022–31.12.2023; Supervisors: Marja Vauras, Anu Kajamies, Mirjam Virtanen)
  • Luomaniemi, Katri (Funded period: 1.1.2021–31.12.2022; Supervisors: Minna Hannula-Sormunen, Jake McMullen)
  • Momeni, Seyed (Funded period: 1.1.–31.12.2023; Supervisors: Sara Routarinne, Juli-Anna Aerila, Koen Veermans)
  • Repo, Elisa (Funded period: 6 months in 2021; Supervisors: Sara Routarinne, Jenni Alisaari, Anneli Sarhimaa (Johannes Gutenberg -Universität Mainz)
Ongoing Doctoral Thesis in OPPI
The Steering Committee of OPPI Doctoral Programme, period 1.8.2023–31.7.2025

The Steering Committee of OPPI Doctoral Programme for the period 1.8.2023–31.7.2025

​Professor Sara Routarinne (Director, Chair)
University Research Fellow Tuike Iiskala (Vice-chair)
Professor Eila Lindfors
Professor Jan Löfström
Professor Mari Murtonen
Professor Marjaana Veermans
Associate Professor Jake McMullen
Docent Johanna Kaakinen (Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology)
University Research Fellow Laura Helle
University Research Fellow Teija Koskela
Academy Research Fellow Marjaana Puurtinen
Doctoral Researcher Heini Ahonen (1.8.2023-31.7.2025)
Doctoral Researcher Arttu Korkeaniemi (1.8.2023-31.7.2025)

Specialist: Professor, Vice Dean Piia Seppänen (Department of Education)

Administrators

Chief Academic Officer Anne Niemimäki
Coordinator Sanna Niukko

Sitaatti PhD Oppi Zhelezovskaia 1
Fruitful interaction with colleagues and supervisors, and participation in seminars and lectures are crucial in my studies in the OPPI Doctoral Programme. They open up great opportunities to gain broad understanding of educational research and to learn to think critically on different problems, all the way from local to global level.
Julia Zhelezovskaia, Doctoral Researcher in the OPPI doctoral programme