DWRAE SUBPROGRAMME
Subprogramme on Developmental Work Research and Adult Education
The executive team of DWRAE during 2010-2013
- Head Professor Yrjö Engeström, (adult educational science), Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research, University of Helsinki
- Vice-Head Professor Reijo Miettinen, (research of innovation and science), Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research, University of Helsinki
- Senior Researcher Ritva Engeström, (sociology) Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research, University of Helsinki
- Professor Jaakko Virkkunen, (adult educational science, especially developing work research), Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research, University of Helsinki
- Ph.D. Hanna Toiviainen, Center for Activity Theory and Developmental Work Research, Helsingin yliopisto
Research area of DWRAE
The activities of the DWRAE subprogramme are based on the following themes of research and researcher education, which, in turn, are aligned with numerous associated research groups and projects:
- Research on new forms of work and learning, networks of functional systems and boundary-crossing joint development and associated work-life interventions (expansive learning)
- Research on innovations and new scientific tools and network forms, such as internet-based open models of development (research of science and technology)
- Research on collective actorship, transformative actions, action concepts and learning networks and participatory development (organisational research, work-welfare research)
- Research on crossing boundaries between school and work, preconditions of developing transfer and creating new interfaces and interventions combined with developing methodologies of practice-bound research (research on higher education, cross-disciplinary methods research)
The development of the Finnish society as part of global economy is strongly dependent on the control of changes in work processes, technology and organizations, innovations and related learning processes. Traditionally, Finland has lacked scientifically strong centres of research into technological and organizational innovations. This has lead to a growing dependency on foreign standard products, for example, in consult services used by businesses. Learning must be viewed as part of changing work, technologies and organizations. In order to understand learning, we will have to explore collaborative processes operative in the creation of new societal practices, tools and organisations. Therefore, cutting-edge operational systems with major on-going processes of change and innovation are important objects of study.
The research groups and projects on the field of DWRAE