Emerging technologies such as affordable smart phones with 4G access, broadband internet, and interactive interfaces employing gestures or speech, are revolutionizing the ways we access information, learn new skills and interact with the world around us. However, developing world communities - who stand to benefit from such technologies - were, until recently, largely neglected. Interactive technologies provide a means to address learning challenges such as functional illiteracy and information access barriers, and can improve learning and education, health and wellbeing, and agricultural practices.

Team

Markku Turunen, Jaakko Hakulinen, Mikko Ruohonen, Sumita Sharma, Pekka Kallioniemi, Juhani Linna

The overall aim of the project is to improve productivity, livelihoods, nutrition and household wellbeing in Ghana and Uganda, while counteracting environmental degradation and mineral depletion caused by monocultures. The study will address both the individual farm level and the rural community level. Introducing the use of biofertilizers through a participatory process can highlight the potential of location-based resources, and empower the community more widely.

Team

Sumelius John (Project manager, Lindström Kristina (Principal investigator), Benjamin Ahiabor, John Baptist Tumuhairwe, Åsa Frostegård, Aserse Aregu (Participant), Vihinen Hilkka (Project manager), Sell Mila (Project manager), Sipiläinen Timo (Participant), Bäckman, Stefan, (Participant) Rosengren, Linda (Other)

Improving our understanding of human-environment relations, and particularly of human motivations, rationale and management regimes, is paramount to the success of any biodiversity conservation initiative involving local communities. By comparing approaches, challenges and successes across case study sites, this research aims to identify those contextual settings, socio-cultural traits, incentives, and practical tools that best foster optimum long-term integration of biodiversity conservation and local wellbeing.

Team

Anita Heim; Attila Paksi; Aina Brias; Marketta Vuola; Mohammad Mozumder

The main idea of FINDIgATE -project is to co-create a joint online course between HEIs in India and Finland. It is a pilot project which aim is to view how children's educational systems work in India and Finland and how they improve wellbeing.

Team

Senior lecturer Sanna Juvonen (Laurea UAS) Principal lecturer Päivi Marjanen (Laurea UAS) Professor Eila Lindfors (Turku University) University teacher Virpi Yliverronen (Turku University) Professor Francis Adaikalam (Loyola College) Professor Puspalata Pattojoshi (KIIT) Professor Koumudi Patil (IIT)

It focussed on improving vocational and adult education to respond better to concrete needs in society and industry; it engaged and encouraged female teachers and students to have an active role in development of their institutions, their communities and wider society; of entrepreneurship, basic social and health care, environmental education and waste management, updating of adult education provision, improving vocational teacher education; it encouraged universities to collaborate more concretely with adult and vocational institutes for example in graduate and doctoral thesis research.

Team

Anja Heikkinen, Perpetua Kalimasi Kilasi, Kimani Muturi

This research focuses on FBOs (World Vision, Fida International and Free Pentecostal Church of Tanzania) and their development projects by employing the capability approach and examining how the faith base influences assessments of valued functionings as aspects of good life, capabilities, and freedoms. Research is based on fieldwork in several regions in Tanzania.

Team

In terms of social wellbeing and economic activity, Lao PDR is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia. Yet it is rich in terms of natural resources and holds a huge potential in renewable energy sector. FREPLA project incorporates resource development view point into a single research and development (R&D) set-up. The project aimed at identifying interlinkages, barriers, trade-offs and synergies in using the full potential of rural energy resources and applying holistic water management in national strategic planning. The key message of the project was that it is necessary to assure that the Mekong and its ecosystem services (including national and regional agri- and aquaculture) are not excessively distrubed by hydropower or any other natural resource projects, such as mining.

Team

Jari Kaivo-Oja (FFRC), Sari Jusi (FFRC), Jyrki Luukkanen (FFRC), Khamso Kouphokham (MEM)

Impact assessments used by large-scale development projects are often portrayed as neutral tools providing objective and value-free information to decision-makers. However, scholars widely agree that impact assessments are inherently biased, political, and distorted by power dynamics. Using a forthcoming natural gas project in Mozambique as case study, my ethnographic field research provides important baseline study of the social, relational, and place-bound aspects of wellbeing, often overlooked in impact assessment processes.

Team

The concept of leadership is going through big changes. We have previously seen large changes in both the micro and macro levels of leadership. One of the key concepts to continue looking at would be the developing trends of virtualization and digitalization in regards to leadership. Long distance leadership especially through the internet, will be a fundamental skill required by future leaders. Digitalization is a common practice in many of today’s organizations, and mobile leadership is beginning to emerge as an equally important leadership tool. Working remotely from locations outside of the typical work environment is a growing trend within organizations and expert networks.

Team

Dr Päivi Huotari, Dr Päivi Tossavainen, Dr Marja Kukkurainen, Lecturer Pasi Laine, HAMK

ReWell-project aims at increasing the capacity of academic staffs to develop vocational and adult education programmes and practices, which promote sustainable use of countries´ natural and human resources, improve people´s employability and wellbeing and combat exclusion in Pirkanmaa, Morogoro and Kampala regions, in the context of global industry and trans-national policies. The project contains joint studies, teaching and supervision, based on collaborative research on regional adult and vocational education (VET). The shared themes in research, teaching and studies are: 1. Adult education and VET policy in regional and global perspective 2. Industrial, economical, environmental and welfare policy in regional and global perspective 3. Ethical and environmental aspects in adult and vocational education. 4. Role and responsibility of adult education and VET research and studies in regional and global perspective.

Team

Anja Heikkinen, Kirsi-Marja Varjokorpi, Tampere Perpetua Kalimasi, Haruni Muchuma, Mzumbe Kimani Muturi, Chris Serwanico, Kyambogo