Main supervisors

Markku Tukiainen

Professor

School of Computing

Markku supervises students with topics on interactive technologies, human-technology interaction, educational software and systems, or ICT4D. Furthermore, topics can be in the field of computing education (for example developing tools for learning and teaching basic programming). The doctoral student applicant should have the necessary technical skills (design, programming, electronics; depending on the topic) to build scalable and robust enough solutions during the course of studies. Good communication skills in written and spoken English is a must.

Matti Tedre

Professor

School of Computing

Matti supervises topics on computational thinking, computer science education, educational technology, ICT for development, and the history and philosophy of computer science. The doctoral student applicant must have the necessary domain-specific skills (e.g., development studies, education, or philosophy) and technical skills (e.g., programming and design of computational solutions). Usually, projects include a full cycle from literature research and research design to the design and implementation of interventions and an evaluation of those interventions. Fluent communication skills in written and spoken English are necessary.

Teemu Valtonen

Professor

School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education

Mohammed Saqr

Associate Professor

School of Computing

Mohammed Saqr supervises topics related to learning analytics, data mining in education, and technology-enhanced learning in general. Social network analysis in education and other fields like organizations, communities and groups, social media, and multimodal data. Topics related to the science of science such as citation analysis, bibliometrics, and open science are also relevant. I am also interested in the temporal aspect of human activities such as temporal aspects of learning, human interactions and the growth of scientific research.

Ilkka Jormanainen

University Lecturer

School of Computing

Ilkka supervises students with topics on educational robotics, educational data mining and learning analytics, or app and tool development for digital theology. Furthermore, topics can be in computing education (for example developing tools for learning and teaching basic programming). The doctoral student applicant should have the necessary technical skills (programming, robotics, electronics; depending on the topic) to build scalable and robust enough solutions during the course of studies. Good communication skills in written and spoken English is a must.

Mikko Apiola

University Lecturer

School of Computing

Mikko is interested in topics on computing education, educational technology, learning analytics, and ICT4D. Mikko is particularly interested in supervising topics in critical computing education. A dissertation should consist of one full design research cycle, which begins by creating an in-depth understanding of a topic through extensive literature research and background research, then proceeds to develop a proposed solution in the form of e.g. an educational intervention or a computational solution, and finally advances to rigorous evaluation in context. The applicant should have the needed skills in technology development or educational design, depending on the case, as well as good communication skills in English.

Sonsoles López-Pernas

Senior Researcher

School of Computing

Researcher in the field of educational technology with a focus on educational escape rooms, computer science education, and learning analytics. Other fields of interest: bibliometrics and data engineering.

Jarkko Suhonen

Staff Scientist

School of Computing

Jarkko supervises doctoral students who use design research, action research, design thinking, or other similar pragmatic approaches as their primary research framework/approach. Usually, a dissertation study includes a full design research cycle including an analysis of the practical problem, systematic exploration of related scientific literature, design and implementation of novel digital solution(s) to address the identified practical problem, and an evaluation of those interventions. I’m also happy to supervise topics that are related to the improvement of teaching and learning practices in higher education, preferably using contemporary digital technology solutions. The candidates should have previous experience in digital learning, ICT for development, or related areas.

Samuel Yigzaw

University Lecturer

School of Computing

Samuel’s research interest is in designing and developing a technology-enhanced collaboration platform for research and teaching-learning in developing countries’ higher education, which also addresses prevailing challenges in the local contexts beyond the technology tools and capabilities. He is currently working on the “Vauhtia uralle” project which aims to provide flexible paths to the skills needs of working life, mainly for young graduates. He is also representing UEF in the new Erasmus+ project called ‘TRUE – Transparency of Learning Outcomes through Blockchain Technology’ a consortium project of 8 European Institutions from the academia and the technology industry.

Ismaila Sanusi

Postdocoral Researcher

School of Computing

Ismaila is currently studying how to teach the basics of machine learning in K-12 settings. His research interest is democratizing machine learning and artificial intelligence through K-12.