Meet Irene Pampallis, a current Master's degree student at the University of Turku and an UTUambassador 2020-2022!
"Hello! I am currently a second-year student in the Master’s Degree Programme in Education and Learning (EdLearn). I decided to pursue a master’s degree after teaching for several years as I wanted to better understand how students learn and how educational systems could be improved. The EdLearn programme was a perfect fit because it has a dual focus, encompassing both individual learning and systemic issues of policy and equality. Studying at UTU has been very different to my previous university experiences, but also very rewarding. Discussing educational issues with classmates from all over the world is stimulating, and the staff are supportive and approachable. When I am not studying, I like running, wandering in the forests (there are a lot of forests here), drinking tea with my friends, crocheting, and practising my Finnish on unsuspecting shop assistants."
Irene's study experience
I was a high school mathematics teacher for several years before I decided to apply for a master's degree. I enjoyed my job, but I wanted to know more about how students learn. I also wanted to learn more about teaching techniques that could support students at a wide range of ability levels. As a result, I decided to pursue a master's degree.
Finland stood out as a study destination because of its distinctive approach to education and to life in general. I thought it would be interesting to study in a country that prioritised holistic student growth above test scores, and which invested state resources to ensure a high level of social equality. And I was right!
My favourite courses have been "Inquiry of Issues in Education" and "Learning Environments, Motivation and Regulation of Learning". Both of these courses exposed me to new and exciting ways of thinking about the way we learn, teach and organise schooling.
I have also had the privilege of visiting several local schools and doing a teaching internship at Turku International School. It has been fantastic to get an up-close-and-personal look at the Finnish education system.
During my studies, I have realised that I am less interested in individual learning science than I originally thought. It's still fascinating to me, but I would rather read the research than do it myself! It turns out I'm more interested in policy issues and systemic change. In the future, I hope to contribute to improving the (e)quality of education in my home country of South Africa. Exactly how I might do this is still an open question - policy research, working in an educational NGO and working within government are all possibilities.