Transformative Global Education and Learning in Teacher Education in Finland

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss developments in global education in Finnish teacher education. It argues for the necessity of a comprehensive approach which encompasses holistic reforms in formal educational institutions, but also in other sectors of society and in national policies. Special attention is given to the importance of teacher education in global education, as well as to the role of the Finnish core school curricula, the new national strategy for global education and the Education for Global Responsibility project at the University of Oulu in its development. The main parts of the article discuss and analyse the theoretical foundations and practical implications of critical intercultural pedagogy and transformative learning in teacher education in Oulu, Finland. The article ends by summarising the main results from the teacher education experiment, and with recommendations for future development.