The first university teachers have started teaching planning in LUT University’s new social sciences degree program.
Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT has started hiring staff for the new social sciences education program. The first university teachers started work in the communication studies and social studies study programs last week.
The new social sciences education program will start next autumn. Four newly hired university teachers are now starting to plan the content of its bachelor’s program.
Forest relationship research examines values
Laine has studied the relationship between forest and man at the University of Helsinki. Most recently, he was involved in conducting research in which forest owners and forest professionals were interviewed about their thoughts and relationship with the forest.
– Even their views on what good forest management is, differed from each other. The forest relationship study helps us understand what kind of values \u200b\u200bare associated with the forest, Laine says.
In Laine’s opinion, bringing a social perspective to a technology-related educational institution like LUT is a wonderful opportunity.
– I was inspired by the strong connection of this new program to the themes of sustainability and the objective nature of the teaching. The young people who graduate from this program get to the top positions in the business world as experts, Laine is happy.
Food system, social media and equality as topics
The social sciences education program starting at LUT University studies people and communities as part of economic and technological systems.
Hanna-Mari Husu, director of the social sciences education program, teaches studies related to energy issues in the new program.
– We will teach about energy issues, among other things. There is a lot of technical research related to this in Luti, but the social sciences bring concepts such as inequality, justice and power into it, says Husu.
Husu has been responsible for assembling the staff of the new training program.
New university teachers start their duties in November-December.
The content to be taught in the training program is currently being planned.
– I come motivated and enthusiastic about a new task. It feels great to be involved in creating a completely new social science education program, which I expect will become a unique entity, says Puupponen.
The interest exceeded expectations
Filling the professorships of the study units is also underway.
Researchers were asked to indicate their interest in professorships with an open application.
– The interest exceeded our expectations. All in all, 168 people from all over the world expressed their interest in the task. This is a really good result, says Kallioinen-Mänttäri.
According to him, LUT’s social sciences education program is intended to grow to a program of one thousand students by 2030.
– Society needs experts who have an understanding of critical food, energy, transport and economic systems, and thus the ability to solve big social issues. We will work closely with companies, Kallioinen-Mänttäri sums up.
You can apply for the new program in the March joint application. 40 students are selected for the social science study program and 20 students for communication science.