Suchergebnisse

This chapter reports on two Finnish cases based on recently commissioned research projects on media management: a study focusing on the state of media and communications policy in Finland, and a three-study project on new business models in news media (focusing on Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the United States and Germany). A public authority, the Ministry of Traffic and Communications, funded the first project as a part of a wider governmental programme with the goal of preparing a new national media policy programme. The second project was financed by an advocacy organisation for the Finnish newspaper industry together with a research foundation under the Finnish Media Federation. The project was oriented to insights that would help Finnish news media companies overcome challenges in a changing business environment. Given the range of stakeholders and funding models, the processes and goals of the two projects differ. In this chapter, we describe the projects and their processes from beginning to end and discuss their challenges, outcomes and impacts. ; peerReviewed

The Lutheran state church had a monopoly status in Finland for centuries. But its dominance slowly weakened as pietistic revival movements spread in Finland in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. These movements had religious purposes, but they were also forerunners of profound social and economic changes in Finland in the twentieth century. In challenging the role of the state church, they challenged national unity, spread Western cultural values, emphasized individual rights, and improved the status of women in society. Men of political eminence, such as Anders Chydenius, introduced these influences on Finnish economic life. Overall, the revival movements helped to pave the way for the modern Finnish welfare state. During that process, the church lost some of its most important social responsibilities – health care, education and social work – as these tasks were assumed by the secular Finnish state. ; peerReviewed

Tekoälyn yhteiskunnalliset vaikutukset ovat yksi aikamme merkittävimmistä kysymyksistä. Aihetta koskevaa tutkimusta on tehty viime vuosina monilla eri tieteenaloilla. Kuitenkin erityisesti poliittisen talouden rooli näissä keskusteluissa on jäänyt usein sivuosaan. Tässä katsausartikkelissa esitetään teoreettisesti jäsennelty katsaus eräistä poliittisen talouden tutkimuksen kannalta olennaisista tekoälypolitiikan ulottuvuuksista. Katsaus ohjaa kotimaista poliittisen talouden tutkimusta kohti ajankohtaisia käsitteellisiä ja empiirisiä kysymyksenasetteluja.

The chapter discusses discourses of "language" indexing social tasks of universities. We are interested in how talk of "language" is used to index the political, economic, educational, cultural etc. nature of higher education; in other words, what we talk about when we think we talk about language. We are mainly focusing on the position Swedish in the tensions of national language policies, higher education policies and internationalisation. In the chapter, we show the various ways in which higher education policies and language policies are intertwined, producing both intended and unintended language policy outcomes. ; peerReviewed

The subject of this study focuses on the idea of indigenous peoples' empowerment through neocolonial development. The research question of how the Ngada tribe responds regarding their experiences of neocolonialist administrative policies related to the development discourse is answered by applying postcolonial theory and the Foucauldian idea of critique to ethnographic material I collected in Indonesia. I analyzed this material by using narrative inquiry. The thesis statement is that empowerment-oriented programmes which focus on education and tourism cause vulnerability and segregation in the Ngada community. According to the material, education as a means of development separates the Ngada people from one another in three distinctive ways. It separates couples from each other, children from their homes and families and new graduates from their villages and ancestors. This has had a profound impact on the local economy. Furthermore, although education is very expensive for the locals, it rarely changes their opportunities in the future. Also, the idea of an indigenized curriculum has received a negative response, since such a curriculum could threaten the Ngada people's cultural continuity. When it comes to the tourism industry, an unequal relationship between the tourist and the destination community has compounded people's experience of their own marginality. Contacts between tourists and destination communities have been based on cultural violence, which raises criticism of the tourism industry among the Ngada people. Government support which is keen on developing tourism has made the situation worse, as it has created unnatural hierarchies in the Ngada community. Furthermore, unequal distribution of tourism revenues is a source of concern to many people as it creates conflicts. The people often respond to development-related policies as a whole by criticizing the government and politics. Corruption and an atmosphere of fear further increase the negative effects. Altogether, the political situation in the Ngada regency is pushing people to rely on their own indigenous cosmology, through which they seek and find their own empowerment.

The ambivalence of English manifests itself in the discourses that surround it. English may be a resource and consume resources; it empowers and oppresses. The dichotomous discussion around the usefulness or dangers of English as a "global" or "world" language erases problematizations of the layered societal implications of English in localised contexts. English needs to be analysed not (only) as a language but (also) as the ideologies and societal structures intertwined with it. We examine English in two higher education contexts. Our first case deals with the so-called Accent Reduction courses offered for international students in US universities. The second one analyses English as a language political catalyst in a nation state context. We conclude with a discussion of the nativist and nation-state-centred role of global English. We argue that to discuss English as a language oversimplifies the societal implications of the debate. When we think we talk about English, we are, in fact, talking about the various societal, political, economic, cultural and historical power dynamics that accompany it. ; peerReviewed

Before the emergence and high popularity of social media, individuals or even collectives of individual citizens rarely had strong voice in public discourse. Social media, and its social network sites (SNS), have allowed individual people to form communities to create discourse around issues they find meaningful, and even unite their power to fight for a common cause and potentially influence changes in society. The objectives of the thesis were to investigate what types of 'societal influence (SI) oriented SNS communities' the Internet and social media arena consists of and how their potential communicative power is formed, even to the extent that they can challenge news media and business organizations and government institutions. The theoretical framework introduces the necessary multidisciplinary research literature and nature of the thesis and makes a novel characterization of the 'SI oriented SNS communities'. The thesis consists of three empirical studies reported in original articles. The data were gathered through multiple, mixed qualitative and quantitative methods, including collecting computational large data sets, semi-structured survey and interviews, observation of Internet and social media contents, and news archive searches. Analysis methods include statistical analysis, content analysis, close reading, case studies and thematic and media content analysis. The thesis suggests that the SI oriented SNS communities function both as core agents and effective spaces of influencing change in society, and their communicative power is formed in two stages: Stage I consisting of communities gathering people and affecting collective image formation and Stage II consisting of communities creating concrete activities and alternate solutions. Further, the thesis located nine quality and behavior attributes central to the communicative power formation of the SNS communities, and divided them as essential attributes for Stage I and enabling attributes for Stage II communities. The thesis also suggests that the SNS communities and (traditional) news media have their unique roles as societal agenda setters and makes conclusions about their intertwined and complex power relations. The thesis finally gives cooperation insights for all the social media actors discussed in the thesis.

Abstract The Finnish notion of academic, scientific, research-based teacher education has become a frequently referred to idea within the Finnish educational discourses of research, policy, curriculum and practice. This study examines the current discourse of research based teacher education since its emergence during the 1970s reform that 'scientized' teacher education. Drawing on Foucauldian approaches of genealogy and governmentality studies, the purpose of this study is to explore the current presence of 'research' in Finnish teacher education and consider the effects of the ways in which the notion of research is mobilised in the discourse. The research questions are: 1. How are teacher subjectivities and notions of research constructed, assembled and mobilised in the discourse of research-based teacher education in Finland? 2. What social ideals circumscribe the aspirations for teachers as researchers and research-based teacher education in Finland? The analysis is carried out on academic publications that have been published on Finnish research-based teacher education. The findings, first, point to the discursive insertion of research into Finnish teacher education as a strategy through which to fabricate the teacher as autonomous and as emancipated from tradition. Secondly, the analysis addresses how an array of different significations of research are mobilised in the governing of the teacher as researcher. Thirdly, the analysis draws attention to the Lutheran Protestant legacy of the tradition of Bildung that has influenced the weak incentive for social and political orientations in Finnish teacher education. The effects of a scientific approach to teacher education are visible in the ways research-based teacher education comes to evoke specific teacher inner qualities and dispositions that are aligned with humanist aspirations and ideals for education and social progress. The study provides an alternative way for perceiving of and problematizing research-based teacher education as well as of the often uneasy relationship between teacher training and the university. In this way, the study attempts to complicate conversations and open up alternative ways of engaging with academic knowledge and practices in teacher education curriculum and research. ; Tiivistelmä Suomalaista kasvatusta koskevissa tutkimuksen, poliittisten linjausten, opetussuunnitelmien ja käytänteiden diskursseissa viitataan usein akateemiseen, tieteelliseen, tutkimusperustaiseen opettajankoulutukseen. Tässä tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan 1970-luvun tieteellistämisuudistuksen käynnistämää, nykymuotoisen tutkimusperustaisen opettajankoulutuksen diskurssia. Tutkimus ammentaa foucault'laisista genealogian ja hallinnan tutkimuksen lähestymistavoista. Tutkimustehtävänä on tarkastella "tutkimuksen" ilmenemismuotoja nykyisessä suomalaisessa opettajankoulutuksessa sekä näiden diskursiivisia vaikutuksia. Tutkimuskysymykset ovat: 1. Millä tavoin opettajasubjektiviteetit ja käsitykset "tutkimuksesta" rakentuvat, mobilisoituvat ja asettuvat toisiinsa nähden tutkimusperustaisen opettajankoulutuksen diskurssissa Suomessa? 2. Millaiset yhteiskunnalliset ihanteet määrittävät suomalaisen opettajankoulutuksen pyrkimyksiä kohti tutkivaa opettajuutta ja tutkimusperustaista opettajankoulutusta? Tutkimuksessa analysoidaan akateemisia julkaisuja suomalaisesta tutkimusperustaisesta opettajankoulutuksesta. Tutkimustulokset osoittavat "tutkimuksen" ilmentymisen suomalaisessa opettajankoulutuksessa strategiana, jonka kautta tuotetaan autonomisia opettajasubjekteja ja emansipoidaan opettaja tradition vallasta. Toiseksi analyysi tuo näkyviin, millä tavoin "tutkimuksen" eri merkitykset tulevat valjastetuiksi tutkivan opettajan hallinnassa. Kolmanneksi analyysi kiinnittää huomiota luterilaisen protestantismin vaikutuksiin sivistysajattelussa, mikä selittää suomalaisen opettajankoulutuksen heikkoa yhteiskunnallista ja poliittista orientaatiota. Tieteellisen lähestymistavan vaikutukset opettajankoulutukseen ilmenevät siinä, miten tutkimusperustainen opettajankoulutus tulee herättäneeksi opettajan sisäisiä ominaisuuksia ja mielenlaatuja, joita määrittävät humanistiset ideaalit kasvatuksesta ja yhteiskunnallisesta edistyksestä. Tutkimus tarjoaa vaihtoehtoisen tavan hahmottaa ja kyseenalaistaa tutkimusperustaista opettajankoulutusta sekä opettajankoulutuksen ja yliopiston usein ongelmallista suhdetta. Näinollen tutkimus pyrkii syventämään keskusteluja ja avaamaan vaihtoehtoisia tapoja tarkastella akateemista tietoa ja käytänteitä niin opettajankoulutuksen opetussuunnitelman kuin tutkimuksen osalta.

Muuttuvat tavoitteet, epätäydellinen informaatio, aikapaineet, epävarmuus ja vaihtuvat olosuhteet ovat julkisjohtajan arkipäivää. Näistä huolimatta julkisjohtaja on vastuussa toiminnalla aikaansaaduista tuloksista ja vaikutuksista. Tuloksiin ja vaikutuksiin tähtäävää julkisjohtamisen mallia toimeenpannaan suomalaisessa valtionhallinnossa tulosjohtamisen ja tulosohjauksen keinoin. Toiminnalle on asetettu tulostavoitteet, joiden toteutumista mitataan, seurataan ja arvioidaan. Pyrkimyksenä on hyvä, koko yhteiskuntaan vaikuttava toiminta. Auteron väitöskirjatutkimuksessa tarkastellaan tätä tulosjohtamisen monitulkintaisuutta erityisesti paloturvallisuuspolitiikassa. Tutkimuksen kohteena ovat palokuolemat vuosina 2007 - 2010. Hätätilanteissa ja onnettomuuksissa valtionjohto on vastuussa toimenpiteistä, ihmishenkien pelastamisesta ja onnettomuuksien ehkäisemisestä. Samaan aikaan kolmannes kohtalokkaista tulipaloista aiheutui inhimillisestä virheestä. Miten hyviä tuloksia sitten saavutetaan, kenen ansiota tai syytä tulokset ja vaikutukset lopulta ovat? Näihin kysymyksiin Anniina Auteron väitöstutkimus Ambiguity of performance management in the fire safety policy of Finland antaa uusia vastauksia. Autero tutkii tulosjohtamista paloturvallisuuspolitiikassa ja palokuolematapauksissa tulosjohtamisen syklin avulla. Sykli muodostuu politiikkaongelmien tunnistamisesta, toimenpiteiden valinnasta, tavoitteiden asettamisesta ja tulosten arvioinnista. Sykli jäljittelee täydellisen rationaalisuuden mallia, mutta kaikkiin syklin vaiheisiin liittyy monitulkintaisuutta, epävarmuutta ja epätäydellisyyttä. Yhteiskunnalliset ongelmat ovat monitulkintaisia, eikä täydellinen optimointi politiikkaongelmien ratkaisuissa ja päätöksenteossa ole mahdollista. Ei ole lainkaan selvää, miten tulokset ja vaikutukset syntyvät ja ovatko toisiaan läpileikkaavat politiikkatoimenpiteet yhteensopivia keskenään. Tupakointi oli palokuolematapauksissa tulipalojen yleisin syttymissyy. Useimmista tapauksista uhrit olivat myös alkoholin vaikutuksen alaisena ja heidän toimintakykynsä oli alentunut. Varomattomuus ja huolimattomuus olivat keskeisiä tekijöitä tulipalojen syttymisessä. Palokuolemiin liittyy myös syrjäytymistä, johon vaikuttavat muutokset useilla politiikkasektoreilla. Näiden tekijöiden vuoksi pelastustoimella itsellään on rajalliset mahdollisuudet vaikuttaa palokuolemien vähentämiseen ja sitä kautta toimia tuloksellisesti. Sisäasiainministeriön pelastusosasto johtaa ja valvoo pelastustointa. Alueelliset pelastuslaitokset hoitavat varsinaiset pelastustehtävät alueillaan ja kunnat rahoittavat pelastuslaitosten toiminnan. Varsinainen pelastustyö ja sen resursointi tapahtuu muualla ja siten pelastusosastolla on vain rajalliset mahdollisuudet vaikuttaa pelastustoimen tuloksellisuuteen. Tuloksellinen paloturvallisuuspolitiikka vaatii eri politiikkatoimijoiden yhteistyötä ja hallituksen asettaman sisäisen turvallisuuden ohjelman kaltaisia yhteistyömuotoja. Moniin palokuolemia ehkäiseviin toimenpiteisiin vaikuttavat erityisesti yksilöiden käyttäytyminen ja valinnat, joihin julkisjohtaja voi vaikuttaa vain rajallisesti. ; At the same time as uncertainty and vulnerability exist in today s society, requirements for public policies and actions are increasing. This study argues that performance management in governmental agencies and institutions is ambiguous. Shifting goals, incomplete information, time pressure, uncertainty, and volatile conditions are present in public decision maker s agenda. Uncertainty is an overwhelming feature in public management, especially in the rescue services, and in fire safety policy. It is uncertain where and when fires will occur; however, the unfortunate certainty is that they will, and decisions have to be made and actions taken. Concurrently, expectations improving performance in the public sector and in public actions are relatively high. The government is held responsible in terms of preventing accidents and disasters, and is accountable when taking action and saving lives during emergency situations. However, one-third of all deaths caused by fire In Finland were brought about by human error. Smoking is one of the most common causes of fires leading to human casualties. In most cases, the victims are under the influence of alcohol and are therefore helpless victims of fires. Carelessness and lack of caution have been identified as important contributory factors. In addition, it is widely supposed that fire deaths are a problem relating to social exclusion. For reasons of such an etiology, even the generally good proven performance of fire departments and fire brigades is not enough to ensure a reduction in the number of fire deaths and an improvement in performance. Gaining an improved performance and increased effectiveness has been a dominant feature in public administrations and public management in recent years. The public management model is based on performance management that aims at measurable results and outcomes in terms of public actions. The performance management model is studied as a cycle, where the identification of policy problems should be, and can be perfectly rational; policy targets are rationally set and policy actions are properly chosen. Given the same model, evaluations of the rationality of policy actions commonly entail accounting and outright measurement. At the heart of the performance management model lies the rational actor model. In a rational world, a rational actor would make optimal choices in a highly specified and clearly defined environment. However, public decision-making purports to be rational, but is constrained by limited cognitive capabilities and incomplete information that limits rational behavior. Research problems are both in general and in the particular application of fire safety policy regarded in the light of what is known as bounded rationality. The theory of bounded rationality has been elaborated on 1957, when Herbert A. Simon and James G. March developed it. The theory has been applied in different disciplines, for example, in economics. James G. March together with Johan P. Olsen in 1976 developed the theory even further in the context of organizational research and created the garbage can model, involving a complete cycle of choice and the theoretical concept of ambiguity. These theoretical tools are used in this study to scrutinize performance management in terms of fire safety policy. Performance management is ambiguous and ambiguity affects the coherence of the performance management cycle. How different but intercrossing policies go together and mutually support each other is studied through the concept of coherence. Ambiguity illustrates the complexity in organizational decision making, and coherence describes the relationship in organizational decision making between different phases in the performance management cycle, and between different policies. The fire safety policy and deaths caused by fire in Finland have been chosen as the empirical research subject due to the ambiguous character of this specific policy problem. Target setting in safety policies is ultimately ambiguous. Safety is, at the same time, an overall state of effectiveness and also a target for effectiveness. Safety is usually confronted by operative performance targets. The Government of Finland has set an objective that Finland will be the safest country in Europe in 2015 and fire deaths is one of the measures targeted for improving internal safety. By the end of 2015, the number of fire deaths should be reduced to 50. This objective is 37 deaths less than the average from the 1952 2010 yearly count, and, therefore, can be considered as ambitious. However, the optimal result would be zero, where no one would die in a fire, and without ambitious objectives, the relevant operations to curb deaths will not necessarily develop. Statistical variation, but also changes in society affect the number of fire deaths. No matter how carefully fire safety policy problems are identified, policy targets are set, policy actions are chosen, and policy measures are evaluated; rescue measures alone do not reduce the number of fire deaths. It is becoming increasingly common to state that many of the actions with respect to the threat from fire deaths should be preventive in nature, and that the implementation, and performance of these measures also require individual choice and responsibility, coherence, and co-operation between several policies, their planners, and the various implementing agencies involved.