Registration for the event has closed. If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact Project Coordinator Fiia Heljälä fiia.i.heljala@utu.fi.
September 23, 2026 at 7:00 AM – September 24, 2026 at 1:00 PM
EDUCA Consortium Meet - Shared Perspectives on the Future of Learning
Start
End
Location
University of Turku, Educarium and Publicum buildings (Assistentinkatu 5 and 7)
Contact
EDUCA Consortium Meet – Shared Perspectives on the Future of Learning brings together researchers and experts from across the EDUCA Flagship to explore current perspectives on learning, well-being, and educational development. Hosted by the University of Turku, the event offers opportunities for discussion, exchange, and networking.
The event begins on 23 September with a day dedicated to doctoral researchers participating in the EDUCA Doc pilot programme. Also their supervisors and other doctoral researchers are warmly welcome. On 24 September, the consortium day focuses on the themes of artificial intelligence in learning and well-being and learning. The programme features keynote presentations by Professor Pekka Abrahamsson (Tampere University) and Assistant Professor Frank Martela (Aalto University).
Registration
Program
The program for doctoral researchers will begin at 10:00 on Wednesday, Sep 23th. The consortium meet will commence at 9:00 on Thursday, Sep 24rd.
The events will take place in the Educarium (Edu) and Publicum (Pub) buildings on the University of Turku campus, located next to each other at Assistentinkatu 5 and 7, 20500 Turku.
You will find the program below. Minor changes are possible.
EDUCA Doc Pilot Meet Wedneday, Sep 23, 2026
Time | Program | Room |
|---|---|---|
9.30 | Registration opens | Educarium lobby |
10:00-10:20 | Welcome and topical issues | Edu1 |
10:20-11:45 | Where can a PhD take you? Careers in Academia and Beyond
| Edu1 |
11:45-13:00 | Lunch (own expense) | |
13:00-13:30 | LinkedIn in supporting career development
| Edu1 |
13:30-16:00 | CV-workshop
16:00 End of the program | Edu1 |
Informal Networking and After-Work Gathering | Saaristobaari Aurakatu 14, 20100 Turku |
EDUCA Consortium Meet Thursday, Sep 24, 2026
Time | Program | Room |
|---|---|---|
8:30 | Registration opens | Educarium lobby |
9:00-9:30 | Opening | Edu1 |
9:30-10:30 | Keynote: Professor Pekka Abrahamsson University of Tampere: AI in Academic Work | Edu1 |
10:30-10.55 | Coffee Break | Educarium lobby |
11:00-12:00 | Keynote: Assistant Professor Frank Martela Aalto University: Learning and Well-being in the School of the Future | Edu1 |
12:00-13:00 | Lunch (own expense) | |
13:00-14:15 | Roundtable Discussions | |
Doctoral Researcher Ismayil Hasanov: Cybersecurity and Its Importance | Edu360 | |
Professor Jake McMullen: AI in Academic Writing | Edu244 | |
Doctoral Researchers Prince Das Adhikary & Meiling Xu: Knowledge-Tracing in Action: Practical Applications of KT Algorithms | Edu361 | |
Senior Research Fellow Oskari Lahtinen: The Psychometrics of Hidden States in Educational Deep Learning Models | Pub299 | |
Professor Jari Metsämuuronen & Postdoctoral Researcher Romila Aziz: How to use LLM in analyzing open-ended and productive responses? | Pub309 | |
Professor Niina Junttila: Psychosocial Well-being in Schools | Edu359 | |
Researcher Emil Salovuori: Ihmisen perustarpeet hyvinvoinnin perustana (in Finnish only) | Pub368 | |
Counsellor of Education, Professor of Practice Pia Kola-Torvinen: Leading for Inclusion and Well-being | Pub209 | |
Senior Researcher, Professor of Practice Minna Kelhä: Schools as Part of the Local Community: Networks of Inclusion in Basic Education | Edu340 | |
University Research Fellow, Docent, Senior Lecturer Nelli Lyyra: Healthy Habits, Happy Lives? Exploring Well-being and Educational Pathways among School-Aged Children | Pub399 | |
14:15-14:45 | Coffee Break | Educarium lobby |
14:45-15:15 | Joint Wrap-up and Discussion of the Roundtable Sessions | Edu1 |
15:15-15:30 | Media and Impact Overview: Communications and Interaction Specialist Iira Hartikainen | Edu1 |
15:30-16:00 | Where Do We Go from Here?: Prof. Marja-Kristiina Lerkkanen, Prof. Mikko-Jussi Laakso, Prof. Niina Junttila. | Edu1 |
16:00 | End of the Day |
Pekka Abrahamsson is Professor of Software Engineering at Tampere University and an internationally experienced researcher specializing in artificial intelligence and software engineering. His current research focuses particularly on generative AI, large language models such as ChatGPT, and their applications in software development. Abrahamsson has held academic positions at several universities in Finland and internationally, and his work emphasizes translating AI research into practical solutions for companies, students, and society. In 2025, he was named AI Researcher of the Year in Finland.
Frank Martela is Assistant Professor of Organization Design at Aalto University, as well as a philosopher and author. His research focuses on the foundations of human well-being, motivation, meaningfulness, and meaningful work, with a particular interest in the conditions that enable individuals and communities to thrive. Martela holds doctorates in both philosophy and social sciences, and his research and writing on well-being and the meaning of life have reached broad international audiences. His work has also been featured in international media such as The New York Times and the BBC.
Travel and accommodation
Participants will be responsible for booking and paying for their own travel and accommodation according to their university's guidelines.
Travel
If you are arriving in Turku by train, Kupittaa railway station is within walking distance of the university campus. Turku Central Railway Station, located next to Logomo, is slightly further away, but there are also several local bus connections from the station to the university campus. Turku city centre is approximately a 20-minute walk from the campus and can also be easily reached by local bus. More information on local public transport and routes is available on the Föli website.
Accommodation
There are several accommodation options both near the University of Turku campus and in Turku city centre. Hotels in the city centre are a convenient option, as the university campus can be reached in approximately 20 minutes on foot or by a short local bus ride.
Hotels located conveniently for the event include, for example:
Campus map and restaurants
Arriving in Turku
If you are arriving in Turku by train, Kupittaa railway station is approximately a 15-minute walk from the university campus, while Turku Central Railway Station (Logomo) is approximately a 30-minute walk away. There are also several local bus connections from Logomo to the university campus.
Read more about arriving to the campus area here.
Read more about parking in the campus area here.
Conference venues and campus map
You can find the campus map and floor plans for the Educarium and Publicum buildings here.
Lunch restaurants
The following restaurants are located close to our conference venues. You can find lunch menus from https://www.unica.fi/
Notice that PhD students generally do not receive a discount from the student restaurants but pay the regular staff/visitor price.