The research group SpEdu

The research group SpEdu is Oulu University’s special education research group. It focuses on studying inclusion, participation and politics of belonging. We also study co-teaching and the work of special education teachers, study mathematical difficulties, well-being of severely disabled youngsters, and various support forms.

As a new theme, we study how pupil have experienced special education.

By spring 2025, six doctoral dissertations and one licentiate thesis in special education will have been approved at the University of Oulu.

KM Riikka Sirkko Opettajat ammatillisina toimijoina inkluusiota edistämässä, November 2020.

KM Helena Nykänen Veteen piirretty viiva. Opettajien ja rehtoreiden kokemuksia tehostetun tuen toteutumisesta perusopetuksen alakoulussa, Spring 2021.

KM Marjut Kokko Kohti uudenlaista opettajuutta: Yhteisopettajuus edistämässä opettajien yhteistyötä ja inkluusiota kouluissa, December 2021.

MEd Marjo-Rita Mäkäräinen ”Kaikki tarvitsevat ystäviä”- Kehitysvammaisten koululaisten ystävyyssuhteet, June 2022.

MEd Marja Kosola ”Adolescent's experiences in studying mathematics and receiving intensified support, October 2023

KM Ninnu Kotilainen Support for learning in lower secondary schools. Students', subject teachers' and special education teachers' perceptions and ideas for development, April 2025

Additionally, in 2025, a licentiate thesis was accepted at SpEdu, authored by Marianna Harutyunyan and titled: Inclusive Education in Armenia: Perspectives from teachers, parents, and support service specialists.

Publications of SpEdu:

Takala, M. & Sirkko, R. 2022. Pre-service teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion in Finland. Support for Learning. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-9604.12415

Takala, M., Pihlaja, P. & Viljamaa, E. 2022. ‘Yes, it’s good, but…’ – Student teachers’ inclusion. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2022.2115133

Kokko, M., Pihlaja, P. & Takala, M. 2022. Towards inclusive teaching: Finnish teachers’ justifications for co-teaching. Education in the North, 29(1), 61-83. https://doi.org/10.26203/0c1a-sq18

Takala, M. & Wickman, K. 2021. Samundervisning- en metod för inkluderande lärmiljöer. I Mara Westling Allodi (red.) Specialpedagogik för Lärare. Stockholm. Natur & Kultur. pp. 170-192.

Kokko, M.; Takala, M. & Pihlaja, P. 2021. Finnish teachers’ views on co-teaching. British Journal of Special Education. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8578.12348

Kokko, M.; Takala, M. & Muukkonen, H. 2020. Kohti uudenlaista opettajuutta: yhteisopettajuus haastamassa yksin tekemisen kulttuuria. NMI-Bulletin, 30(4), 41-58.

Sirkko, R., Takala, M., & Muukkonen, H. 2020. Yksin opettamisesta yhdessä opettamiseen: Onnistunut yhteisopettajuus inkluusion tukena. Kasvatus & Aika, 14(1), 26–43. https://doi.org/10.33350/ka.79918

Kotilainen, N. & Takala, M. 2024. “So much invisible work” -The role of special education teachers in Finnish lower secondary schools, Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, DOI: 10.1080/00313831.2024.2317733

Marjut Kokko's dissertation 17.12.2021: Pictured from left to right Opponent prof. Kristina Ström, Åbo Akademi, curator prof. Marjatta Takala, University of Oulu and doctoral candidate MEd Marjut Kokko.

Marjo-Rita Mäkäräinen's dissertation ceremony on June 3, 2022: In the photo, from left to right, opponent, docent Raija Pirttimaa, doctoral candidate MEd Marjo-Rita Mäkäräinen and curator prof. Marjatta Takala.

Marja Kosolas's dissertation ceremony on October 27, 2023: In the photo, from left to right, opponent, docent Minna Kyttälä, University of Turku, curator prof. Marjatta Takala and doctoral candidate MEd Marja Kosola.

Ninnu Kotilainen's public examination 25.4.2025: In the picture from the left: Opponent Docent Kim Wickman from Umeå University, doctoral candidate M.Sc. Ninnu Kotilainen and custos Marjatta Takala.