Family Research Centre, University of Jyväskylä

Family Research Centre,
University of Jyväskylä
P.O. Box 35 (Agora)
FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä
Finland
 
www.jyu.fi/ytk/laitokset/perhetutkimus/en

University of Jyväskylä is one of the biggest universities in Finland including seven faculties, 15 000 students and 2500 staff. It has a long tradition in educational sciences and family studies. Today family life and family relations are studied in several faculties and departments, and the university has defined children, young people and their growth environments as one of its main multidisciplinary areas of academic expertise.

Family Research Centre (FRC) was established in 1990. FRC is a multidisciplinary research centre that coordinates family research of the entire university. The main disciplines are sociology, social work, psychology, and educational sciences. The research carried out in FRC is focused mainly on families’ well-being, everyday family life, and changing and challenging family structures, for example the research project Children’s emotional security in multiple family relations, funded by the Academy of Finland (2010–2013). In addition, FRC coordinates the national Graduate School for Family Research, a national and multidisciplinary doctoral training programme comprised of six universities and their several departments. FRC also enhances other research training, improves links between research and practice, and participates in public discussion concerning family issues.

FRC is a partner in FAMILYPLATFORM together with the social work unit of the Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, where the main areas of expertise in research and teaching are eco-social social work, evaluation research, gender aspects in social work, childhood and family studies, and social care research.

Role within FAMILYPLATFORM:

IFRC is responsible for Existential Field 6: Social Care and Social Services, and for work undertaken as part of Major Trends.

Staff involved in FAMILYPLATFORM:

Kimmo Jokinen is the head of the Family Research Centre at the University of Jyväskylä. 

Marjo Kuronen is a senior lecturer in social work at the University of Jyväskylä, Department of Sciences and Philosophy. Currently on research leave, she is working as a senior researcher in FAMILYPLATFORM team.

Teppo Kroger is Social policy and social work researcher at Family Research Centre at the University of Jyvaskyla.

Lea Pulkkinnen is Professor in Psychology at University of Jyväskyla and sits on the Advisory Board of FAMILYPLATFORM.