Research-Based Teaching Brings Policy-Making to Life at the University of Jyväskylä
Research-Based Teaching Brings Policy-Making to Life at the University of Jyväskylä
Innovative teaching and research come together in an exciting learning activity developed within WP1 of the TAIMI project at the University of Jyväskylä.
As part of the advanced-level courses YKPS3012 – Processes in Social and Public Policy: Lectures and YKPS3013 – Processes in Social and Public Policy: Exercises, students participate in a collective bargaining simulation in the care sector, drawing directly from the project’s ongoing research.
The course structure combines strong theoretical foundations with practical, hands-on learning. Students first explore key themes related to institutions, political processes, and policy dynamics before moving into a simulation environment where they take on stakeholder roles, negotiate agreements, and navigate complex decision-making situations inspired by real-world challenges.
This approach allows students to move beyond traditional classroom learning by actively experiencing how policy processes unfold in practice. Through the simulation, participants strengthen essential skills such as negotiation, collaboration, critical thinking, and the application of academic knowledge in demanding policy environments.
By connecting research insights with interactive teaching methods, the initiative helps students better understand the social, economic, and political complexities that shape collective agreements and public policy processes. At the same time, it demonstrates how research-based education can prepare students to engage with real-world societal challenges in meaningful and practical ways.
The TAIMI project is proud to support teaching approaches that foster critical reflection, active participation, and deeper engagement with contemporary policy issues.
Contributors:
Nathan Lillie
Quivine Ndomo
Sarah Tornberg