Department of Nursing Science

The University of Kuopio has an international reputation in the fields of health, environment and well-being. On the national level, the University contributes to the improvement of well-being and quality of life through its operations of an internationally high quality. On the regional level, the University promotes the vitality of Eastern Finland in particular as well as the development of the Kuopio region and the entire region of Northern Savo as a growth centre.

The University of Kuopio has a close connection between research and education. In 2006 University of Kuopio received an international certificate for its high quality teaching. The University boasts several world class research units, Department of Nursing Science being evaluated as one of them in the 2007-2008 International Research Evaluation.

University of Kuopio was the first university in Finland to start with a degree programme in Health Administration with Nursing Science as a major in 1979. The Department of Nursing Science offers modern education, which qualify for versatile nursing science expertise work.  The department has three educational programmes in Finnish "Nursing Leadership and Management", "Preventive Nursing Science" and "Nurse Teacher Education" and also one in English "Master's Degree Programme in Health Promotion in Nursing Science".
Learning methods used include lectures, web-based learning, written essays, collaborative team work and practical training.

There are over 400 students in master, and 50 in doctoral level at the department. There are also many international students and applicants for doctoral studies in Nursing Science. The department provides high quality post-graduate education in Nursing Science in co-operation with the national departments of Nursing Science "Finnish Post-Graduate School in Nursing Science" and multidisciplinary international post-graduate schools.

Nursing research is one of the focus areas of the University of Kuopio. The main purpose of the research of the department is the enhancement of health and quality of life. The research monitors the progress of the discipline, developments in society and the definitions employed in educational and health policies. The research is focused on the following core areas: 1) health and wellbeing of children, youth and families; and 2) service structures and leadership in health care. Our wide-ranging and international research projects are based on both nursing science and multidisciplinary knowledge. (See further information in Research Programme)

The Department of Nursing Science is engaged in a wide variety of domestic  co-operation. National partners include universities, polytechnics, research institutions and social and health care organizations. The Department also enjoys strong international research partnerships in Europe, North America, Russia and Asia (universities, research institutions, network co-operation.) Representatives of the Department also participate in the research of the Transcultural Nursing Society, Sigma Theta Tau, WENR, WHO, European Academy of Nursing Science, NASV and Global Institute of Nursing and Health.

UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN FINLAND 2010

The University of Eastern Finland to be launched in 2010 is an international and multi-disciplinary university with a firm status among the leading universities in Finland. The new university will be formed of the main campuses in Joensuu and Kuopio, and there will also be a campus in Savonlinna. Read more about the new university in http://www.uef.fi/english/. The Department of Nursing Science has already started educational cooperation with the University of Joensuu for example in a form of an online course (25 ECTS) on intercultural competence in working life, see http://www.joensuu.fi/bsic/