Sanna Ruhalahti

Sanna Ruhalahti, a Principal lecturer at Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Applied Research Center), brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her role. Here is an overview of professional expertise: 

Educational Background:  I hold a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Lapland, focusing on media pedagogy. My academic journey also includes a master's in entrepreneurship and business competence. 

Teaching Experience: With over 25 years of teaching experience, I have been actively involved in professional and vocational teacher education since 2007. And, I deeply understand online and remote learning, having spent two decades in this field. 

Current Roles and Projects:

• Teacher Educator: I currently work as a teacher educator and researcher, imparting knowledge and skills to future educators. 
• Education Developer: I contribute to various educational development initiatives, including TAMK's pedagogical development program. 
• Academy of Educators for Sustainable Future (EduSTA): I am part of this academy, focusing on developing digital and sustainable education practices. 

Research Interests:

• Higher Education Pedagogy: exploring effective teaching methods and learning design in higher education 
• Deeper Learning Outcomes: nvestigating ways to promote meaningful and profound learning experiences. 
• Learning Design: contributing to designing effective learning processes and environments. 
• Dialogical Skills in Learning Communities: researching communication skills within educational settings. 
• Online Learning: various aspects of online learning are interesting, including MOOCs, OERs, mLearning, PLEs, ePortfolios, and digital open badges. 

Talks about:

#competencebased
#deeperlearning
#dialogicalcompetence
#digitalopenbadges
#digitallearning
#digitalteaching
#learningdesign
#microcredentials
#softskills
#teacherscompetences

Pedagogy in education, communities and organisations

Doctoral dissertation

Ruhalahti, S. (2019). Redesigning a Pedagogical Model for Scaffolding Dialogical, Digital and Deep Learning in Vocational Teacher Education. Acta electronica Universitatis Lapponiensis 257. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-337-145-3 

Published in English:

 

• Ilola, H. Ruhalahti, S. & Tapani, A. (2025). Strengthening Higher Education Pedagogy Competences at Tampere University of Applied Sciences. TAMK International Blog. https://blogs.tuni.fi/tamk-international/education/strengthening-higher-education-pedagogy-competences-at-tampere-university-of-applied-sciences/
   
• Asikainen, E., Uusimäki, L., Ruhalahti, S., Teräs, H. & Brauer, S. (2025). Collaborative meaning-making: Teacher educators’ experiences in developing sustainability competence badges. Acta Didactica Norden, 19(2), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.5617/adno.11385
   
• Silvennoinen, M., Alanko-Turunen, M., Vilppola, J., & Ruhalahti, S. (2025). Themes and potential gaps in research on vocational education and universities of applied sciences in Finland: A scoping review of studies published in 2020–2022. European Journal of Education Studies, 12 (2), 14–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v12i2.5802
   
• Ruhalahti, S., & Heinonen, V. (2024). Empowering Educators: The Crucial Importance of Soft Skills in Teaching Today. Inter American Development Bank´s blog: Enfoque Educación.
   
• Heinonen, V., & Ruhalahti, S. (2024). Finnish Delegation at IDB Event: Collaborative Efforts for Education Reform in Latin America and the Caribbean. TAMK International blog.
   
• Ruhalahti, S., Cuenca, R. & Rieble-Aubourg, S. (2023). Acquiring Socio-emotional Skills through Digital Badge-Driven Learning: A Case Study of Teachers’ Experiences in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. Inter-American Development Bank, Discussion Paper. https://publications.iadb.org/en/acquiring-socio-emotional-skills-through-digital-badge-driven-learning-case-study-teachers
• Ruhalahti, S., Gil-Carcedo Cabezon, M., & Heinonen, V. (2022). ABC Learning Design Model in the Caribbean Context . TAMK International Blog.
   
• Ruhalahti, S., Lehto, T., Saarinen, S., & Katto, L. (2021). Identifying higher education first-year students' reported studying experiences during the pandemic. European Journal of Education Studies, 8(8), pp. 1–21. 
   
• Ruhalahti, S., Frangou, S-M., Sanfelice, D., Ho Thi Han, T. & Vasari, P. (2021). A Comparative study of Brazil, Finland and Vietnam: Soft Skills for Adult Educators. European Journal of Education Studies, 8(4), pp. 133–158. 
   
• Korhonen, A.-M., Ruhalahti, S., Lakkala, M., & Veermans, M. (2020). Vocational Student Teachers’ Self-Reported Experiences in Creating ePortfolios. International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training, 7(3), 278–301. https://doi.org/10.13152/IJRVET.7.3.2
   
• Ruhalahti, S. , Aarnio, H., & Ruokamo, H. (2018). Deep learning evaluation in vocational teacher education: Conducted on the principles of authentic and dialogical collaborative knowledge construction. Nordic Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 8(2), 22–47. doi.org//10.3384/njvet.2242-458X.188222
  
  The full list of my publications:
  https://sannaruhalahti.com/publications/