The aim of the Finnish Educational Research Association is to enhance educational research and dissemination of the findings in the field. The three cornerstones of the association’s activities are: organizing the annual conference, publishing, and enabling the functioning of the Special Interest Groups (SIG). The association also promotes conference and publication activities and strives to increase national and international co-operation between researchers in the field. In addition, it aims at increasing the visibility of educational discipline in the society and at communicating with other national and international actors in the field.

FERA was established in 1967. At the beginning of 2010, there were nearly 700 members in the association. FERA is a member of The European Educational Research Association (EERA).

Main tasks of the association are

* to promote educational research and co-operation between researchers in the field

* to expand the societal influence and connections of the association

* to strengthen co-operation with international and national scientific and other educational
   communities, with a special emphasis on The Federation of Finnish Learned Societies

Cornerstones of activities

* The Annual Conference of the Finnish Educational Research Association
* Publishing: Kasvatus,The Finnish Journal of Education (Journal), Research in Educational Sciences Publication Series, and Kasvatus & Aika online journal (a historically and socially orientated publication of the History of Education Network)
* Special Interest Groups (SIG)

Future challenges

The association has become significantly more active in the 21^st century. Nevertheless, much remains to be done around each of the three cornerstones. Moreover, the association will strive to extend the social dialogue in the field of education. It is extremely important to increase the visibility and social influence of education and the related research on all forums. The significance of such dialogue is not restricted to strengthening and improving our own discipline, but instead it will affect the development of the entire country’s education sector in general. According to a survey carried out by the association in 2007, members and other respondents found it crucial that the association should actively maintain such dialogue. In addition to increasing the social dialogue and enhancing the above-mentioned basic functions, respondents wished that the association would increase international co-operation and communication with universities, and to generally diversify its activities. These points are included in the agenda for future improvements within the association. Thus the main goals for 2010 are to

* Enhance the publication activities of the association and those of the entire field of education in Finland
* Further develop the annual conference of the association
* Increase co-operation between researchers in the field
* Expand the activities of the association’s Special Interest Groups by increasing their support