This qualitative study used in-depth interviews to investigate how gifted Finnish upper-secondary-school physics students (N = 24) actualize their physics talent in their career choices. The data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Half of the students had their primary career choice in natural sciences and engineering (NS&E). The…

Many countries are facing a shortage of science teacher candidates; thus, it becomes increasingly important to understand science preservice teachers' (PSTs') career entry motivations because it plays an important role in attaining and retaining talented science teachers. This study therefore aims to explore and compare science PSTs' motivations…

In this article I analyse merit-based exclusion in Finnish music schools for children and young people. I base my study on my earlier research on meritocracy and written data collected online from current and former music school students in the autumn and winter of 2015-2016. I am able to show there are implicit and explicit merit-based…

In this provocative volume, Chester E. Finn, Jr., and Brandon L. Wright argue that, for decades, the United States has done too little to focus on educating students to achieve at high levels. The authors identify two core problems: First, compared to other countries, the United States does not produce enough high achievers. Second, students from…

In the Finnish higher education system, government steering and the interests of industry and business have come to focus on the impact of the university in society. In 2010, "Aalto University" was created in a merger of three universities representing different academic fields. The new university developed a forward-looking strategy,…

Non-formal education has been suggested as becoming more and more important in the last decades. As the aims of non-formal education are broad and diverse, a large variety of non-formal learning activities is available. One of the emerging fields in many countries, among them Finland and Germany, has been the establishment of non-formal laboratory…

The academic terms and the periods of the courses related to the language development and communication differs considerably in the programs of the countries which train teachers for the special education department. The aim of this study is to examine the contents and credits of the communication and the language development courses in Teacher…

Divisive rhetoric and heated political discourse surround the identification and education of gifted students and lead to opposing philosophical issues of egalitarianism versus elitism. Researchers have long chronicled the ambivalence in the United States over the concepts of giftedness and intellectual talent (Benbow & Stanley, 1996; see also…

Research on entrepreneurship education (EE) has not discussed the comprehensive school's traditional discourse of abilities and the related aim of categorising pupils according to their "natural" talents. It has also neglected pupils' perceptions of entrepreneurial abilities; however, these perceptions are important for understanding the…

This article builds on two earlier studies. The first one defined and assessed technological competence among adolescents (Autio & Hansen, 2002). The second, traced three students who had achieved the best results in a measurement of technological competence given 15 years ago (Autio, 2011). This study showed that, in terms of technological…

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the ways gifted and talented pupils are served in Finland. The trend toward individualism and freedom of choice as well as national policy affecting gifted education are discussed. Empirical research on Finnish teachers' attitudes toward gifted education with respect to the national…

To be prepared for changing student talent pools in emerging geographical markets, and to remain attractive to the coming waves of student mobility, the European higher education sector must improve its ability to absorb international student talent in greater numbers. This paper presents an analysis of the nature and value of university-industry…

This article shows how important self-perception is for the development of academic talent and encourages researchers and educators to acknowledge this dimension more. Our emphasis is on mathematical talent; most of the empirical findings include Finnish Olympians or Pre-Olympians. Research shows a positive correlation between perceived ability…

The purpose of this study was to determine the elements motivating comprehensive school students to study technology education. The research was carried out as a qualitative case study and the material was collected through individual theme interviews. The study group consisted of two different test groups: novice and technological talents. In…

In this article, the authors examine the influence of attribution styles on the development of mathematical talent. The study employs a Self-Confidence Attitude Attribute Scale questionnaire, which measures ability and effort attributions. Participants are three groups of highly, moderately, or mildly mathematically gifted Finnish adolescents and…