Kaarina Mönkkönen

I am involved in several research groups that study interaction between people, multi-professional teaching and collaboration. Multidisciplinary teaching and research offer me a possibility to develop my own perspectives beyond my own area of science. Dialogue is a central concept that has directed my research ever since my own doctoral dissertation. Dialogue also offers an important tool for understanding social and health care work and multiprofessional work. Another central concept that directs my work is impactful interaction. This implies that it is not enough that we collaborate, but that our collaboration has results. I have also researched people’s experiences of value and meaning, which we have also published on in 2023 in a book ‘Arvoa ja arvottomuuta’ loosely translated ‘Value and Valuelessness’ (Mönkkönen, Tapani & Kokkonen). We also published a book ‘Työyhteisötaidot digiajassa’ loosely translated ‘Work Community Skills in the Digital Age’ (Mönkkönen & Roos), where we contemplate what work community skills mean in the changed world of work. I have implemented different work life training for years on these aforementioned research themes.

I mainly teach in multidisciplinary courses, where students from different fields study multi-professional collaboration.  I also lead theses seminars and supervise doctoral dissertations.