Research group
FAIA – Functioning and Activity from Infancy to Adolescence
As a research group, we promote actions that increase the mobility and functional capacity of children, young people, students and their families through systems-level development and research. Our work is guided by translational and implementation research methods.
Children and young people are the adults of the future
When we promote factors that positively affect children’s and young people’s physical activity and functional capacity, we strengthen not only the present but also healthy future factors.
Our priorities are
- physical activity and activities that promote health, social relationships and learning
- environments and technologies that promote mobility and functional capacity.
We promote the well-being, health and social relationships of people of different ages when we research and develop operating environments and guidance that promote physical activity and functional capacity.
Niina Katajapuu, principal lecturer, leader of the research group
Our experts
Our members are doctors and masters in health sciences. All have extensive practical experience in physiotherapy and occupational therapy in the therapy, sport or exercise sector, as well as in multidisciplinary research and development. Our experts also have expertise in sensory integration, applied exercise, ethics, psychometrics, systemic organisational development and implementation research.
Education
Network and partners
We are part of the Centre of Excellence in Physical Education for Children and Youth, coordinated by the Paavo Nurmi Centre. The other partners of the Centre of Excellence are the University of Turku, Turku City Sports Services, Yrkeshögskolan Novia, Varha The wellbeing services county of Southwest Finland and the Southwest Finland District of the Mannerheim Child Protection League.
We are part of a national network of co-development of sports technology experts, sports clubs and sports stakeholders (LIUKAS), with the common goal of getting children and young people active and keeping physical activity as a permanent way of life.
We are part of the European network of universities of applied sciences, Carpe Sport and Exercise Special Interest Group.
We are part of a national implementation research network led by the University of Eastern Finland.
We also have partners such as Eerikkilä Sport & Outdoor Resort.
Services provided by our research team
We act and work wherever children, young people and their families are!
We also operate in the following research and development environments:
Strong project skills
The Turku University of Applied Sciences Project Office offers support and guidance throughout the life cycle of an RDI project. Our project experts have years of experience and strong expertise in national and international funding programmes. We have more than 200 projects running every year, and our RDI activities have received more than €10 million in external funding.