Empowering students with special needs
Liisa Kallio completed her Master's degree in Research in Special Needs Education in 2024. She now works as a special educational needs teacher in the Primary Years Programme at an IB (International Baccalaureate).
Based at an international school in Norway, Kallio works to support and enhance the educational journey of students with diverse needs. Her responsibilities include crafting individual education plans (IEP) in collaboration with the SEN coordinator, other teachers and the students' parents.
– My job is to plan these lessons to target the given goals and differentiate wherever needed. By combining one-on-one instruction with classroom support, I ensure that every student receives appropriate and tailored guidance.
The first year of the studies provides a comprehensive but surface level view on different aspects of the SNE field and the master’s thesis gives you an opportunity to deepen your knowledge in a particular topic.
– I had a clear career plan after my studies, so I strategically selected my master's thesis topic to focus on the international school context, ensuring its relevance and helping me build connections with schools.