Sirkku Kotilainen

Sirkku Kotilainen is a Professor of Media Education at the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences (ITC), Tampere University. Her research focuses on youth civic participation in digital societies, digital skills as critical media literacies, and participatory methodologies. She has conducted research for over 30 years and contributed to international projects like EuKids Online, exploring children and youth online experiences.

She teaches in international master’s programs such as the Sustainable Digital Life and Sustainable Digital Societies (Erasmus+), and supervises doctoral candidates in programs like Convergence of Humans and Machines (2023–2027). Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education and responsible consumption.

Recent research emphasizes ethical AI literacy, fact-checking pedagogy, and inclusive digital futures through design fiction. Over 240 activities include leadership in research projects, conference presentations, and supervisory roles. She actively participates in academic communities and policy discussions on digital competencies.