Diak promotes the development of holistic diaconia by conducting research on religions, diaconal work, Christian education and the transformation of parishes. We engage in multidisciplinary research, development and educational collaboration with partners working in the field of diaconal work and with actors operating in diverse faith and belief contexts. Our network includes universities, universities of applied sciences, NGOs, diaconal practitioners, parishes and other religious organisations in Finland and abroad.
Examples of our research and projects
Barometer of Diaconia and Christian Education
The Barometer of Diaconia and Christian Education is a multidisciplinary study that surveys the views and experiences of diaconal workers and Christian educators within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. It gathers up‑to‑date information on everyday work, emerging phenomena and social disadvantage, and serves as a tool for advocacy and evidence‑based management. Read more on the website of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.
Parish Activities and Regional Development Trends research project
Rapid changes in local operating environments have a significant impact on parish activities and their development needs. The Parish Activities and Regional Development Trends project is a longitudinal study conducted by Diak. Through interviews, it collects data every two years from 25 different parishes.
Confirmation School Survey
Diak participates in the annual national Confirmation School Survey carried out by the Church Council together with confirmation school organisers. Respondents include confirmation school participants and youth leaders from that year, with over 20,000 respondents annually. Read more on the EVL Plus website.
SOWREL project
Diak and the University of Turku jointly implement the Social Work and Religion (SOWREL) research project. Its aim is to generate knowledge on the practical interpretation of religion and cultural meanings in social work. The goal is to strengthen professional competence in client work, particularly with minority groups. Read more about the project.