The vision has been developed in a committed and persistent manner and in several phases in collaboration with the higher education institutions responsible of teacher education and key stakeholders since May 2024. The purpose of the vision is to guide the development of pre- and in-service teacher education and continuous learning in the long run. Teacher Education 2050 -vision is significant as a process and as a document, because we have not previously had a vision created by all teacher education institutions and stakeholders. The whole vision process was perceived good and successful among the higher education institutions and stakeholders.
Teacher Education 2050 -vision outlines the key aims and purposes of Finnish teacher education in the Finnish educational system and society. The construction of teacher’s expertise and professional agency is at the core of teacher education and throughout the career. The vision elaborates the changing landscape and many challenges that need to be considered differently in teacher education.
The purpose of institutional education is to create the conditions for a good and sustainable life, educate for democratic and responsible citizenship within and beyond Finland, as well as support continuous growth, development and Bildung throughout life. Enacting this purpose in a more complex and unpredictable world presupposes teachers’ strong professionalism and professional agency to learn independently and together with others throughout the teacher career.
Research-based teacher education and its’ continuous research-based development are essential in the changing environment. Teacher education admissions, teacher’s motivation and will to do teacher’s work, teacher expertise and its continuous development, networks and collaboration in teacher education as well as pedagogical leadership are important areas of development in teacher education and teacher’s work.
Teacher Education 2050 vision can be found from the website of the Finnish National Teacher Education Forum's repository. It has been published in Finnish, Swedish, and English.