Teacher education action plan: UT teacher education cannot develop without educational science

The University of Tartu’s teacher education action plan for 2016–2020, which was adopted last week, sets development goals and is an important source document for further cooperation in teacher education at the University of Tartu

The university aims to create research based educational innovation to meet society’s needs and to provide teacher education and be the market leader of teachers’ continuing education in Estonia. The action plan formulates five development goals and the activities required to achieve them. Through the Pedagogicum, the competence of all faculties is used to achieve these goals.

According to Professor Margus Pedaste, who is Head of Pedagogicum and coordinated the drafting of the action plan, the focus is on educational science and supporting research groups. “During the last years, there have been excellent results in several educational science fields but for research based studies we need this in all of the university’s priority specialisations,” he explains.

Secondly, the emphasis has moved from the development of curricula to studies and teaching methods. “We already have really good programmes but they are often not realised because of the habits of lecturers or students. We need to be even more demanding to ourselves and others, but also cooperate a lot more,” admits Pedaste, adding that: “Luckily, the European structural funds provide us with options to go through with the necessary developments.” The adopted action plan, therefore, is an important basis for planning the activities for the measures of the structural funds.

Pedaste says it is extremely important that the action plan, based on an extensive inquiry conducted in spring, was prepared in cooperation of representatives of all faculties and students, teachers and heads of schools. Nearly 700 people from the university and outside responded, including many people who do not have direct contact with teacher education. Margus Pedaste expressed his gratitude to all participants: “Thank you to everyone! This input was very important in setting the targets.”

Have a look at the teacher education action plan.

Additional information:
Margus Pedaste
Head of Pedagogicum, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Education, Professor of Educational Technology
515 6095, 737 (6021)
margus.pedaste@ut.ee