Proceedings of the 8th International Academic Conference on Teaching, Learning and Education
Year: 2024
DOI:
[PDF]
Fostering VET Teachers’ Professional Growth: Insights from a Systematic Review
Gunta Siliņa-Jasjukeviča, Dzintra Iliško, Svetlana Surikova
ABSTRACT:
This study, conducted as part of project No. VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001 and funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia, focuses on the professional development of vocational education and training (VET) teachers. This is a critical area given the evolving demands of both industry and education. VET teachers play a vital role in bridging educational practices and industry needs, making their professional development essential for maintaining the quality and relevance of VET. The study aims to identify the characteristics of effective professional development for VET teachers and how these improvements are implemented in practice. It seeks to provide insights into the key elements that contribute to meaningful and impactful professional growth for VET teachers. A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines to screen and analyse articles from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. After removing duplicate records, 166 articles were identified for screening. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 24 high- and good-quality empirical studies from 2015 to 2023 were selected for in-depth analysis. These studies spanned various countries, offering a comprehensive overview of professional development practices for VET teachers. The analysis identified several key features of effective professional development, revealing that a successful approach for VET teachers integrates industry knowledge with educational strategies. It emphasises the need for continuous engagement, autonomy, and collaboration with industry partners. These findings suggest that VET institutions should prioritise flexible and context-specific professional development interventions that address VET teachers’ diverse needs across different career paths.
keywords: practice community; systematic literature analysis; teacher professional development; vocational education and training (VET)