Teach4Reach 2.0
This research project explores the current state of teacher educators’ professionalism within the context of Agenda 2030 in the Global North and Global South and how it can be leveraged to accelerate achievement of the global goals by:
- creating future-focused mixed-methods research on all SDGs and in four priority action areas within the Education for Sustainable Development Roadmap (ESD)
- supporting the development of scientific knowledge on Agenda 2030 in the education domain
- raising awareness about teacher educator professionalism in the context of the SDGs
- building international collaborative networks and strengthening existing networks to support sustainable development
This project is a follow-up project to Teach4Reach 1.0, which identified the need and relevance of further research and support related to teacher educator professionalism and the SDGs. Teacher educators are still a “hidden profession” (Murray, 2011), which, however, plays a major role in the development of the educational quality of pre- and in-service teachers. Their knowledge and competences are crucial to sustainable development in education and to support Agenda 2030 (UNESCO, 2005; Leicht et al., 2019).
A number of different activities are planned to promote excellent research in the context of teacher education and to contribute to the SDGs. The main focus will be on collaborative research and joint supervision of doctoral students, as well as work on publications, conference papers and at the end of project the development of an online workshop.
The study adopts a mixed-methods approach with a sample of teacher educators from Austria and South Africa. It will utilise a combination of qualitative research with vignette research and semi-structured interviews and quantitative research, such as questionnaires.
Rationale of the project
Expanding a critical mass of teacher educators in the Global South and Global North who contribute to knowledge development relating to the Sustainable Development Goals as part of global teacher education can serve as a key strategy to accelerate the achievement of the global goals as presented in Agenda 2030.
Research questions
How does teacher educator professionalism in the Global North and Global South, manifest in the context of Agenda 2030?
How is teacher educator professionalism negotiated, defined and conceptualised in the Global North and the Global South with regard to the 17 SDGs?
How can teacher educator professionalism be linked to the priority action areas of Education for Sustainable Development?
In what ways do teacher educators consider the SDGs as a planned behaviour in their teaching?
How can a critical mass of teacher educators be increased, strengthened and consolidated with regard to Agenda 2030 in the future?
Project duration
October 2023 - September 2025
Financial support
BMBWF // AfricaUniNet
The project co-operates with the network Phenomenological Vignette and Anecdote Research
