Design and Implementation of the National Aims for Finnish Teacher Education during 2016–2019

The chapter summarises the analysis and reflections on the national aims for Finnish teacher education undertaken by the Finnish Teacher Education Forum over a span of three years. The forum consisted of 70 experts, representing universities, applied universities, principals, teachers, students and other relevant stakeholders. Members of the forum discussed research outcomes related to teacher education and generated ideas for revising it at national and local meetings of the forum and through a web-based brainstorming session. In 2016, three strategic aims were identified for teachers’ pre- and in-service education and for their continuous lifelong professional learning: a broad and solid knowledge base; competences for generating novel ideas and educational innovations; and competences for developing teachers’ own expertise as well as that of their schools. Furthermore, the forum laid down six concrete guidelines to direct the development of teacher education and financed 45 pilot projects. Typically, the projects, which involved several universities and providers of education, were collaborative and contextual in nature. In addition to the national and local meetings, these projects helped realise the strategic aims of teacher education practices and supported the professional learning of teacher educators.