Finnish teacher educators as a focus of empirical teacher education research: a scoping review

Abstract

<p>This scoping review provides an overview of the characteristics of empirical research on Finnish teacher educators published between 2012 and early 2025. Methodologically, small-scale interview studies with cross-sectional and often cross-national designs were the most prevalent among 90 identified studies. The findings highlight the lack of large-scale and longitudinal research. An increase in the types of research design could provide more generalisable insights into the long-term processes of professional development of these diverse professionals. The most represented professional roles in the studies were teacher of teachers and curriculum developer, while roles such as researcher, broker, and gatekeeper appeared only occasionally. This finding may reflect the specific features of the context or the methodological challenges of studying these roles. Addressing the gaps would support the advancement of teacher education, given the widely acknowledged vital role of teacher educators in its development.<br></p>