Rethinking Mathematics Teacher Education Together for Sustainable Careers
The symposium brings together international researchers to discuss mathematics teacher education with a focus on sustainable careers. The aim is to identify research gaps, formulate critical questions, and initiate collaborations, including future funding applications.
Over the past decade, the number of applicants for teacher education programmes has declined; at the same time, research highlights the need for improvements in teacher education. Many prospective mathematics teachers have had negative experiences with school mathematics, which influences their teaching and may lead to a cautious or restrictive approach to the subject. Research also indicates that mathematics is often perceived as elitist and inaccessible, creating a disconnect between teachers and students, reducing motivation, and contributing to high teacher attrition rates.
A key challenge is the lack of discursive opportunities in teacher education, which limits students’ professional development. By creating space for reflection and discussion on the role of mathematics and teaching approaches, teacher education can become more inclusive and supportive. The symposium poses the question: What might teacher education look like if it actively enabled a broad range of discursive arenas and fostered empathy, reflection, and relational learning in mathematics education?
Background and scientific relevance
The symposium aims to bring together leading international researchers who share a focus on the complex issues surrounding mathematics teacher education, particularly those related to sustainable careers. This diverse group of researchers will provide excellent opportunities to discuss and compare cultural, methodological, and theoretical aspects as well as dilemmas related to students' learning to become teachers. The symposium aims to uncover commonalities and differences and form intentions for future joint research proposals. The symposium's goals are specified in the following points:
- Initiate and establish an international network for research in mathematics teacher education linked to mathematics teacher education, as well as issues concerning students’ well-being and sustainable careers. One objective is to identify critical research gaps pertaining to mathematics teacher education.
- Identify and articulate critical questions for the future alongside the methodological and theoretical requirements necessary to advance research related to mathematics teacher education.
- Identify national and international funding bodies for future collaborations and joint applications.
- Commence work on a joint application for future collaboration
Participants
In July 2024, a joint-interest research group was established in Auckland, New Zealand. The group comprises Prof Jodie Hunter (New Zealand), Associate Prof Tracy Helliwell, Senior Lecturer Andreas Ebbelind (Sweden), Senior Lecturer Ralf Erens (Germany), Senior Lecturer Camilla Spagnolo (Italy), and Senior Lecturer Julia Hill (Australia). Senior Prof Jeppe Skott and Associate Prof Sonja Lutovac (Finland) have become an addition to this group at a later stage.
The researchers mentioned above will attend and present at the symposium. However, it will be open to other national and international researchers, with a maximum of 30 participants.
About Linnaeus University
Linnaeus University is a creative and international knowledge environment that promotes curiosity, creativity, companionship and utility. More than 44,000 students are registered at Linnaeus University.
Linnaeus University is located in Växjö and Kalmar and offers 150 degree programmes and 1,300 single-subject courses. Linnaeus University was e
stablished in 2010 through a merger between Växjö University and Kalmar University College.
With some 2,100 employees and 44,000 students it is a modern university with Småland as its base and the world as its arena. Studying and working at Linnaeus University involves being part of an environment that is characterised by knowledge and development. Students acquire new knowledge and learn to have a critical approach. Researchers make new discoveries that can bring change to our society. Employees share stories of a workplace with both challenges and opportunities. Linnaeus University is a university where people can reach their full potential.
A sustainable event
This conference is a sustainability-assured meeting in accordance with Linnaeus University’s guidelines for sustainable events. These guidelines are linked to the 17 global goals in Agenda 2030 and comprise the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, the social, and the environmental.
Learn more about Linnaeus University´s sustainable events here.