From Via University College in Denmark, Karen Paaske and Frede Krøjgaard visited the School of Education at University of Aberdeen last week.
Dr. Paaske is the program coordinator for VIA’s research program on Counselling and Mentoring. The research program’s focus is on mentoring newly qualified teachers and how mentoring can help NQTs finding foothold and what could be the role of professional development in that perspective. The research program has a special interest in investigating counselling in relation to a lifelong professional career as a teacher from different perspectives, such as dialogue action and research circles, and quantitative surveys. Along with Paaske and Krøjgaard, six researchers are working in the program.
During their visit, they studied the Scottish Teacher Induction programme, and discussed perspectives on induction and mentoring new teachers with Ms Jenny Cheyne of Aberdeen City Council and Mrs Roseanne Fitzpatrick of the Highland Council, and School of Education staff.
On Wednesday 13st of June, Paaske and Krøjgaard gave a lunchtime seminar at the University entitled 'Thematic Analysis in the Light of Design Based Research'.
Krøjgaard and Paaske are currently collaborating with the School of Education’s Dr. Rachel Shanks and Dr. Dean Robson, together with Dr. Michelle Attard Tonna from Malta, on an article about Footholds for new teachers in Europe. Further, they are exploring, along with Dr. Robson, possibilities for future collaboration in the field of teacher induction-related survey research. The cooperation started at an ECER seminar in 2017 in Copenhagen. The visit to the University of Aberdeen will strengthen the collaboration between the School of Education and VIA University College in Denmark.