Conference Agenda

The Global Network of Deans of Education (GNDE) provides a platform for national and regional associations of Deans of Education to connect, collaborate and articulate the perspectives of teacher educators to major global initiatives and UN agencies. In 2024, the inaugural meeting of the European Deans of Education network - affiliated with GNDE - took place at ECER in Nicosia. Building on its success, a second gathering was convened at ECER in Belgrade in 2025. Both sessions attracted strong participation and generated considerable interest in hearing directly from Deans and engaging in dialogue with them. A key purpose of these events has been to illuminate the role of the Dean and to cultivate future leadership capacity within this pivotal community.

For the proposed panel session at ECER 2026 in Tampere, participating Deans will address current, complex, and often challenging issues facing teacher education and schooling. Discussion themes will include teacher recruitment and retention, the evolving nature of teacher learning and professional development, and the implications of ongoing education reforms. Alongside system-level considerations, the panel will explore what these developments mean for the organisation and leadership of teacher education itself, including how Deans can mediate, navigate, and influence change within their institutions and wider policy contexts.