Research-based teacher education in Iceland

With or without a Master’s thesis

Abstract

This article aims to discuss the development of research-based teacher education in Iceland, including regulations, structures and contents of master's thesis in relation to recent changes in master's programmes at the School of Education, University of Iceland, and the Faculty of Education, University of Akureyri. The findings reveal that the programmes and structures around the master's thesis are similar in these two main institutions of teacher education in Iceland. In both institutions, students in M.Ed. and MA programmes complete courses on research methods, theories and research in education before conducting their research for the master's thesis. In the M.Ed. programmes, other options include developing teaching material or conducting development projects. New laws on education for teachers and administrators, their competencies and recruitment, came into force in 2019. The new Master of Teaching programmes, offered in both institutions since 2020, provide opportunities for students to complete courses of 30 ECTS in total instead of a master's thesis. This option became popular already when introduced as part of a governmental plan to increase the number of student teachers graduating each year. It has raised some concerns regarding the research-based aspect and quality of teacher education. Enrollment in teacher programmes at master's level has increased dramatically since 2020, and the number of graduating student teachers has increased as well.