Navigating Dual Roles: Professional Competence and Agency among School-Based Subject Teacher Educators

Eliisa Vähä; Riikka Hirvonen; Kari Sormunen; Lasse Eronen

Navigating Dual Roles: Professional Competence and Agency among School-Based Subject Teacher Educators

Abstract

School based subject teacher educators (SBSTE) work at the intersection of teaching and teacher education. This study explores Finnish SBSTEs self-perceived professional competences and professional agency in their dual roles, based on cross-sectional survey data (N=118) from university teacher training schools. Using subject-centered socio-cultural framework, the findings show that professional competences, especially content and contextual ones, were perceived as significantly stronger in the role of teacher than that of teacher educator. Similarly, professional agencies, particularly being heard and exerting influence at work, were weaker in the educator role. While SBSTEs’ higher professional competence often supported stronger agency, commitment to the work did not require deep contextual knowledge. A postgraduate degree, mentoring education, or work experience influenced perceived agency only in some cases, whereas the professional role made a difference in most cases. These role-based differences can be interpreted through socio-cultural workplace conditions, traditions of autonomy, and power dynamics, as supported by both earlier international studies and current findings

Keywords

Ethical Statement

The researchers complied with the ethical guidelines for research in the humanities, social sciences, and behavioral sciences as established by the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Teacher Education and Professional Development of Educators

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Eliisa Vähä ^*
0009-0007-0788-9518
Finland

Riikka Hirvonen
0000-0001-5348-4801
Finland

Kari Sormunen
0000-0002-4620-3458
Finland

Lasse Eronen
0000-0002-7773-6476
Finland

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

June 17, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 25, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 14 Number: 3

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA82FE77NB

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Vähä, E., Hirvonen, R., Sormunen, K., & Eronen, L. (2025). Navigating Dual Roles: Professional Competence and Agency among School-Based Subject Teacher Educators. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators, 14(3), 240-258. https://izlik.org/JA82FE77NB