Socio-Ecological Perspectives and the Hierarchy of Collaboration in Finnish Preparatory Education

Tatsiana Shestunova; Sirkku Latomaa; Maria Ahlholm

Socio-Ecological Perspectives and the Hierarchy of Collaboration in Finnish Preparatory Education

Abstract

This study examined collaboration among Finnish preparatory education teachers to support newly arrived immigrant students. Using a mixed-methods design, we analysed survey data from 308 teachers to explore their collaborative practices. A socio-ecological perspective was combined with a novel hierarchy of teacher collaboration to capture how individual, institutional, and systemic factors shape everyday professional interaction. The results show that teachers frequently exchange teaching materials and discuss students’ learning and well-being, whereas more structured forms of collaboration, such as joint lesson planning and co-teaching, remain rare. Key barriers include time limits, geographical isolation and weak institutional support. The findings suggest that collaboration in preparatory education is uneven and often confined to lower levels of engagement. By integrating socio-ecological and hierarchical perspectives, the study clarifies why deeper collaboration is difficult to sustain and provides practical implications for teacher education, school leadership, and policy development aimed at strengthening collaborative capacity in linguistically diverse school settings.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

University of Helsinki, Faculty of Educational Sciences

Ethical Statement

The study is based on secondary analysis of anonymised survey data collected by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC). Participation was voluntary, and no personal identifiers were available. According to Finnish research ethics guidelines, separate ethical approval was not required.

Thanks

We are grateful to Professor Emerita Liisa Tainio for her careful reading of an earlier version of this article. We also thank English Language Editor Alice Lehtinen for reviewing the language of the article.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Teacher and Student Wellbeing

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Tatsiana Shestunova ^*
0000-0003-0415-6208
Finland

Sirkku Latomaa This is me
0000-0002-6552-6543
Finland

Maria Ahlholm This is me
0000-0002-4497-5050
Finland

Publication Date

August 31, 2026

Submission Date

January 29, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 31, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA67DG63JR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Shestunova, T., Latomaa, S., & Ahlholm, M. (2026). Socio-Ecological Perspectives and the Hierarchy of Collaboration in Finnish Preparatory Education. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators, 15(2), 134-149. https://izlik.org/JA67DG63JR

AMA

1.Shestunova T, Latomaa S, Ahlholm M. Socio-Ecological Perspectives and the Hierarchy of Collaboration in Finnish Preparatory Education. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators. 2026;15(2):134-149. https://izlik.org/JA67DG63JR

Chicago

Shestunova, Tatsiana, Sirkku Latomaa, and Maria Ahlholm. 2026. “Socio-Ecological Perspectives and the Hierarchy of Collaboration in Finnish Preparatory Education”. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators 15 (2): 134-49. https://izlik.org/JA67DG63JR.

EndNote

Shestunova T, Latomaa S, Ahlholm M (August 1, 2026) Socio-Ecological Perspectives and the Hierarchy of Collaboration in Finnish Preparatory Education. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators 15 2 134–149.

IEEE

[1]T. Shestunova, S. Latomaa, and M. Ahlholm, “Socio-Ecological Perspectives and the Hierarchy of Collaboration in Finnish Preparatory Education”, Journal of Teacher Education and Educators, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 134–149, Aug. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA67DG63JR

ISNAD

Shestunova, Tatsiana - Latomaa, Sirkku - Ahlholm, Maria. “Socio-Ecological Perspectives and the Hierarchy of Collaboration in Finnish Preparatory Education”. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators 15/2 (August 1, 2026): 134-149. https://izlik.org/JA67DG63JR.

JAMA

1.Shestunova T, Latomaa S, Ahlholm M. Socio-Ecological Perspectives and the Hierarchy of Collaboration in Finnish Preparatory Education. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators. 2026;15:134–149.

MLA

Shestunova, Tatsiana, et al. “Socio-Ecological Perspectives and the Hierarchy of Collaboration in Finnish Preparatory Education”. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators, vol. 15, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 134-49, https://izlik.org/JA67DG63JR.

Vancouver

1.Tatsiana Shestunova, Sirkku Latomaa, Maria Ahlholm. Socio-Ecological Perspectives and the Hierarchy of Collaboration in Finnish Preparatory Education. Journal of Teacher Education and Educators [Internet]. 2026 Aug. 1;15(2):134-49. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA67DG63JR