Initial Teacher Education in Europe: shaping teachers for the 21st century

Abstract

Globalization has brought new challenges to schools and teachers in Europe. Present models of initial teacher training need to
address new challenges in order to give teachers the skills to deal with complex issues in their scientific areas. This has been a
concern to teacher programs and educators and it is reflected in the different models of teacher training existing in European
countries. This paper aims at discussing the models of initial teacher training in some European countries, trying to understand
similarities and differences not only in the formal contexts but also in terms of contents. We will address several issues trying to
reach the fundamental question: What kind of teachers do we want for the 21st century? The main purpose will be to identify
how initial teacher training has incorporated a global dimension.
Keywords: initial teacher training; models of training; Europe; globalization; education;