ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a selection of overarching themes from the 1996 conference of the International Consortium for Educational Development, held at Vasa, Finland, entitled Preparing University Teachers. It identifies directions of change in the preparation of university teachers around the globe. Some countries have national policy frameworks which shape the provision of training for university teaching. There are marked differences between the rationales of university teaching preparation programs. The six main rationales in evidence are classroom practice, educational theory, reflective practice, personal growth, competence in the job and contextual relevance. Some teacher preparation programs include aspects of all these rationales, by design or accident, while some are designed within a specific paradigm, occasionally aggressively espoused. A number of relatively clear trends can be identified in teacher preparation practices, and international collaboration and sharing of practices is making these trends more coherent and stronger.
