Symposium of the European Association for Teacher Education (ATEE) took place
The European Association for Teacher Education (ATEE) symposium “The Pedagogy of Meaning in Teacher Education: When Values Become Practice” took place on April 22–24, 2026. The event brought together researchers, lecturers, and institutional representatives in the field of teacher education for a joint discussion on meaning, values, and their expression in practice. The symposium focused heavily on the professional motivation, responsibility, and value-based choices of teacher educators. Participants shared diverse experiences, research, and insights regarding contemporary challenges in teacher education. The connections between meaning, values, and professional quality in teacher training were discussed. Participants explored how values translate into practice and how they influence educators’ professional commitment and the quality of their work. The symposium also featured a roundtable discussion for leaders and representatives of teacher training institutions. It was attended by representatives from various higher education institutions that train teachers, as well as Vilija Targamadze, a member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. The discussion focused on how to strengthen the motivation, sense of purpose, and value-based reflection of teacher educators within these institutions.
The event was organized by the Association for Teacher Education in Europe (RDC “Empowering Teacher Education”), and the symposium in Vilnius was hosted by the Faculty of Pedagogy at Vilniaus kolegija / Higher Education Institution.
This is an important international event for everyone concerned with the quality of teacher training, its value foundations, and future prospects.
