Analyzing the Themes of Teacher Education Research in Iran: A Thematic Review of Eight Decades of Academic Works (1936–2025)

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 s

2 گروه علوم تربیتی؛ دانشگاه بوعلی سینا

10.48310/itt.2026.21425.1231

Abstract

Teacher education in Iran, as one of the fundamental pillars of the national education system, has consistently been the subject of academic inquiry and research. The present study aims to analyze the themes of scholarly works—including articles, theses, and dissertations—related to teacher education over the past eight decades in Iran.

**Method:**
Adopting a qualitative approach and employing thematic analysis, this study examined a total of 2,479 research documents. The analytical process was conducted in three stages—open, axial, and selective coding—through which the main and sub-themes of the studies were identified and historically clustered to trace thematic trends over time.

**Findings:**
The results indicated that the research topics in Iranian teacher education can be categorized into several major domains: *curriculum, pedagogy, and professional competencies; professional development, practicum, and transfer to practice; identity, ethics, and philosophical foundations; psychological wellbeing, motivation, and professional resilience; and structure, management, and technology.*
A historical analysis revealed a gradual shift from an early emphasis on normative and institutional discussions toward more applied and competency-based research orientations.

**Conclusion:**
By synthesizing and analyzing the existing themes, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the academic discourse on teacher education in Iran across eight decades. Despite thematic diversity, the findings highlight persistent gaps such as limited attention to socio-cultural dimensions, insufficient innovation in curriculum design, and inadequate preparation of teachers for uncertain future conditions. These insights can inform policymakers and teacher education institutions in rethinking strategic frameworks and designing forward-looking programs for the next generation of teachers

Keywords

Main Subjects

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics