Bridging the Gap: Strengthening Teacher Preparation and Support for Out-of-Field Teaching

Jointly hosted by the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre and OOFTAS Collective

HYBRID, 16 October, 2025

The aim of this joint venture is to share insights from around the world on the systemic, pedagogical, and professional challenges of assigning teachers to subjects outside their area of expertise, and how teacher education—both initial and ongoing—can better prepare and support them.

We welcome commentary, research and reports on teacher experiences, impacts, and professional learning development opportunities involving pre-service teachers and in-service teachers.

Please note that this conference is designed to share insights into solving problems associated with the out-of-field teaching phenomenon. Please consider what insights from your research and activities will be most relevant for this forum. You can contribute through a presentation (see Expression of Interest below) or through your participation on the day. Please register for the event (see below).

Event Goals:

• Foster Dialogue: To encourage rich dialogue around out-of-field teaching, its occurrence, and measures to address the challenges it poses.

• Active Participation: To involve attendees in presenting insights, research, initiatives, and engaging in facilitated discussions.

Conference

Powered by Zoom

Cost: Free

Key dates:

• Expressions of Interest closes: September 20

• Registration closes: October 15

• Online Summit: October 16,
  9.30am - 3.00pm (Beijing time)

Conference convenors and contacts:

Prof. Dr. Bo Ning
UNESCO Teacher Education Center
ningbo@tec-unesco.org.cn

Assoc. Prof. Linda Hobbs
Deakin University, OOFTAS Collective
l.hobbs@deakin.edu.au

Reference Topics:

• Key Focus Areas:

  • Understanding Out-of-Field Teaching: Such as causes, including teacher shortages, staffing policies, rural/remote school needs; Impacts on student outcomes, teacher confidence, attrition rates.

  • Pre-Service Teacher Education: Such as curriculum design to build adaptive expertise; preparing teachers for flexibility and interdisciplinary teaching; embedding awareness of out-of-field realities in teacher training.

  • In-Service Professional Learning: Such as targeted upskilling programs and subject-specific PD; mentoring and peer support for out-of-field teachers; systemic recognition of teacher specialisation and re-specialisation pathways.

  • Policy and Leadership: Such as school leadership strategies for managing out-of-field assignments; accreditation and registration reforms; equitable distribution of teacher; data-driven policy to address teacher distribution and qualifications.

Participant Expectations:

• Willingness to Present or Share: Contributing personal insights.

• Participation in Facilitated Discussions: Collaborating to explore solutions or deepen understanding.Short Program

Program:

Program will be located here.

The event is scheduled for approximately 9.30am - 3.00pm (Beijing time), October 16, 2025.

Attending:

You can attend online through zoom or in person at Shanghai Normal University. Our event will be part of the Belt and Road Shanghai Exchange Project Deepening the Reform of Teacher Education to Cultivate a High-Quality Teaching Workforce, held on Oct.15-17,2025 in Shanghai Normal University.

If you would like to attend or present in person, please contact Prof. Bo Ning (ningbo@tec-unesco.org.cn)

Expression of Interest

EOIs are open until September 20

Submit an Expression of Interest to present a 15 minute presentation on any of the above reference topics. We are looking for insights that can be useful for developing countries. Your presentation will need to explain your context.

You can present on zoom or in-person.

You must also register for the event - see below.

Registration

Registration closes on October 16, 2025