On the 2 of June, 2021, FUTUREDs` Ph.D.-candidate Eyolf Nysæther had his midway evaluation. Eyolf is a part of the first work package in the project (WP1), with an overall aim of mapping the current situation within music teacher education, and his Ph.D.-project is a mixed-method study in the 5-year General Teacher Education (GTE) with music specialism in Norway. The event was hosted by the doctoral programme Studies about Bildung and Pedagogical Practices and led by co-supervisor Silje Valde Onsrud. The experienced professors Cecilia Ferm Almquist and Kari Smith had prepared detailed and to-the-point comments on Eyolfs work so far.
The midway evaluation started with Eyolf`s presentation of his project, with the headline Preservice music teachers`perspectives on their own education. In a clear and elegant way, Eyolf led us through his Ph.D.-process, presenting his report from start-up until today with practical, methodological, ethical and theoretical challenges he has faced.
Eyolf`s first article, Who are the music student teachers in Norwegian general teacher education? A cross-sectional survey (Nysæther, Christophersen & Sætre, in review), was a central part of the midway evaluation. Presented findings from the survey gave us interesting insights into who today’s music students are, where motivation, values and gender differences were highlighted as key concepts.
Findings from the survey are currently being followed up with qualitative interviews, to explore some of the issues that have emerged. Furthermore, Eyolf will focus on which perspectives music teacher students have on their education, it’s relevance and space for developing transformative agency.
Cecilia Ferm, professor in music education and pedagogy, commented upon how important and relevant Eyolf`s project is, not only for music education, but also for education in general, both nationally and internationally. Kari Smith, professor in pedagogy, also highlighted the theoretical framework as sufficient for this study, and that Eyolf`s work so far has important implications for research. The FUTURED team congratulates Eyolf on his successful midway evaluation!