NEWS Anna Lindqvist studies dance as a form of expression for children in preschool, but is also deputy director with responsibility for education and collaboration at the Umeå School of Education.
“We need to make the teaching profession more attractive! More people need to graduate with a teaching or preschool teaching degree,” says Anna Lindqvist, Deputy Director at the Umeå School of Education.
ImageJohnér Bildbyrå AB, PlattformAnna Lindqvist has a background as a dance teacher, preschool teacher and primary school teacher.
“After working at the Department of Creative Studies for several years, I became deputy director of the Umeå School of Education, where I’m responsible for education and collaboration,” says Anna Lindqvist. “These days, I combine that role with action research on dance as a form of expression in preschools.”
We need to make the teaching profession more attractive! More people need to graduate with a teaching or preschool teaching degree.
How does your work relate to the transformation of the north of Sweden?
“I focus on the region’s urgent need for educated teachers and preschool teachers. Flexible forms of education, professional development and R&D collaboration are all areas with a direct link to the transformation.”
What opportunities and challenges do you believe the transformation will entail?
“We’ve always had a healthy relationship with the regional school authorities; one opportunity, I think, is that we now get to shape the future of education and lobby for a better integration of schools in research. Work-integrated teacher training, whereby students study 75% of the time and work part-time at a school, is one example of such collaboration.”
“In terms of challenges, I think the current labour shortage in society might be affecting potential students’ interest in becoming a teacher. We need to make the teaching profession more attractive! More people need to graduate with a teaching or preschool teaching degree.”