The Role of the Key Competences of VET Teachers in Enhancing the Quality of the Teaching Process

Research problem - Today the quality of vocational education and training (VET) and especially the quality of the didactic process in VET highly depend on the capabilities of VET teachers to structure knowledge and skills they impart when dealing with the increasing volume of vocational and professional knowledge, and also on their capability to integrate the requirements of occupation and needs of students when coping with the challenges posed by fast technological development and changing student identity. The goal of this study is to explore the role and potential of key competences of VET teachers and how their development could equip VET teachers with the above-mentioned capabilities. The research methodology is based on both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The quantitative study was carried out by using a standardised questionnaire. Such a study helps disclose the personality traits of VET teachers, ways of their professional development and specific characteristics of their educational process. The participants in this research were VET teachers from different VET schools in Lithuania. Research data were analysed by using mathematical-statistical methods: descriptive statistics, nonparametric hypothesis testing, and factor analysis. Qualitative research was carried out by interviewing VET teachers from different VET schools and centres in Lithuania. Key competences and their development significantly contribute to the development of professional identity and personality factors of VET teachers. There is a direct and positive interdependency between the development of key competences of VET teachers and the quality of didactics, pedagogy and the expertise of VET teachers in the given occupational field. Key competences help VET teachers to shape and develop their professional identity and to cope with the current methodological and organisational challenges in the fields of curriculum design, organisation of training processes (including application of contemporary educational technologies), and vocational didactics.