Motivations to Become Vocational Education and Training Educators: A Person-Oriented Approach

Abstract

Given the scarcity of educators in Swiss vocational education and training (VET) and the lack of scientific knowledge about these individuals, the aim of the present study was to investigate motivations to become VET educators. In order to focus on individuals instead of variables, a typological approach was adopted and motivational profiles were built. The Factors Influencing Teaching choice framework was adapted to the context of the study and used to investigate multiple motivations, beliefs about the occupation, and pedagogical beliefs in a sample of 605 teachers and trainers from the German speaking and French speaking parts of Switzerland. Five profiles of motivation were extracted from the data, pointing to heterogeneity in the sample. Differences in socio-demographics, antecedent socialization, beliefs about the occupation, and satisfaction with career choice were found. On this basis, the authors suggest guidelines about how to advertise and attract individuals to become VET educators. Notably, the values to emphasize in order to make the occupation attractive have to be adapted to the linguistic region and the type of educators targeted.