Find programmes Further education PhD programmes Why study at USN? How to apply Find study- and course plans USN Outbound Exchange Semester start Life as a student Housing and welfare Opportunities during your studies Special needs and student support Economy, management and politics Health and welfare Humanities Kindergarten, schools and higher education Natural Sciences Nature, health and environment Maritime enterprise Outdoor life, sports and physical education Technology Traditional arts and practical-aesthetic subjects Vision Science Commissioned research Democracy, social organisation and governance Energy, climate and the environment Health and welfare services of the future Upbringing, belonging and life skills Regional value creation Our PhD programmes PhD handbook PhD candidate pages Public Defences Doctoral graduation ceremony Industrial Research School in Complex Systems Stipendiary and Post-Doctoral Organization Science communication The Research Council of Norway EU-funded research and innovation projects Centres of Excellence Other projects Publishing USN Help Employees Collaborate with us Organizational chart Faculties Management Boards and committees Strategy and focus areas Work for us Bø Drammen Hønefoss Kongsberg Notodden Porsgrunn Rauland Vestfold Library Logo, design and graphic elements Management International Relations Key figures IT-services Ukraine Rules and regulations Student exchange to USN

My studies

  • Sorry, something went wrong here. We are currently experiencing issues with favourites.
no (Norwegian)

STEP: Partnership for Sustainable Transition from Teacher Education to Profession

three ladies presenting research results on a large screen
CONFERNCE: Project lead professor Eva Bjerkholt presenting results from her reseaerch together with professor Janne Madsen and Tonje Harbek Brokke from USN in Oslo, november 2025.

STEP is a research project that will develop research- and experience-based knowledge about the transition from teacher student to teacher and what can contribute to newly qualified teachers remaining in the profession.

In the autumn of 2022, the first newly qualified teachers with a 5-year master's degree will start working in primary and lower secondary school. The purpose of the programme is to provide students with knowledge about research-based school development and increased specialization in central school subjects.

keyboard_backspace More in the project bank at the Resarch Council of Norway

The research project (STEP) follows this generation of teachers through the last academic year and the first two years as teachers by studying:

  • what expectations do students and their future colleagues, school leaders and owners have for the newly qualified teachers' mastery of the challenges they face in school?
  • how the graduates' professional competence and insight into research valued and used in school?
  • what measures can help retain graduates in the profession and be part of a comprehensive strategy for career development and competence enhancement in schools?
  • how research-based knowledge can contribute to developing the national framework for mentoring newly qualified teachers.

STEP will develop research- and experience-based knowledge with a view to stimulate debate and contribute to measures that allow graduates to use their competence individually and in the professional community in schools. Data is collected via questionnaire, interview and observation and is analysed and discussed in research circles consisting of researchers, students, graduates, school owners, school leaders, teachers and representatives of the organisations participating in the project.

The project group consists of researchers from the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), the Arctic University of Norway (UIT) and representatives of the central parties in the education sector; The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS), Union of Education Norway and their student union Pedagogstudentene.

Podcast on international collaborations

 

Scientific Articles 
  • Antonsen Y, Gallavara G, Sandsmark J. and Bjerkholt E. (2026). Equity challenges in a national researcher–practitioner partnership – an insider perspective from Norway. Front. Educ. 11:1867506. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1867506/full

  • Helms-Lorenz, M., Heikkinen, H., Plauborg, H., Bjerkholt, E. (2026) Making Sense of European Teacher Induction and Mentoring Practices. Brill, international academic publisher. https://brill.com/display/title/72056?rskey=pCDkbg&result=1

  • Antonsen, Y., Toom, A., Ulvik, M., Drageset, O.G., Olsen, K.R., Hjardemaal, F.R., Sæther, K-A. (2024) Research approaches in master-based teacher education preparing student teachers for professional work. Frontiers in education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1418398

  • Antonsen, Y., Aspfors, J., Maxwell, G., (2024) Early career teacher’s role in school development and professional learning. Professional Development in Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2024.2306998 

  • Drageset, O.G., Sæther, K-A., Antonsen, Y., Steele, A.R., Killengreen, S.T., & Unhjem, A (2024) Using Research and Development to establish coherence in teacher education. In Jakhelln, R., Jordet, D. and Hatlevik, I.K.R. Transforming University-based Teacher Education through Innovation. A Norwegian Response to Research Literacy, Integration and Technology. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032693798-8

  • Skytterstad, R., Antonsen, Y., & Stenseth, A.-M. (2024). Remediating deficits? Problem representations in Norwegian policies for newly qualified teachers. Journal of Education Policy, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2024.2380761
  • Skytterstad, R., Antonsen, Y., Aspfors, J. and Heikkinen, H. L. T. (2025) Reframing New Teacher Induction: Opportunities Over Deficiencies. Teacher and teacher education. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2024.104910
  • Sæther, K-A, Antonsen, Y., & Drageset, O.G. (2024) Relevance of the master’s thesis for becoming a professional teacher. In Jakhelln, R., Jordet, D. and Hatlevik, I.K.R. Transforming University-based Teacher Education through Innovation. A Norwegian Response to Research Literacy, Integration and Technology. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032693798-9

 

Logo STEP

About the STEP project

Project leader: Professor Eva Bjerkholt

Funding: NOK 12 million from NFR.

Description: STEP will face challenges in society that require measures to ensure that more newly qualified teachers remain in school.

Objective: STEP will develop research- and experience-based knowledge about the transition from teacher student to teacher, to contribute to knowledge-based policy development in the sector in terms of developing and implementing national frameworks for mentoring newly qualified teachers.

Duration: March 2021 - March 2025

keyboard_backspace First interim report: Teacher students' expectations of working as professional teachers in school

Partners

STEP is based on an equal collaboration between the partners in the project.

Universities

Organizations

International mentor

International Expert Group