What kind of leadership promotes vocational education and training (VET) teachers’ enthusiasm at work?

Abstract

Vocational education and training (VET) teachers’ experiences of enthusiasm at work are the force that that may enhance the quality, effectiveness, and productivity of the currently renewing vocational education. According to VET teachers’ perceptions, leaders and supervisors can influence their enthusiasm considerably. This research focused on the immediate supervisors’ perceptions of leadership that could enhance enthusiasm in VET teachers. The research questions set for this research were: (1) How do immediate supervisors describe their means of promoting VET teachers’ enthusiasm? and (2) What kinds of challenges the supervisors describe having noticing in it? This was a qualitative research in which immediate supervisors (N=15) were interviewed through a semi-structured interview. The interview data were analyzed with data-based content analysis. The findings showed that leadership enhancing enthusiasm appeared as the immediate supervisors’ ability to nurture good atmosphere, cherish good relationships, provide encouraging feedback, and trust in teachers’ development. According to the findings, enthusiasm can be promoted with positive leadership, which is realized in the everyday work through the immediate supervisors’ positive interaction and activities and the way they support collaboration and interaction.

Keywords: leadership; immediate supervisors; vocational education and training (VET) teachers; enthusiasm