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The goal for our previous project (NPHZ-2017/10042) was to establish a Nordic cross-sectoral network to develop systems for induction and mentoring for newly qualified teachers in the Nordic countries. The project organised a successful summit in 2019, supported by The Nordic Council of Ministers and Nordisk Lærer Samråd. The summit indicated that shortage of teachers, teacher retention and (lack of) support for new teachers are challenges faced by all Nordic countries. The previous project provided promising results, but it showed that there is still much to do. We now wish to disseminate the results, widen the focus and include new partners. In the previous project, there were two universities and four trade unions of teachers. In the new one, there will be five universities and six teacher unions. The coordinator will be University of South-Eastern Norway. Participating partners are universities from Finland, Iceland, Denmark and Estonia, and teacher unions from Norway, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and Estonia.NPHZ-2020/10047 Page 4 (8) Submitted - 03-Feb-2020 The project will analyse how mentoring can find its ‘ecological niche’ (or not) in the respective educational ecosystems, drawing on the dissemination of research and development work of the previous project. We will develop models for collaboration between trade unions and researchers where topics to be explored include identifying structures for further professional support and development in a lifelong-learning perspective. The results of the work will be summed up in a forthcoming anthology published through Cappelen Damm Academic as well as The Nordic Road Show for Induction and Mentoring NQTs and international conferences

The key activities in this project (which corresponds with Nordplus' general aims and specifically with Nordplus Horizontals list of activities that can be supported listed at p.57 in the Handbook) will be:

1. A Nordic anthology about ecosystems of mentoring NQTs
2. A comparative review of the working conditions in terms of agreements and legislation for NQTs in the different Nordic countries
3. Organising symposia in international research conferences
4. Organising a Nordic summit to follow up the first Nordic summit in Iceland 2019
5. Annual workshop/seminar for the participants of the project
6. “The Nordic Roadshow for Induction and Mentoring

Conferences Dissemination of results/publications Establishment of network for further cooperation Seminars and/or workshops

The partners plan to publish an Open acess anthology, "Nordic perspectives on induction and mentoring", where developing different models for sustainable systems for mentoring NQTs based on shared research and experiences both cross-sectorial and across national borders will be explored. This should benefit the Nordic identity of how to construct frameworks for teacher education as a continuum into the profession and life long learning. We will also produce written material in different forms (flyers, web page, articles, etc.) related to our findings and results about good mentoring practices in the Nordic/Baltic countries. This can be used as a contribution to the national discussions on developing induction- and mentor programs for all the partners involved, as well as for policy makers and stakeholders in the different countries. The partners will greatly benefit from the collaboration both individually and at organisation level through their increased knowledge and insight into the Nordic/Baltic countries practices and policies. The knowledge will be taken back to the teacher education institutions and the teacher unions as a valuable contribution to continued and further collaboration to increase awareness and plans of action for induction and mentor programs in the Nordic/Baltic countries. This will benefit the teacher educations, teacher unions, organisations, policymakers, stakeholders, new teachers and ultimately - the children in kindergartens and schools and society as a whole