The Evolution of Primary Teacher Education: The Influence of Local, National, and International Factors: From Teacher Training Colleges to Universities of Education

Since the 1990s, primary teacher education has undergone significant changes both in Western countries and across the various Swiss cantons. Focusing on the context of the Canton of Vaud, the objectives of this thesis are to understand the main influences behind these changes and their origins. In this study, we examine the international context and the changes in the design of teacher education programs that have influenced Swiss and Vaud policies regarding teacher training. To this end, we address processes of professionalization and the shift toward tertiary education, as well as the creation and implementation of competency frameworks and new curricula. We also trace the historical development of primary teacher education in Vaud over time, from the opening of the École normale in 1833 to the restructuring of the Haute École pédagogique in the mid-2000s. Finally, we analyze and compare, through curricula and competency frameworks, various recent training models.