The teacher educators and leaders as agents of change in a teacher education activity system: The reform–in–the–making in Turkey

The paper utilizes data collected as part of the 2003-2004 US-Turkey Fulbright study of educational reform in Turkey. Included in this research is a general survey of 170 Turkish teacher educators; an in-depth follow-up of 38 of these respondents; and a third survey of 7 Turkish educational leaders as defined by the position they hold in the system. All surveys employed both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. Within the purview of activity theory, this paper utilizes the qualitative data of the surveys and describes the internal tensions and contradictions among teacher educators and university leaders recommending reflections on the possible solutions to the tensions. It also provides recommendations concerning how Turkey may better approach the European Union goals in this area.