Designing Professional Education: Where to from Here?

Abstract

The introductory chapter of this monograph called for re-thinking professional education programmes and the learning therein. It was argued that such re-thinking is necessary due to an intensified pace of change in our contemporary world and a deepening crisis of confidence in the professions that spills over into professional education. Moreover, an argument has been developed throughout the book that the way we currently educate professionals is limited in scope and inadequate in preparing them for the challenges of professional practice in our changing world. An alternative way forward has been proposed that would mean an ontological turn for professional education programmes, centred on developing professional ways of being (see also Dall’Alba & Barnacle, 2007).