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Professional Growth and Workplace Learning

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Research Approaches on Workplace Learning

Part of the book series: Professional and Practice-based Learning ((PPBL,volume 31))

Abstract

This chapter discusses the concept of professional growth in the context of workplace learning. Based on an overview of the relevant research, professional growth is seen as an overall developmental process that takes place during one’s career and lifespan and understood as a term that overlaps with other related concepts. Furthermore, we argue that professional growth is dependent on social and institutional contexts as well as personal attributes and circumstances. Following this, a model containing three dimensions related to learning in professional contexts (formal–informal, situated–unsituated and individual–social learning) is presented. The model is formed to illustrate that promotion of professional growth in workplaces is connected to formal and informal practices, versatility of working environments and social relations. The chapter concludes with discussion and future research suggestions related to conceptual issues regarding professional growth and contemporary challenges in working life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education and Culture, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland

    Laura Pylväs, Junmin Li & Petri Nokelainen

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  1. Laura Pylväs
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  2. Junmin Li
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  3. Petri Nokelainen
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Correspondence to Petri Nokelainen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Educational Science, Paderborn University, Paderborn, Germany

    Christian Harteis

  2. Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    David Gijbels

  3. Training and Education Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    Eva Kyndt

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Pylväs, L., Li, J., Nokelainen, P. (2022). Professional Growth and Workplace Learning. In: Harteis, C., Gijbels, D., Kyndt, E. (eds) Research Approaches on Workplace Learning. Professional and Practice-based Learning, vol 31. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89582-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89582-2_6

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