In Nordic and other international research, there is clear evidence to suggest that measures aimed at induction and mentoring for newly qualified teachers (NQTs) produce good results not only for the NQTs themselves, but it can also make a powerful contribution to a comprehensive strategy for quality development in the school system (e.g. Ingersoll & Strong 2011; Guerino et al. 2006). Furthermore, induction and mentoring are seen as suitable to increase recruitment to teacher education (Heikkinen, Utriainen, Markkanen, Pennanen, Taajamo & Tynjälä 2020) and ensure that NQTs remain in the profession (Parker et al. 2009; Ronfeldt & McQueen 2017). In several of the Nordic countries, forecasts indicate that there will be a significant shortage of qualified teachers in the coming years. Since 2017 a network of researchers and representatives from teacher organizations have been working on these issues. One of the aims was been to publish a scientific anthology in which we present the historical main lines and discuss relevant measures on induction and mentoring for NQTs in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark and Estonia (Olsen, Bjerkholt & Heikkinen 2020). One of the main findings is that despite clear professional advice from researchers and teacher unions (Bjerkholt 2013) on the importance of induction and mentoring for NQTs, there are significant differences between the Nordic countries. Some countries, such as Norway and Iceland have, or are in the process of establishing, national programs with political support and professional guidelines. Other countries such as Sweden, have had national programs for mentoring and induction, but these are more or less weather away and issues related to induction are little focused in both academic and political discourse (Bjerkholt & Hedegaard 2008). Does this mean that national frameworks for induction and mentoring NQTs are more influenced by political and economic interests than professional and scientific evidence? In our symposium we wish to shed light on this issue in a comparative perspective based on empirical data gathered in connection with the work on the mentioned scientific anthology. As a basis for our analysis, we will use a set of concepts, principles and parameters linked to eco-systemic theory that make it possible to compare the present situation regarding induction and mentoring for NQTs in the Nordic countries.

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