Examining emic viewpoints on a pedagogical development program’s long-term effects using Q methodology

To examine the long-term effects of pedagogical development, the study explored 56 Chinese university instructors’ viewpoints on their professional agency in implementing new pedagogical practices following a PBL program in Denmark. Q methodology was supplemented by a post-sorting survey and post-analysis interviews. An eight-factor solution emerged, indicating a high variation in participants’ subjective experiences of PBL implementation. Their perceived sources for agency enactment are both internal and external, crossing three phases in practice – readiness, implementation, and prospects. Despite suggesting positive long-term PD effects, the study also illustrates how university instructors’ agency enactment is constrained by contextual aspects, including a lack of surrounding acceptance and support. Practical implementations how PD programs may support long-term teacher learning through agency development are provided.