Mapping the Field: A Scoping Review of Initial Teacher Education Research in Central Asia

This study maps the landscape of initial teacher education (ITE) research in Central Asia and its positioning within global academic discourse between 2004 and 2024. Drawing on a systematic scoping review of 144 publications conducted using the PRISMA-ScR protocol, it analyses publication trends, methodological approaches and thematic foci. The findings indicate that although Central Asia’s contributions to global ITE discourse remain limited, scholarly output is growing, particularly in Kazakhstan, while publications from Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are notably absent. Most studies are empirical and predominantly quantitative, with a strong thematic focus on curriculum-related areas, with limited attention to research and practicum in ITE programmes, teaching practices of teacher educators and educational reform and policies in the field, including issues of equity. By critically assessing these trends, the study identifies key gaps and proposes directions for future research, contributing to a more coherent and connected body of ITE scholarship in and on Central Asia. As the first synthesis of ITE research across the region, it offers a foundation for comparative analysis and cross-national dialogue on teacher education reform.