TEACHERS’ MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS IN PARTICIPATING CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: BANGLADESH OPEN UNIVERSITY PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Continuous professional development (CPD) is an integral part of teaching profession. This paper aims at investigating the motivational factors which drives faculty members to participate in continuous professional development (CPD). Qualitative research methods have been used while conducting the study. Case studies and in-depth interviews has been used for qualitative purpose. In case studies two educational institutions from U.S.A and Singapore has been chosen while in interview 5 faculty members of Bangladesh Open University(BOU) have been participated. In the U.S.A based case study it was found that all the faculty members involve in CPD for extrinsic motivation while in the Singapore based case study found intrinsic motivation plays crucial role in the teachers’ participation in CPD. The findings of the in-depth interviews revealed that BOU faculty members participated in CPD for both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. In Bangladesh, CPD can be made indispensable to university faculty member’s profession which can give positive outcomes for the society and the nation.