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DOI: 10.15507/1991-9468.029.202502.528-541

UDC 371.1.08:159.9

Professional Potential of Senior Teachers: Psychological and Pedagogical Aspect

Ekaterina O. Mazurchuk
Cand.Sci. (Psychol.), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Chair of Educational Psychology, Ural State Pedagogical University (26 Prospekt Kosmonavtov, Yekaterinburg 620091, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2950-8492, Scopus ID: 57160328300, SPIN-code: 6649-9478, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Nataliia N. Davydova
Cand.Sci. (Techn.), Associate Professor, Leading Researcher of the Department of Research and Project Activities, Ural State Pedagogical University (26 Prospekt Kosmonavtov, Yekaterinburg 620091, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6211-6370, Scopus ID: 56442179000, Researcher ID: M-1065-2018, SPIN-code: 4514-4944, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Alevtina A. Simonova
Dr.Sci. (Ped.), Professor, Chief Analyst of the Department of Research and Project Activities, Ural State Pedagogical University (26 Prospekt Kosmonavtov, Yekaterinburg 620091, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7785-2776, Scopus ID: 56973967900, Researcher ID: M-1061-2021, SPIN-code: 3634-1732, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Darya A. Pogadaeva
Analyst of 2nd Category of the Department of Higher Qualification Personnel Training and Certification, Ural State Pedagogical University (26 Prospekt Kosmonavtov, Yekaterinburg 620091, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5932-0936, SPIN-code: 6392-2603, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract
Introduction. The relevance of this study is driven by the need to maintain the professional effectiveness of educators in the later stages of their teaching careers. At the same time, the very definition of “professional potential of senior teachers” and its psycho-pedagogical aspects remain understudied. The aim of this research is to identify the key characteristics of the professional potential of senior teachers and to determine criteria for its preservation in this age group of educators.
Materials and Methods. The study employed a method of analyzing scholarly literature on the topic, and a focus group method for discussing and refining theoretical conclusions. Eighty teachers from various regions of the Russian Federation participated in the focus groups, as well as 30 representatives from the academic and business communities during a series of national and international scientific conferences. These methods facilitated the identification of structural components and the systematization of the concepts of “personal potential”, “professional potential”, and “professional potential of senior teachers”, which are in morphogenetic dependence and are fundamental.
Results. It has been established that the professional potential of senior teachers is an integrative characteristic, the personal, social, and pedagogical aspects of which are consciously realized in professional activity and ensure its effectiveness. Evaluation criteria include subjective satisfaction with quality of life, sustained professional motivation, and readiness for life-long creativity. The results of the focus groups confirmed the alignment of the developed criteria with the current demands of the education system and their potential for objectively assessing the professional prospects of the target group under investigation.
Discussion and Conclusion. The results obtained have significant practical potential and can be used as a methodological basis for creating programs aimed at actualizing the professional potential of senior teachers, as well as applied in the practice of specialists in psychological services and centers for psychological, pedagogical, medical, and social assistance services in developing comprehensive support programs for this category of teaching staff.

Keywords: professional potential, senior teachers, professional effectiveness, willingness to create life, professional motivation, psychological and pedagogical characteristics

Funding: The study is being conducted as part of the implementation of a grant from the Russian Science Foundation No. 25-28-01164 (https://rscf.ru/project/25-28-01164/).

Acknowledgments: The authors would like to thank the reviewers whose comments helped improve the structure and content of the article.

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For citation: Mazurchuk E.O., Davydova N.N., Simonova A.A., Pogadaeva D.A. Professional Potential of Senior Teachers: Psychological and Pedagogical Aspect. Integration of Education. 2025;29(3):528–541. https://doi.org/10.15507/1991-9468.029.202503.528-541

Authors’ contribution:
E. O. Mazurchuk – conducting a research and investigation process; development of methodology; specifically writing the initial draft.
N. N. Davydova – oversight and leadership responsibility for the research activity planning and execution; acquisition of the financial support for the project leading to this publication; conducting a research and investigation process; specifically writing the initial draft.
A. A. Simonova – formulation of overarching research; conducting a research and investigation process; management and coordination responsibility for the research activity planning and execution; specifically writing the initial draft.
D. A. Pogadaeva – management activities to produce metadata for initial use and later re-use; provision of study materials.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 12.05.2025;
revised 30.07.2025;
accepted 04.08.2025.

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