Vocational education plays a critical role in preparing students for meaningful participation in vocational practice and for broader societal participation. The quality of vocational teachers is recognized to be key in students’ development to become practitioners who are willing and able to be lifelong learners (Zhou et al., 2022). Vocational teachers face ongoing challenges in education and rapid changes in occupational practices, such as technological advancements, educational reforms, and increasingly diverse student populations (Bükki & Fehérvári, 2024; De Bruijn, 2012). To ensure that vocational education remains relevant and of high quality, continuing professional development (CPD) for experienced vocational teachers is crucial. Despite their vital role, experienced vocational teachers remain an under-researched group in educational literature. While much is known about teacher professional development in general, less attention has been paid to how experienced teachers in vocational education continue to develop professionally within their complex work contexts.
