Keyword: «faculty professional agency»

The article is an analytical review summarizing the research related to applying ecological approach to the concept of faculty professional agency. Through this particular approach, understanding of nexus between educational environment and faculty agency is ensured. The topicality of the given research is rooted in the long-felt urge to reveal specific ways of researching faculty professional development relying on the combination of faculty organic resources and corresponding educational environment, while also taking into consideration present-day requirements towards university teachers’ performance. Such topicality is also stipulated by the need for a greater degree of ecological approach conceptualization. Analyzing the studies related to ecological approach to agency, we aimed at demonstrating the possibilities provided by ecological approach in the process of interpreting the faculty agency concept. With the help of the literature review method, modeling method as well as general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, we concluded on the significance of using the ecological approach within such research as it demonstrates close interrelation between faculty professional agency and ecological conditions in which university teachers operate, allowing to understand not only their ability to engage actively in professional performance but also the possible ways of shaping such kind of agency. Receiving more detailed information related to ecological approach as one of the resultative ways of researching faculty professional agency, which provides a necessary focus for researchers, has become the result of the current study. Theoretical value of the latter is reflected in the combination of ecological approach with devising the principles of developing a university teacher as a professional, while practical application of the results might be found through considering the factors impacting professional agency growth in the professional development programs and teachers advanced training courses. Thus, ecological approach acts as a technology analyzing, modeling and constructing educational environment enabling faculty personal and professional development.