Reflections on professional growth within the field of mathematics education

Being involved in a teaching development project as university teachers and researchers of mathematics education, we started to critically reflect on professional growth within our specific situation. We developed our own understanding of professional growth based on the subject-scientific approach. We reject a limited understanding of professional growth that equates being professional with being skilful in fulfilling an occupation. For us, the concept of professional growth must necessarily reflect socio-political conditions, which also includes mathematics and mathematics education as academic disciplines. Our reflections have led us to question the relationship between professional practice and research in the process of professional growth.