Dari Pendidikan Karakter menuju Etika Profesional: Tinjauan Literatur tentang Pembentukan Moral Mahasiswa Calon Guru From Character Education to Professional Ethics: A Literature Review of Moral Development Among Preservice Teachers

Abstract

Character education is an important foundation for preparing preservice teachers. However, the internalization of moral values does not necessarily entail the ability to make ethical decisions in professional practice. This article aims to synthesize the conceptual relationships among character education, moral development, professional identity, and professional ethics among preservice teachers and formulate a framework for strengthening teacher education. The study employed an integrative literature review involving targeted searches for major theoretical works and scholarly articles on character education, moral reasoning, teachers’ professional ethics, and preservice teacher education. The literature was analyzed thematically by comparing theoretical foundations, research contexts, findings, and pedagogical implications. The synthesis indicates that the transition from personal character to professional ethics is a nonlinear process integrating five mechanisms: recognition of values and moral sensitivity, role modeling, reasoning through ethical dilemmas, guided reflection during field placements, and an institutional culture consistent with ethical values. The synthesis also identifies a gap between ethical knowledge and the ability to apply moral concepts explicitly when considering conflicts between values. These findings underscore the need for ethics education that connects an understanding of norms with reasoning practice and reflection on professional experiences. This article proposes a Character–Professional Ethics Transition Model linking value internalization, moral reasoning, professional identity formation, and accountable ethical action. In practical terms, the framework may guide the integration of learning based on ethical dilemmas, reflection on field placements, and the strengthening of institutional culture into preservice teacher education. The proposed model requires empirical testing, particularly through longitudinal research in Indonesian teacher education contexts.