Apply for international Postgraduate Certificate in Education (iPGCE) 

To continuously empower the professional development of teachers in China International Schools, TopSchools cooperates with the University of Strathclyde has launched the iPGCE Certificate Programme for teachers, which supports teachers to improve the knowledge and skills of learning and teaching in the 21st century, and to develop and deepen the understanding of contemporary education issues based on the knowledge and skills in essential areas such as learning, teaching and evaluation.

Start date: September/ January

Application deadline: August/ December

Study mode &Duration: 12 months part-time online 

Introduction

Scottish education has led the world in a commitment to innovation as early as the 17thcentury. The iPGCE is a one-year part-time teacher education course which will prepare you to teach and/or enhance your career prospects of working in international school settings. 

The programme is presented fully online with content designed and delivered by experienced academic staff who are world-leading in their field. You will become part of an online community of Strathclyde students from around the world who are studying the same programme as you. The iPGCE is internationally recognised and meets the same rigorous standards as those teaching programmes delivered on campus. Online lectures are supplemented by small-group seminars. For some elements, you will receive one-to-one support from tutors. You will benefit from attending two course support conferences, which provide the opportunity for you to meet and work with the tutors before and during the course. The course gives you access to the same high-quality Strathclyde experience as our students on campus, but offers you a much more flexible learning environment.

You will undertake the following three Masters-level modules:

1. International Education: Issues, Debates & Challenges

This module explores the aims, purposes and values of education in the students’ own country using examples of other international contexts for comparison. The module draws on current research and allows students to critically evaluate and discuss the impact of educational policy on learning and teaching. Students will debate the complexities of education through an international and comparative lens.

2.Learning, Teaching & Professionalism in International Contexts

In this module, students will develop their pedagogical skills and learn about innovative approaches to teaching. The module challenges students’ current thinking about learning and pupil engagement and the importance of developing 21st century skills. Students will reflect on a range of strategies for teaching specific subject areas in their own settings. They will see the immediate impact of their pedagogical practices on pupil learning.

3. Practitioner Enquiry for Professional Learning

This module develops students’ dispositions of systematically scrutinising their knowledge and understanding about the complex relationship between theory and practice. Students will learn how to conceptualise, design, conduct and report a small-scale project in their own classroom. They will also develop the capacity to reflect on ways of evidencing the impact of practitioner enquiry on teacher professional learning and on innovation in the classroom.

The course content draws on expertise from our existing teacher education courses including the BA (Hons) Primary Education, PGDE Primary and Secondary, Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Issues & Impact, and the MSc TESOL and Intercultural Communication. Successful completion of these modules leads to the award of Postgraduate Certificate in Education.

USPs of the course

• Innovative teaching content and future-oriented approaches underpinned by our world leading educational research

• Designed and delivered by experienced academic staff who are world-leading in their field

• High-quality interactive online learning environment

• Personalised learning opportunities including small tutorial groups (max 20 students per group) and one-on-one interaction with the tutors

Profile of our students

• Academic requirements/experience

  The iPGCE is open to teachers and education professionals of all career stages.

• Degree requirements

  Upper second-class Honors degree, or a lower degree with significant professional experience working in an education-related setting.

• Experience requirements

  Normally applicants will already be working in an educational setting (international/bilingual schools preferred). For applicants who do not currently work in such settings, they must provide proof that they will meet the experience requirements when they start the course.

• English language requirements

  You are required to have a suitable minimum level of competency in English if your first language is not English, or if you have not been educated wholly or mainly in the medium of English.

  For postgraduate studies, the University of Strathclyde requires a minimum overall score of IELTS 6.5 (with no score below 6.0) or equivalent. Tests are valid for two years.

  If you are a national of an English-speaking country recognised by UK Visas and Immigration (please check most up-to-date list on the Home Office website) or you have successfully completed an academic qualification (at least equivalent to a UK Bachelor's degree) in any of these countries, then you do not need to present any additional evidence.

  If your IELTS score is lower than 6.5, you may be considered for a place dependent on your performance in the entrance interview.

Career opportunities for graduates

Those who successfully complete the programme will be able to pursue careers in teaching in their home countries or internationally. This could be with young learners, high school students, college or university students, or adult learners. The course will qualify you for more senior positions in international schools. The programme also offers a route into a full Master’s degree and a research-orientated career.

Introduction to Strathclyde, HaSS and Education

The University of Strathclyde has a rich history of teaching and innovation. Founded in 1796 as ‘a place of useful learning’, the University is a leading technological university with around 28,000 students from more than 100 countries. We have an international reputation for teaching excellence with a five-star Overall Rating in the QS Stars University Ratings. We are the only university to be awarded the Times Higher Education UK University of the Year twice (2012 and 2019).Our campus is in the heart of Glasgow, one of the largest cities in the UK.

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) enjoys an excellent reputation across a wide range of disciplines. Our research and teaching generate new ideas, knowledge and skills, with the aim of increasing our understanding of the world. We strive to make a significant contribution to the economy, society and culture of Scotland and beyond and have expertise in developing professional practice in a number of areas.

The School of Education is the leading provider of teacher education in Scotland, and one of the largest in the UK. The School has a rich history of teaching and innovation dating back to 1837. Out postgraduate teacher education courses have a strong track record and are highly-valued by our students. Our graduates are sought by schools all over the country and around the world. The iPGCE course builds on the international research strengths of the School of Education in the areas of children and childhood, equity and social justice, pedagogy and curriculum policy and teachers and teacher education.

Contact

Contact：Aaron 徐老师

Mobile & Wechat：188 1740 9936

Contact：Charlotte 谭老师

Mobile & Wechat：189 7091 4292