PG Certificate / Graduate Certificate Leading Learning & Transformative Practice in Colleges (with TQFE)
ApplyKey facts
- Start date: August
- Accreditation: General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS)
- Application deadline: mid-August
- Study mode and duration: Online, part-time over 9 months
Study with us
Obtain the Teaching Qualification in Further Education (TQFE) by undertaking our innovative programme in Leading Learning & Transformative Practice in Colleges. Allows for registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland. The programme is available at undergraduate level as a Graduate Certificate (level 9) or at postgraduate level as a Postgraduate Certificate (level 11).
- online, part-time over 9 months to suit personal and work commitments
- socially progressive with an explicit focus on teaching in colleges as a means of making a positive difference to society
- student-centred with a clear focus on context-relevant learning and active participation with peers
- uses professionally authentic assessment approaches (including patchwork, professional enquiry and viva)
- progression to other qualifications (e.g. Masters or Doctorate) is possible and encouraged
Why this course?
This programme aims to provide a student-centred, socially-progressive and research-informed journey to enable students to lead learning and transformative practice in colleges. It encourages an active, questioning and enquiring stance while placing sustainability and inclusivity at its core. It allows students to demonstrate achievement of the Professional Standards for Lecturers in Scotland’s Colleges and subsequently register as a College Lecturer with the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
The programme models a transformative learning pedagogical approach for and with students. Students will have significant opportunities to collaborate with others from their own college, other colleges and in subject groups. Students will engage in directed online activities on a weekly basis and every 2 weeks, will attend a 90 minute seminar with their tutors and peers.
Authentic and work-based assessment approaches are employed and uniquely, includes written assignment, two observations of practice, digital presentation and a professional viva (oral examination) at the end of the programme.
Students need to be employed within a college to be able to undertake 120 hours of teaching practice required by the Scottish Government to be awarded the TQFE. Uniquely, we offer students the option of undertaking this programme over 9 months to suit their personal and work commitments.
What you’ll study
The programme is designed to be undertaken over 9 months.
All students will undertake a comprehensive induction at the beginning of the programme. Induction will include attendance at an online event and directed study on professionalism, the professional standards, study skills, critical reading and writing.
Early in the programme, students will also undertake a comprehensive self-evaluation and audit against the professional standards to identify areas for development. In conjunction with their tutor, they will then create an action plan for the remainder of the programme. Depending on the student’s prior experience, qualifications and background, the audit and action plan will be a very personalised task to ensure the individual needs of each student are met.
This research-informed programme has been designed in conjunction with colleges and other relevant stakeholders.
We anticipate the programme will include input from college students, lecturers and other relevant organisations (including WorldSkills UK) where possible.
Standard (9-month route)
Students will complete three 20 credit modules over 9 months.
Each module includes a variety of directed and self-directed activities. Attendance at fortnightly 90-minute seminars is a requirement.
Course awards
Level 9
Students who complete all 3 modules at level 9 will achieve a Graduate Certificate in Leading Learning & Transformative Practice in Colleges (with TQFE).
Students completing this programme at level 9 may be able to use their credits towards other undergraduate qualifications.
Level 11
Students who complete all 3 modules at level 11 will achieve a Postgraduate Certificate in Leading Learning & Transformative Practice in Colleges (with TQFE).
Students completing the programme at level 11 can apply for entry into our Masters or Doctorate in Education programmes. More information about progression and credit transfer will be provided during the programme.
Course content
Students on the Graduate Certificate (level 9) programme must complete all 3 modules at level 9.
Students on the Postgraduate Certificate (level 11) programme must complete all 3 modules at level 11.
Module 1 – Leading Learning in Colleges
This module aims to provide a space for students to examine factors that impact on learning, teaching, assessment and student pathways. Students will collaborate with their tutor(s) and peers to design student-led, socially progressive, sustainable and inclusive learning, teaching and assessment experiences for a specific group of their own students. The focus in this module is on planning for leading learning and subsequent professional dialogue, rather than preparing lengthy lesson plans and/or plans of work.
At level 11, there will be greater focus on power and hegemony, creativity and/or originality, use of research to inform practice and criticality.
Module 2 – Transforming Practice through Enquiry
This module aims to enable students to plan and undertake professional enquiry that will promote social progressivism and sustainability, transform practice and enhance the student experience. Students will decide an area for enquiry from a range of themes including but not limited to: digital pedagogy, sustainability, student voice and empowerment, WorldSkills methodologies, meta skills and enterprise. Themes will change depending on student interest. They will be required to link their enquiry where appropriate to college, regional and national priorities (including sustainability).
Students will have to work collaboratively and disseminate the impact of their work via a digital artefact of their choice (level 9) or at an online showcase event (level 11).
At level 11, there will be greater focus on disrupting current assumptions about learning, teaching and/or assessment, use of research and criticality. Students will be required to show some creativity and/or originality in the design and execution of their enquiry.
Module 3 – Achieving Professional Standards
This module will support students to independently interrogate and understand relevant professional standards in relation to their own work contexts. It will help to develop skills of critical reflection and professional evaluation leading to the presentation and defence of a portfolio, mapping the student’s own professional learning against the relevant professional standard. This module includes 2 online observations of practice.
At level 11, there will be a greater focus on creativity and/or originality, enhanced critical awareness, extensive critical reflection and exercising substantial autonomy.
Learning & Teaching
The programme is delivered online and a flipped learning approach is used. There is directed study to complete each week comprising of video clips, tasks, quizzes, reading, blogs, discussions and collaborative work.
Every second week, students will attend a 90-minute seminar with their tutor(s) and peers. In 2024/25, seminars will take place on a Monday. Seminars will allow students to engage in discussion, collaborative work, peer instruction, presentations, Q+A, debates, problem solving and quizzes. We will invite to engage with students. The programme takes an active stance to incorporate baseline lecturer digital capabilities.
Students will be encouraged to work collaboratively with their peers from their own college and other colleges (particularly in their own subject or cognate area).
Assessment
There are no traditional essays on this programme; instead, an authentic assessment approach is employed.
Module 1 is assessed by a case study constructed as a series of ‘patches’ over the duration of the module.
Module 2 is assessed by a digital artefact (at level 9) or a presentation of the student’s enquiry at a showcase event (at level 11), accompanied by a written reflection.
Module 3 is assessed by a portfolio of evidence presented and discussed at a professional viva.
There will be significant opportunities for formative, peer and self-assessment.
Entry requirements
The University is committed to widening access and takes a contextual approach to its admissions decisions. Applicants should be aware that they will need to negotiate 120 hours teaching practice in their subject area within an FE establishment environment over the duration of the programme.
Applicants should also note that they will normally be expected to supply two digital recordings or live stream versions of a teaching episode for the purposes of observation.
| Entry to the Graduate Certificate (level 9) |
*Where an HNC or SCQF level 7 award is the highest available in that subject area, applicants are strongly advised to obtain the level 8 unit ‘Teaching in Colleges today’ via the College Development Network (or equivalent). However, relevant education, teaching and industry experience will be considered. |
|---|---|
| Entry into the Postgraduate Certificate (level 11): | A relevant degree (at SCQF level 9 or 10) from an institution in the UK or a degree of an equivalent standard from a recognised institution outside of the UK. |
Fees & funding
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Annual revision of fees
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that tuition fees are revised annually and may increase in subsequent years of study. Annual increases will generally reflect UK inflation rates and increases to programme delivery costs.
| Scotland | £1,700 |
|---|---|
| England, Wales & Northern Ireland | £1,700 |
| Additional costs | Students may wish to purchase their own hard copy of some reading material used on the programme (approximately £60). However, all materials will be provided electronically. |
| Funding opportunities | Strathclyde Alumni Scholarship: Postgraduate TaughtWe're delighted to offer our Strathclyde graduates a 15% tuition fee discount on the Postgraduate Certificate in Leading Learning & Transformative Practice in Colleges (with TQFE) programme. Find out more about the Strathclyde Alumni Scholarship. |
Careers
On completion of the programme, students will be able to apply for registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (subject to meeting their registration criteria). The Graduate Certificate is subject to University approval.
Apply
Start date: Aug 2024
Leading Learning & Transformative Practice in Colleges (standard)
Start date: Aug 2024
(1 year entry)
Contact us
Prospective student enquiries
Contact a member of our team on LiveChat between 10am and 4pm (GMT)
Telephone: +44 (0) 141 444 8600