Tertiary Education MEd/Postgraduate Diploma/Postgraduate Certificate

www.ioe.stir.ac.uk

The Teaching Qualification in Further Education (TQFE) is the recognised teaching qualification for individuals who either currently work as lecturers in Further Education (FE) or who wish to pursue a career in the sector. It gives you the recognised teaching qualification for the FE sector, allows you to take the programme at your own pace, and provides opportunities to progress onto further qualifications.

Programme Objectives

The TQFE is designed to meet the needs of the contemporary Scottish Further Education (FE) sector. The content is based on the Professional Standards for FE staff as laid down by the Scottish Executive, and is fully accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). The programme is suitable for:

• Pre-service: Individuals who wish to pursue a career in Further Education.
• In-service: Lecturers currently working in Further Education colleges.
• Individuals who work in other education and training contexts in post-compulsory education.

Entrance Requirements

You will normally have a relevant degree from a Higher Education institution in the United Kingdom, or a degree of equivalent standard from an institution outside the United Kingdom.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your proficiency such as a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum 6 in each skill) or TOEFL 577/233/90 (Paper/Computer/Internet).

Funding

Pre-Service and part time in-service students working a maximum of 15 hours per week may be eligible for the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SASS) funding if studying towards a Postgraduate Certificate.

For further information on possible sources of funding, visit: www.stir.ac.uk/postgrad/finance

Modes of Study

Full-time or part-time.

Typically, a full-time student can expect to complete the core programme in 1 year, while a part-time student can expect to complete the core programme in 1 year to 18 months.

Programme Start Date

September and February

Programme Director

Dr Roy Canning

The Stirling Institute of Education

Structure and Content

You will complete the following six modules:

• The Further Education Context: The changing context of Further Education in Scotland; the role of government policy in shaping priorities and objectives in the sector; quality and standards; quality improvement and enhancement.
• Curriculum Design: Different approaches to curriculum design; curriculum design and the learning experience; the impact of policy on curriculum design.
• Professional Development: Professional identity and development; competence and the reflective practitioner; personal, group and organisational effectiveness.
• The Learner: Specific focus on the types of learners engaged within Further Education; the social context of learning; inclusion, progression and retention; the experience of learning in Further Education.
• Assessment: Principles of assessment; methods of assessment; evaluation and impact of assessment.
• Learning and Teaching: The relationship between teaching and learning, with a particular focus on theories and strategies for teaching in Further Education.

If you are a pre-service student, you will also complete:

• Further Education Link Practice: This double-weighted module is designed to cover your college placement activity. The module normally covers the duration of your programme, and involves the completion of 120 hours of teaching practice in a college, plus additional inputs on campus.

 

If you wish to progress onto the Master of Education in Tertiary Education (TQFE) you must complete either of the following routes:

Research and Enquiry module plus a dissertation of 15,000 words on a topic related to Further Education.

Or complete a suite of taught modules relating to continuing professional development in Further Education:

• Teaching Children and Young People
• Managing an Inclusive Learning Environment

• Human Resource Management and Development in Tertiary Education
• Leadership in Tertiary Education
• Multi Professional Learning and Working

Delivery and Assessment

Typically, part-time students complete two or three modules per semester, while full-time, pre-service students complete four modules per semester. The programme is taught using a combination of lectures, seminars and materials made available via the internet.

The attendance requirement for most modules is two days per module per semester, with all programme materials available online in advance. Pre-service students are required to do additional work both on campus and in their college placement.

Timetable

Contact the Institute for information on your timetable and reading lists.

Career Opportunities

As the recognised Teaching Qualification for individuals who wish to undertake a lecturing career in Scottish Further Education, the TQFE provides you with a highly relevant and marketable postgraduate training programme. While traditionally the programme was undertaken on an in-service basis, it is increasingly the case that colleges prefer you to have completed the qualification prior to entry into the sector. The evidence available suggests that the qualification has been very successful in facilitating career access and progression in Further Education.

Research Opportunities

PhdD/MPhil by Research
The programme will develop specific and generic skills to allow you to develop a career in a broad range of public sector, private and voluntary organisations, including Higher Education.
Doctor of Education (EdD)
The EdD is aimed at professionals working in educational training and public sector settings who wish to pursue high-level research in some aspect of their professional practice.

The EdD has a more professional and vocational orientation than the PhD and is designed for staff in education and health authorities, schools, colleges, universities and related areas, who wish to develop their understanding of what research can offer practitioners and policy-makers in their decision making, the policy implications of research, and how to conduct research in their own professional domain.

Research is organised into three clusters, led by professors, and draws together staff from across the Institute.

The three clusters are:

• Contexts of Learning (Professor Biesta)
• Inclusion and Social Capital (Professors Allan and Field)
• Communication, Learning and Interaction (Professors Plowman and Edwards)

For information on our current research projects and activity, visit: www.ioe.stir.ac.uk/research

Research Proposal

Research proposals should be around 2,000 words and include the following: executive summary, importance of the proposed research, prior relevant research and literature review, research questions and methodology, any limitations or particular requirements for the research.

• PhD/MPhil by Research: Guidelines fFor guidelines on writing a proposal, visit: www.ioe.stir.ac.uk/research/students.php
• EdD: A 2,000-word statement is required, indicating previous professional experience and general focus of the research.

RAE Rating

The UK-wide Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) confirmed the quality of the work being done by our researchers. 85% of the University of Stirling’s research has been judged to be internationally excellent and internationally recognised, with the top 10% of that judged to be world class.

View the full outcomes of Stirling’s RAE performance

All applicants should contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office to request an application form.

Application Enquiries

Student Recruitment and Admissions Service
Undergraduate Admissions Office
University of Stirling
Stirling FK9 4LA
Scotland UK

Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 467044
Fax: + 44 (0) 1786 466800
Email: admissions@stir.ac.uk