Postgraduate Diploma in Further, Adult and Community Education (PG Dip)

1. Study
2. Adult Continuing Education
3. Study At ACE
4. Higher Diploma and Postgraduate Cert/Dip
5. Further, Adult and Community Education

About This Course

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Fact File

• Title

  Postgraduate Diploma in Further, Adult and Community Education

• Code

  PDFACE

• College

  Adult Continuing Education, Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences

• Duration

  18 months

• Teaching Mode

  Part-Time

• Qualifications

  PG Dip

• NFQ Level

  Level 9

• Fees

  Year 1 - 5000 Euro, Year 2 - 2500 Euro See Fees and Costs for full details.

• Entry Requirements

  See Requirements for full details.

• Closing Date

  August 2023

• Next Intake

  September 2023

• Venue

  Blended learning – a mix of whole class face-to-face and online teaching.

• Start Date

  September 2023

Course Outline

Are you interested in a teacher qualification in Further, Adult and Community Education? This programme serves both practising teachers (many of whom have plenty of experience but may not have a formal FET and Adult and Community qualification), as well as those wishing to enter the sector (i.e., those with little or no teaching experience and who seek to specialise in FET and Adult and Community Education). Ultimately, the programme provides a professional qualification for teaching in the Further and Adult and Community Education Sector in accordance with Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 and Regulation Five of the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2009: see https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/teacher-education/initial-teacher-education/professional-accreditation-of-programmes/further-education/further-education-general-and-programme-requirements-for-the-accreditation-of-teacher-education-qualifications.pdf . 

The programme seeks to provide students with the knowledge, skills and professional attitudes and values required to teach in a variety of settings in the Further Education sector (e.g., Youthreach, PLC programmes, Further Ed. Colleges, Training Centres, Private Training Companies) and broader Adult and Community Education settings. The programme promotes and maintains the standard professional knowledge, skills, values and attitudes as delineated in the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers (Teaching Council, 2016, 2^nd Edition) - see https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/publications/fitness-to-teach/code-of-professional-conduct-for-teachers1.pdf  No prior experience of teaching will be required for entry (though some candidates may be practising teachers) and thus the programme will facilitate the training of new sector entrants to the teaching profession.  Subject to Teaching Council approval of accreditation, students on the programme will be entitled to register with the Teaching Council of Ireland as Further Education teachers, provided they meet the criteria set down in Regulation 5, Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2009. Students will undertake 100 hours of teaching placement in the delivery of QQI modules at NFQ Levels 1-6, as required by the Teaching Council.

The programme will be completed over three semesters, part-time.  The practical teaching element of the programme will involve a total of 100 hours of teaching (with an additional 30 hours of observation conducted in Year 1 of the programme).  This ordinarily includes (but it is not an essential requirement, in order to facilitate present practising FET practitioners) two different placements (FE and Adult and Community settings), and it involves both observation and four assessed teaching placement visits (two visits in both Year 1 and Year 2). 

This programme carries a total of 60 ECTS credits. A variety of assessment modes (e.g., teaching placement portfolios, online reflective journals, group and individual research projects, peer presentations/School events and written assignments) will be employed in this programme. It is also envisaged that face-to-face and online lectures and tutorials will be employed. Thus, we are proposing a uniquely blended learning programme in line with Teaching Council (Section 38, Regulation Five) requirements and proofed against Covid-19 type restrictions into the future. 

Course Practicalities

Teaching takes the form of blended learning – a mix of whole class face-to-face and online teaching.

Canvas (UCC’s Learning Management System) is utilised for central communication and resource supports.

Timetable details

Year 1: 40 credits total, 4 modules

ED6610: Professional Studies: Teaching in the Adult Learning Environment (20 credits; Semesters 1 and 2) - Attendance at weekly workshops (4 hours) throughout Semester I (10 Saturdays) and II (10 Saturdays); 16 hours (8 hours each Semester) for supporting research study and self-assessment = 96 hours’ contact. 

ED6607: Foundations 1: Philosophy, Sociology and Psychology of Adult Learning (5 credits; Semester 1) – Blended approach. Predominantly face-to-face teaching with some online sessions. Approximately, 10 x 2 hours (face-to-face); 2 x 2 hours (online) - (Friday afternoons) = 24 hours contact.

ED6608: Foundations 2: FET Policy and Practice in Ireland (5 credits; Semester 2) - Blended Learning: Attendance (compulsory) at 2 half-day (Friday afternoon) workshops – 6 hours plus six (3 hour) online sessions via MS Teams (Friday afternoons) = 24 hours contact in total.

ED6611: Professional Teaching Placement 1 (10 credits; Semesters 1 and 2) - On-site teaching in one Further or Adult and Community Education setting. 

Year 2: 20 credits total, 2 modules

ED6612: Professional Teaching Placement 2 (15 credits; Semester 1) - On-site teaching in one Further and/or Adult Community Education setting.

ED6609: Foundations 3: Adult Education and Social Change (5 credits; Semester 1) - Attendance (compulsory) at three (6-hour) workshops (Saturdays) = 18 contact hours; plus two (3-hour) online sessions via MS Teams (Friday afternoons) = 24 hours contact in total.

Assessment

• Reflective teaching portfolio; Individual and Team-Teaching practical assessments.
• Reflective learning journal, online blogs and participation in discussion boards.
• Formative assessment Year 1: 2 Supervised visits and feedback sessions based on clear Teaching Council criteria (reports given each visit) plus inspection of Teaching Placement E-Portfolio.
• Summative assessment Year 2: On-site teaching in one Further and/or Adult Community Education setting. Assessment: 2 Supervised visits (before Christmas) and feedback sessions based on clear Teaching Council criteria (reports given each visit) plus inspection of Teaching Placement E-Portfolio.

Why Choose This Course

Ultimately, the programme provides a professional qualification for teaching in the Further and Adult and Community Education Sector in accordance with Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 and Regulation Five of the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2009. Subject to Teaching Council approval of accreditation, students on the programme will be entitled to register with the Teaching Council of Ireland. 

Student demand is high in response to the anticipated increased numbers of Further Education and Adult and Community students which are expected to enrol in the sector. Currently, Ireland has one of the youngest populations in Europe and one of the lowest participation rates in formal and informal adult and continuing education – the lifelong learning (LLL) rate in Ireland stands at 8.3% compared with an EU average LLL rate of 10.8% (Education and Training Monitor, 2017).  A 2020 national target had set a new LLL rate of 10% and a latest 2025 figure is now set at 18%.  With the inevitable expansion of Further Education (FE) and Adult and Community Education (ACE), there will be an impending need for increased numbers of qualified teachers in this sector, in particular. This is your opportunity to become fully engaged with a burgeoning and innovative professional educational community that is committed to the advancement of younger and older adults’ knowledge, skills, attitudes and values.

Subject to Teaching Council approval of accreditation, students on the programme will be entitled to register with the Teaching Council of Ireland as Further Education teachers.  From the 1^st January 2019, in line with the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016 and Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2016, all applicants for registration under Route 3 Further Education will be required to hold an appropriate Council accredited teacher education qualification. For the purposes of clarity, ‘Further Education’ refers to those professionals “qualified to teach students in recognised schools who are normally 16 years of age and older and who are attending education and training settings outside the post-primary schooling, but which are not part of the third-level system” (Teaching Council (registration) Regulations 2016 Revised, p. 14).  Entry requirements for the PDFACE academic programme will closely reflect the Teaching Council Route 3 (Further Education) registration requirements.  Specifically, Route 3 registration requirements state that the following education, training and qualifications criteria may apply (ibid., Paragraph 2, p 17): 

Paragraph 2. A postgraduate qualification in teacher education which:

(a) includes school placement, foundation studies and professional studies;

(b) is accredited by the Teaching Council for the purposes of further education teaching;

(c) is at level 8 or higher on the NFQ;

(d) has a ECTS weighting of at least 60 credits;

(e) is commenced following the award of an undergraduate degree or equivalent at level 7 or higher on the NFQ which has a ECTS credit weighting of at least 180 credits; and

(f) either –

(i) an appropriate additional qualification, or

(ii) certified accreditation of prior learning based on a minimum of three years’ experience in a workplace or instructional setting which is relevant to the candidate’s qualifications such as may be recognised by the Council as suitable for the purpose of registration as a teacher under this route.

Requirements

This programme thus provides a professional qualification for teaching in the Further and Adult and Community Education Sector in accordance with Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 and Regulation Five of the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2009: see https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/teacher-education/initial-teacher-education/professional-accreditation-of-programmes/further-education/further-education-general-and-programme-requirements-for-the-accreditation-of-teacher-education-qualifications.pdf   It is the primary responsibility of candidates to ensure that their qualifications are acceptable for the purposes of registration as a Further Education teacher with the Teaching Council.  Applicants are therefore advised to review (prior to programme entry) the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016 and Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2016, with specific reference to Route 3 registration requirements and the education, training and qualifications criteria that apply in relation to Paragraph 2.  They are also advised to contact the Further Education section (www.teachingcouncil.ie), should they need to do so, to fully determine if they meet the criteria set down in Regulation 5 of the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations, 2009.

Applicants must have a Second-Class Honours Grade 2 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in a subject area that is currently taught in Further and/or Adult Community Education in Ireland. No prior experience of teaching/tutoring is required. Graduates of the programme are entitled to register with the Teaching Council of Ireland as FET practitioners if they meet the criteria set down in Regulation 5, Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations, 2009. Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – in accordance with UCC’s Recognition of Prior Learning policy (see https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/ovptl/documents/RecognitionofPriorLearningPolicy.pdf) and with this programmes specific learning outcomes - may also be given to applicants who have successfully demonstrated outstanding achievement at Level 7 and have a minimum of three years senior professional experience in a related field such as educational leadership and instruction in FET and/or Community Education settings. To demonstrate professional experience, applicants will need to provide an up-to-date CV (including an outline of any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme), references from existing or previous employers and separate details of related teaching/tutoring duties in FET. An interview may also be required. We wish to ensure that this interview process is as inclusive as possible, with careful attention given to diverse forms of adult education provision and the working needs of our existing and new adult education provider networks; as well as attending to a more holistic evaluation of students’ competences, as well as attitudinal and dispositional characteristics, and their personal/professional positioning in the sector.

Garda Vetting

Students, or applicants in receipt of an offer on this programme will be subject to Garda Vetting as relevant. Students will be prohibited from engaging in a relevant work placement unless the vetting process has been cleared. Click here (http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/admissionspolicies/) to view UCC's Student Garda Vetting Policy.

Fitness to Practise

This programme will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found at https://www.ucc.ie/en/academicsecretariat/fitnesstopractise/

Minimum English language requirements

UCC’s programme adopts the following Minimum English language requirements (note that this is consistent with all CACSSS programmes in UCC, which stipulates that all applicants whose first language is not English must have attained IELTS level 6.5 or the equivalent TOEFL):

• IELTS: 6.5 minimum overall score, with a minimum of no less than 6.0 in any single section
• TOEFL (Paper based test): 585
• TOEFL (Internet based test): 95
• PTE (Pearson): 62

Fees and Costs

The total fee for this 18-month (3-semester) part-time programme is set at 7,500 euros.  This is broken down by yearly costs:

Year 1 – 5,000 euros

Year 2 – 2,500 euros

For further information on fees and financial supports please click here.

How Do I Apply

https://forms.office.com/e/j0rVygKvyPCandidates are strongly advised to apply early as high demand is anticipated and places are limited.  Applications will NOT be assessed until all supporting documentation has been fully received.  Please ensure that you have all relevant documentation available at the time of application.

Applicants need to be aware of the IT student checklist below before applying:

• You will need access to a laptop or desktop computer running a modern supported operating system with all software updates.
• Some of UCC’s services (e.g. the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment) link to an external site and also have mobile apps for iOS and Android Devices that you may wish to use as part of your studies.  However, we recommend using your desktop web browser for submission of assessments.
• You should always use the most current version of your preferred browser. In general, we recommend the Chrome Web browser (Important Note: Internet Explorer will not work with Canvas).
• We recommend a reliable broadband connection with at least 2Mbps or more.
• You will require an Office suite of software (Microsoft Office or equivalent) and a PDF reader. You should always use the latest version of this software.  All UCC students will have access to Office 365 which includes software such as Word/Excel/PowerPoint etc. once registered.

To Apply for this course please follow the steps below:

When you log into the Application Portal:

Click Apply Online

Select Start a new Adult & Continuing Education Application 

During your online application you will be required to upload the following documents:

• Motivation Statement
• Birth Cert or Passport
• Passport Photograph 
• Work experience confirmation and details
• English Language Test Report [if applicable]
• Transcripts [if applicable]

Please note: This new programme is currently undergoing a formal professional review process. Subject to Teaching Council approval of accreditation, graduates of this programme will be entitled to register with the Teaching Council of Ireland.   

Are you interested in a teacher qualification in Further, Adult and Community Education? This programme serves both practising teachers (many of whom have plenty of experience but may not have a formal FET and Adult and Community qualification), as well as those wishing to enter the sector (i.e., those with little or no teaching experience and who seek to specialise in FET and Adult and Community Education). Ultimately, the programme provides a professional qualification for teaching in the Further and Adult and Community Education Sector in accordance with Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 and Regulation Five of the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2009: see https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/teacher-education/initial-teacher-education/professional-accreditation-of-programmes/further-education/further-education-general-and-programme-requirements-for-the-accreditation-of-teacher-education-qualifications.pdf . 

The programme seeks to provide students with the knowledge, skills and professional attitudes and values required to teach in a variety of settings in the Further Education sector (e.g., Youthreach, PLC programmes, Further Ed. Colleges, Training Centres, Private Training Companies) and broader Adult and Community Education settings. The programme promotes and maintains the standard professional knowledge, skills, values and attitudes as delineated in the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers (Teaching Council, 2016, 2^nd Edition) - see https://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/publications/fitness-to-teach/code-of-professional-conduct-for-teachers1.pdf  No prior experience of teaching will be required for entry (though some candidates may be practising teachers) and thus the programme will facilitate the training of new sector entrants to the teaching profession.  Subject to Teaching Council approval of accreditation, students on the programme will be entitled to register with the Teaching Council of Ireland as Further Education teachers, provided they meet the criteria set down in Regulation 5, Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2009. Students will undertake 100 hours of teaching placement in the delivery of QQI modules at NFQ Levels 1-6, as required by the Teaching Council.

The programme will be completed over three semesters, part-time.  The practical teaching element of the programme will involve a total of 100 hours of teaching (with an additional 30 hours of observation conducted in Year 1 of the programme).  This ordinarily includes (but it is not an essential requirement, in order to facilitate present practising FET practitioners) two different placements (FE and Adult and Community settings), and it involves both observation and four assessed teaching placement visits (two visits in both Year 1 and Year 2). 

This programme carries a total of 60 ECTS credits. A variety of assessment modes (e.g., teaching placement portfolios, online reflective journals, group and individual research projects, peer presentations/School events and written assignments) will be employed in this programme. It is also envisaged that face-to-face and online lectures and tutorials will be employed. Thus, we are proposing a uniquely blended learning programme in line with Teaching Council (Section 38, Regulation Five) requirements and proofed against Covid-19 type restrictions into the future. 

Teaching takes the form of blended learning – a mix of whole class face-to-face and online teaching.

Canvas (UCC’s Learning Management System) is utilised for central communication and resource supports.

Timetable details

Year 1: 40 credits total, 4 modules

ED6610: Professional Studies: Teaching in the Adult Learning Environment (20 credits; Semesters 1 and 2) - Attendance at weekly workshops (4 hours) throughout Semester I (10 Saturdays) and II (10 Saturdays); 16 hours (8 hours each Semester) for supporting research study and self-assessment = 96 hours’ contact. 

ED6607: Foundations 1: Philosophy, Sociology and Psychology of Adult Learning (5 credits; Semester 1) – Blended approach. Predominantly face-to-face teaching with some online sessions. Approximately, 10 x 2 hours (face-to-face); 2 x 2 hours (online) - (Friday afternoons) = 24 hours contact.

ED6608: Foundations 2: FET Policy and Practice in Ireland (5 credits; Semester 2) - Blended Learning: Attendance (compulsory) at 2 half-day (Friday afternoon) workshops – 6 hours plus six (3 hour) online sessions via MS Teams (Friday afternoons) = 24 hours contact in total.

ED6611: Professional Teaching Placement 1 (10 credits; Semesters 1 and 2) - On-site teaching in one Further or Adult and Community Education setting. 

Year 2: 20 credits total, 2 modules

ED6612: Professional Teaching Placement 2 (15 credits; Semester 1) - On-site teaching in one Further and/or Adult Community Education setting.

ED6609: Foundations 3: Adult Education and Social Change (5 credits; Semester 1) - Attendance (compulsory) at three (6-hour) workshops (Saturdays) = 18 contact hours; plus two (3-hour) online sessions via MS Teams (Friday afternoons) = 24 hours contact in total.

Assessment

• Reflective teaching portfolio; Individual and Team-Teaching practical assessments.
• Reflective learning journal, online blogs and participation in discussion boards.
• Formative assessment Year 1: 2 Supervised visits and feedback sessions based on clear Teaching Council criteria (reports given each visit) plus inspection of Teaching Placement E-Portfolio.
• Summative assessment Year 2: On-site teaching in one Further and/or Adult Community Education setting. Assessment: 2 Supervised visits (before Christmas) and feedback sessions based on clear Teaching Council criteria (reports given each visit) plus inspection of Teaching Placement E-Portfolio.

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

• In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.