Postgraduate Certificate in Education International

The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (International) commonly known as a PGCEi, is an academic qualification, with a philosophy informed by the Teaching Council of Ireland and the Teachers’ Standards (DfE, UK).

Deepen your knowledge in teaching and learning

This dynamic and relevant programme will appeal to those interested in deepening their knowledge and expertise in teaching and learning, and in developing an understanding of educational issues, challenges and innovative approaches to practice in multiple contexts. You will advance your knowledge, understanding and professional practice through engagement with current research and thinking. It also involves a reflection on, and analysis of, your own professional practice, supporting your personal development as well as putting you in a strong position for career progression as an educator.

Develop as an educator

The programme focuses on your development as an educator and an educational professional at all levels. The content and specialised online learning approach is designed to provide a rich, stimulating, and individualised learning experience.  This post-graduate programme aims to facilitate an exploration and understanding of the concepts, issues, policies and legislation pertaining to education.

While practice observations are not a requirement of this programme, experience in an educational setting is critical and a suitable placement will need to be completed if you are not currently in related practice.

Balance study with work and home

The model of online delivery is based on a linear structure, with each module delivered over 12 weeks. Students take one module at a time, commencing a new module upon completion of the previous one. You will have the option to take time off between modules; providing flexibility to balance study, work and family commitments.

Here are some reasons to choose to study with Portobello:

• Career focused qualifications – our courses lead to awards that offer you the opportunity to immediately advance your career.
• Individualised support – we fit your learning model with support available when you need it throughout your learning journey.
• Industry expert tutors – our tutors are all experienced in the field of education connecting research and theory with practice throughout their lectures.
• Condensed scheduling – we value your time by ensuring your timetable is optimised for delivery, helping you maintain a work/life/study balance.
• Flexible delivery – we deliver theory sessions online whilst also recording the session simultaneously offering you a choice of when and how you learn.
• Affordable payment options – all our courses offer you the option to choose an easy payment plan supporting you to spread the cost out over your learning journey.

Why should I study this course?

Portobello Institute’s PGCEi gives you the opportunity to attain a level 9 postgraduate qualification through a flexible mode of delivery designed to fit learning around your busy working and home life.

This PGCEi programme aims to:

• Develop informed, knowledgeable, outstanding teachers and related professionals, espousing creativity and research informed teaching through deliberate practice.
• Develop students’ critical reflection and reflexivity within the field of education and schooling, through analysis, synthesis and evaluation of evidence, theory and practice.
• Enable students to access, assess and effectively apply educational research, advanced scholarship and new insights from the discipline of education (and other related disciplines) in the classroom/learning environment.
• Develop an understanding of the factors that influence effective, inclusive curriculum design and pedagogy and impact on pupils/learners.
• Provide opportunity for students to achieve their full academic potential at Level 9, through study encouraging self-motivation, self-awareness and application of initiative.
• Encourage professional accountability informed by an understanding of evidence-based practice.

Who will recognise my qualification?

Upon completing this level 9 degree, you will hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (International) awarded by Liverpool John Moore’s University (LJMU).

The programme design, content and philosophy draws on some existing postgraduate education syllabus and pedagogy, and significant knowledge and expertise in the School of Education at LJMU. The School has a reputation for excellence, regionally and nationally, with a growing profile for innovative research and quality in teaching internationally. The most recent inspection by OFSTED rated LJMU as ‘Outstanding’ in Primary Teaching and ‘Good, with Outstanding features’ in Secondary.

Globally recognised academic qualification in education sectors

The PGCEi seeks to reflect the local and international contexts of a postgraduate academic qualification in education, and is a recognised academic qualification in education sectors internationally. The PGCEi programme’s design and philosophy is informed by the Teachers’ Standards (DfE, UK), QAA Benchmark for Education Studies and Master’s Degree Characteristics (QAA).

This PGCEi is a postgraduate award globally recognised as an advanced level of study and qualification for those wishing to enhance their practice and advance to more senior positions in teaching and educational management, in education organisations and in international schools.

You will be registered as a student of LJMU for the duration of your studies.

The Irish and UK qualifications authorities have collaborated on initiatives that promote the transparency, recognition and mobility of qualifications between our respective jurisdictions. The qualifications authorities in the UK and Ireland have agreed the qualifications frameworks in operation, Brexit will not impact this agreement.

Both LJMU and Portobello Institute aim to deliver transformative education, which is marked by inquiry, discovery and creative dialogue between students and staff.  There is a natural synergy between LJMU’s curriculum design and pedagogies for excellence in teaching, learning and assessment in the programme, and the approaches and philosophy of Portobello Institute.

An inclusive and accessible academic environment

Cultivating an inclusive and accessible academic environment for all sections of society is articulated in both institutions’ visions and embedded in the proposed programme’s philosophy and learning journey for students interested in socially just, transformative policies, concepts and research-informed practices in education and educational contexts.

An international programme with localised context

The curriculum design and pedagogy is intended to offer a coherent academic experience. Academics from the LJMU School of Education have extensive experience of curriculum and assessment design, along with expertise in a range of education contexts and critical understanding of theories and philosophies of education and educational contexts.

This is an international programme; the use of culturally appropriate practice scenarios, policy critiques and case studies have been integrated throughout the programme, so that these are examined in local educational contexts.

Practical Placements

You will be required to complete a practical placement as part of the requirements for this programme. There will be set tasks for you to complete and if you are already working in an educational environment, these hours can be used as your placement provided you can complete the tasks required. You will be required to complete 20 days placement, this can be completed as follows;

• One block of 4 weeks
• One block of one-day-a-week for 20-weeks
• Two blocks of two weeks
• Two blocks of one day a week for 10 weeks.

There is some flexibility if this schedule does not fit with your work/home life.