The Issues of Pedagogy, Curriculum, Education Innovation and Leadership programme at the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education embraces key areas of theory, practice and reform in the field of education development including: pedagogy, curriculum, assessment, capacity building, change management, and pedagogical leadership.

What is the purpose of the programme?

The programme will explore and enhance an understanding of schools-university and school-based model of teacher education, as well as examine the pedagogies of teacher education, the skills of developing established teachers, and the complementary roles of mentors and a range of staff.  It will also enable participants to engage with issues of leadership and professional development in the broadest sense and at every level – from international policy to local educational settings – and to explore national and global networks, mutually productive partnerships and professional communities.

The programme enhances knowledge, skills and understanding of building teams and managing change to enhance and embed pedagogical and curriculum reform concepts. Researching practice is an important aspect of the programme – key ideas, concepts, designs and methods are taught in the Faculty to enable participants to undertake practitioner research in a professional placement setting.

What is the structure of the programme?

Participants will study at the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education as well as experience professional placements at other educational institutions to shadow, observe, collaborate with and teach. The programme lasts 6 or 3 months depending on which Strand applicants apply for. Each Strand consists of a combination of professional placements in partnership settings, mentoring by experienced placement leaders and educators, teaching and supervision from experienced teacher educators in the Faculty of Education, and supplementary academic English language teaching. A summary of the placements and courses for each Strand is offered below:

What are the methods of study?

The programme will combine the best of interactive, research-informed taught modules which will use tutor and participant presentations, collaborative discussion and other learning methods in order to model teaching strategies, introduce content and stimulate critical thinking in relation to relevant issues.

All participants will spend time in professional placements which have experience of a school-university partnership, a research informed culture, initial teacher education and professional learning embedded in their ethos. Also, as appropriate, other educational institutions focusing on specified aspects of education will be part of the programme. Participants will be supported by subject/department mentors, professional placement tutors and Faculty supervisors to make connections between theoretical input and practical application.

There will be tutor-led discussion sessions in which participants will be helped to draw connections and critically reflect on key issues. There will be a particular emphasis on how ideas encountered relate to the participants’ own national context, and participants will be expected to produce weekly reflective accounts which demonstrate critical reflection and personal engagement with their experiences during each week of the programme.

Seminars and workshops will introduce participants to various approaches to practitioner research; there will be workshops focusing on data collection and data analysis. This will support small-scale research in the professional placement. Participants’ research will be in collaboration with placement colleagues, perhaps enhancing a school improvement project, and will be supported by their partnership tutor/Faculty supervisor.

An experienced supervisor will be identified for each participant; regular meetings between supervisor and participant will offer support, guidance and professional mentoring. Supervisors will help participants to make connections, apply ideas to their own national context and support the writing of assignments, including the development of research projects. Supervisors will be responsible for giving formative feedback on all elements of the programme.

How to apply?

For additional information including how to apply, please see the brochure here.

Submit an expression of interest and your Curriculum Vitae to the Education Reform and Innovation Team by email: ERI@educ.cam.ac.uk