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Hibernia College

Education - Post Primary Teaching

The only Post Primary teaching course accessible from anywhere in Ireland

Do you want to partake in the empowerment of young people aged 12-18 through education and play a part in helping each individual student in your classroom achieve their potential?

Our Master in Post Primary Education is developed by teachers for teachers to help you become a professional educator, positioned to be a leader in the field of post primary teaching. Hibernia College has a reputation for pioneering new teaching methodologies and embracing change in the ever-evolving world of education.

On this programme, you will specialise in two post primary level subjects and your enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, these subjects is what will enable you to foster a love of learning in your future students.

It is not a requirement to have prior teaching experience to be eligible to apply for this course.

Is this programme for me?

The Post Primary teaching course is for those who want to effect change in a meaningful way, by realising the talents and passions of their students and encouraging young people to utilise and get the most out of their abilities.

You understand that the role of the teacher is to facilitate the academic and personal growth of your students, allowing them to develop appropriate skills and social abilities.

You are passionate about your two teaching subjects and it is this passion and subject mastery that will motivate and foster a love of the subject material in your students, thereby ensuring that they bring as much learning as possible with them in to their future endeavours.

You believe in the importance of engaging with students beyond the classroom. Extracurricular activities allow you to build rapport with your students and staff alike.

Post Primary Teaching Course

The Master in Post Primary Education is a 120-credit award at level 9 and the duration of the programme is two years. It is a blended learning programme, combining online content, virtual learning environments and face-to-face delivery to develop professionals and experts who are positioned to be leaders in the field of post-primary education.

The PME in Post Primary Education at Hibernia College consists of a sequence of modules that reflect the contemporary issues faced by post primary teachers today and the skills and knowledge required of them in order to be expert teachers who enable effective student learning. In particular, it recognises the importance of ensuring that student teachers consider that teaching itself is understood and practised as a form of self-critical learning by them; learning that is driven by inquiry, reflection and improvements based on evidence (Teaching Council 2011).

The content, learning and assessment processes of the programme aim to provide skills and knowledge such that student teachers understand the role of the teacher as a professional, reflective and reflexive practitioner.

There is a highly favourable employment outlook for our post primary school teaching graduates due to the demographic explosion in Ireland, the short term shortage in the number of newly qualified teachers resulting from new Teaching Council requirements, and the increasing international demand for Irish trained teachers.

Available Teaching Methodologies:

Gaeilge, English, Modern Languages, History, Geography, CSPE, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Accounting, Business, Economics, Agricultural Science.

Programme Structure

On-Demand Content
12 to 15 hours per week of on-demand online lectures and self-study

Online Tutorials
Approximately 2 to 4 hours per week of live online tutorials

School Experience
24 weeks undertaken in three schools - 2 blocks of 7 weeks and 1 block of 10 weeks.

This includes periods of observation, engagement in wider school activities, reflection and evaluation

Onsite Delivery at Weekends
Students attend on site workshops and conference days on Saturdays. At times during the programme, this commitment is every Saturday

School Partnerships

The Hibernia College Post Primary Schools Partnership Programme (PPSPP)

The PPSPP is a partnership between Irish post primary schools and Hibernia College. It aims to create a positive, supportive and progressive learning and practice environment for graduate student teachers (GSTs) on teaching placements in schools. Hibernia College students must complete three blocks of school experience/professional practice of seven, seven and ten weeks' duration as part of their Professional Master of Education programme. School Experience is the cornerstone of the programme when students are afforded an opportunity to engage in classroom practice in two subject areas and acquire the teaching skills and competencies required to fully participate in all aspects of post primary school life.

Benefit to Schools
There is strong evidence that schools which partner in Initial Teacher Education benefit in many ways. This is a powerful professional development opportunity for co-operating teachers, mentors and the wider school community. Mentoring requires the development of leadership skills, invites a re-evaluation of the mentor's own practice, exposes the school to new resources and fresh approaches, and offers mentors access to a mentor network, where best practice can be shared and research and other career-focused networks can be forged.

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements
All applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

Level 8 degree

English qualification

Level 8 Degree

Applicants are required to have a Level 8 degree, which satisfies the curricular subject criteria which are set and regulated by the Department of Education and Skills in association with the Teaching Council of Ireland, and which must be satisfied independently of Hibernia College's entry requirements.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ascertain whether their specific qualifications are in accord with the Teaching Council requirements, satisfying the general and specific criteria for post primary registration purposes. As part of your PME Post Primary application, you are required to complete a subject declaration form for all subjects you are qualified to teach and which you are seeking to have recorded on the Teaching Council's Register of Teachers. Teaching Council regulations stipulate that, in addition to holding a Level 8 degree (or equivalent) on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications, you must meet the requirements for at least one post primary curricular subject. The requirements for all qualifying subjects are set by the Teaching Council.

Applicants must follow the Teaching Council guidelines:

1.Click on the subject(s) of your choice and complete the form.

2.Please ensure that all details on the form are correct, that you hold a Level 8 degree (or equivalent) and the requisite total number of ECTS credits in the relevant subject.

3.Print the form, sign it and return it with the other documentation requested. This form must be returned to Hibernia College with your application form and transcripts. This form will be submitted to the Teaching Council if your application to this programme is successful.

English Requirement

In addition to the above, Hibernia College requires all applicants to possess:

A minimum grade O5 (Ordinary Level) or grade H6 (Higher Level) in Leaving Certificate English.
Or
A minimum grade C in GCSE English or minimum grade C in GCSE English Literature
Or
An equivalent qualification and standard in English

Additional Information

Note 1: Applicants who are unsure of the level of their primary degree should contact the conferring college or university or contact QQI.

Note 2: Hibernia College is in no way responsible for the assessment of qualifications for the purpose of registration. While we will make every effort at the time of application to notify applicants if we believe there may be a concern with their qualification, the fact that they are accepted on to the Professional Master of Education programme does not mean their degree will be recognised for entry on to the Register of Teachers by the Teaching Council. Hibernia College will not be held responsible if a graduate of the Professional Master of Education is refused admission to the Register of Teachers on the basis of an erroneous declaration at the point of application and admission to the programme.

Note 3: There are no concessions for mature students. All applicants must meet the same minimum entry requirements to be considered for admission to the programme, and all applicants who meet those requirements will be called for interview.

Note 4: All students entering the programme will be subject to Garda vetting. Students successful in securing an offer of a place on the programme will be advised that all offers are subject to a satisfactory Garda vetting.

Duration

Two years

Further enquiries

Phone: +353 (0)1 661 0168
info@hiberniacollege.net

Comment

Academic Accreditation: QQI (Formerly HETAC)
Professional accreditation: The Teaching Council

Assessment method

Assessment is conducted through a combination of written exam and continuous assessment, including assessment of your school placements.

The Research Methods module enables students to write a 10,000 word research dissertation.

Application date

Admissions

All applicants who are deemed to have met the entry requirements and who have submitted a fully completed application form, with supporting documentation and payment of the application fee, will be interviewed.

We strongly encourage applicants to submit their completed application form as early as possible.

Interview Scheduling

Acceptance and entry to the course is by interview. The process is as follows:

•Applications that are fully completed with all supporting documentation will be acknowledged by email.

•Applicants are placed in the queue for processing and will be contacted by phone or email during daytime hours to schedule an interview.

•The Admissions Team will make contact directly with the applicant to arrange an interview. During busy periods, the waiting time for interview may be slightly longer.

•Applicants will usually be given a notice period of approximately one week ahead of their allotted interview date and time.

•Interviews normally take place in the daytime, Monday to Thursday at Hibernia College, Block B, The Merrion Centre, Merrion Road, Dublin 4.

•Applicants are expected to attend at the scheduled time and date.

•Applicants must bring a valid photographic identification with them to the interview. This should be a current passport or driving license. If an applicant fails to present identification, the interview panel cannot proceed with the interview.

•Applicants will receive a reminder by email confirming the scheduled interview, directions to our premises and other information.

Once an interview has been scheduled, in the unlikely event that an applicant has no choice but to cancel, the Admissions Team will endeavour to re-schedule the interview. However, during busy periods or nearing the start date of the programme, this may not be possible. Please note that if you are not in a position to attend the interview on the date offered, it is important that this is communicated to the Admissions Team at the earliest opportunity.

The Interview

The interview will be approximately 25 mintues in length.

At the start of the interview, candidates will present on a junior or senior cycle curriculum topic of interest.

The topic chosen should be related to the cadidate's first subject choice.

The presentation should be no longer than 3 minutes.

The interview will also focus on four key elements:

1. Motivations and the Profession

Candidates will be given the opportunity to show they possess skills, interest and enthusiasm for both of their subject areas and the profession.

2. Suitability to Teach and Subject Knowledge

Candidates will be provided with an opportunity to show that they have investigated both of their subjects and have given some thought to teaching at different levels to different class groups. The reflective task which candidates will complete prior to interview will also be used to ascertain the candidate's subject knowledge.

3. Preparation

Candidates should be able to display knowledge of Hibernia College and the programme for which they have applied.

4. Competencies

Candidates will have the opportunity to demonstrate competencies which will be pertinent to teaching e.g. effective planning, responsiveness and interpersonal and reflective skills.

Please note that this list is given as a guide only.

Interview Outcomes

•The outcome of the interview will be that the applicant is recommended or not recommended.

•The outcome of the interview is communicated via e-mail only and is not given to applicants by phone.

•In the interest of fairness to applicants who are unsuccessful, the College will accept one repeat application following the initial application.

•Applicants can make two consecutive applications only. Following which, they must take a break in applying for two calendar years. This is intended as a means of affording applicants the time required to address any shortcomings identified in their application.

•Those who are recommended will be made an offer for the next available cohort. To accept an offer, applicants must submit documentation and payment in accordance with the terms of the offer.

•To accept an offer, all applicants will have to pay a deposit it €1050.

•Where the College has concerns about any individual failing to show genuine commitment to the commencement and/or completion of the programme following repeated applications/admissions, the College reserves the right to refuse future applications. In addition to this, in instances where an individual demonstrates that they do not have the potential to succeed on the programme and/or in the associated profession, the College reserves the right to refuse a subsequent application.

Course fee

Tuition fees: €7,500 per academic year
Application Fee: €95

Enrolment and start dates

Next Intakes: Spring 2020 and Autumn 2020

Course web page

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