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Programmes of Study

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PGCert Early Year Education

Course Leaflet (pdf)

The Programme aims to provide a response to the continuing professional development needs of fully qualified educationalists who wish to advance their skills and knowledge, enhance their professional practice and extend their capacity to lead and shape change in a range of educational settings (0-8) through part-time study by e-learning.

The distinctive feature of the programme is its strong focus on Early Years Education through transformative professionalism – an enhanced and extended professionalism which has at its core the need for practitioners to take evidence–based action to generate professional knowledge and move practice forward. This form of professionalism, in contrast with older formulations, is characterised not by self-interest and external regulation, but rather by the motivation to contribute to the collaborative development of practice and make informed contributions to professional debate.

The aims of the programme are to enhance and extend the skills, knowledge and understanding of the participants in the following ways through:

• developing advanced knowledge and understanding of educational issues and theories in Early Years Education (0-8)
• developing the capacity to analyse critically evidence and arguments to support professional judgements in complex and ambiguous situations relating to Early Years Education
• making an informed contribution to current educational debates and discussions concerning Early Years Education
• applying advanced knowledge and understanding of a range of theoretical perspectives and approaches to enhance personal professional practice in a variety of Early Years settings
• developing the capacity to shape and lead change in a variety of policy and practice settings
• exploiting opportunities to use research to generate professional knowledge and enhance policy and practice.

Programme Structure

The programme is comprised of:

• Course 1: Enhanced Practice in Early Years Education (own setting) (30 credits at SCQF Level 11)
• Course 2: Wider Perspectives for Enhanced Practice in Early Years Education (Education for the Global Society (30 credits at SCQF Level 11)

*SCQF refers to the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and Level 11 within this framework describes study at postgraduate taught masters level.

Teaching and Assessment

Modules are assessed individually by completion of a number of formative assessment tasks and by submission of a final summative assignment. 

Summative assignments will be from 3,000-4,000 words in length per 15 credit module (6,000–8,000 words per 30 credit module) – allowing for different submission formats.  Initial drafts of summative assignments, which will form the basis of discussions with your tutor, should be no more than two sides of A4 per single assignment.  Tutors CANNOT provide feedback on entire draft submissions.

Application Form for New Participants

If you wish to register for this programme please complete and return the downloadable form: Application Form (Word - Right click the link and choose save target as to download - 41 Kb).

For further information contact:

Email: c.mcdonald@abdn.ac.uk

Email: pgcey@abdn.ac.uk

School of Education · University of Aberdeen · MacRobert Building · King's College · Aberdeen · AB24 5UA · UK
Telephone: (+44) 1224 274776 · Fax: (+44)1224 274900 · E-mail: education@abdn.ac.uk

Page last modified: Monday, 21-May-2012 15:42:44 BST

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