Postgraduate Certificate In Education

The purpose of IOU’s Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is to cap an undergraduate degree or diploma so as to develop and prepare the student to be an effective teacher. A PGCE ensures that graduates are prepared for entry-level employment in the sector. The PGCE provides graduates and diplomates with the knowledge and skills needed to perform as classroom teachers in their chosen subject. The targeted and mentored acquisition of practical teaching skills and workplace experience enables graduates to apply their learning as beginner teachers in schools in varying contexts.

The programme has been carefully formulated and developed to respond to national and global education needs and trends, and includes modules that provide a thorough foundation in education and pedagogical studies, as well as teaching observation and practice opportunities.

The PGCE is ideal for students that hold a bachelor’s degree in another discipline, and are interested in becoming a formal school teacher* in primary or secondary education schools, or working in school administrative, educational support or management areas.

The degree has been benchmarked against leading universities in Africa and the United Kingdom, to ensure IOU students are afforded a contextually relevant education in accordance with international standards.

The PGCE also incorporates the study of Islamic teachings, in alignment with the vision and mission of the university, affording students opportunities to merge and gain religious perspectives on education – enabling pedagogical application of content Islamization.

The qualification may be completed on a full-time basis within a minimum period of one year, and on a part-time basis within two years.

Upon completion of the programme, the student will be awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Education with a specialization in their chosen subject field(s).

Career paths for graduates of this programme include: school teacher* in primary or secondary education, general educator and/or facilitator, school administrator, head teacher or school principal*, or education specialist.

Upon completion of the programme, students would be able to

PLO1 Apply discipline knowledge of the theories and principles of education relevant to their work as a school teacher/administrator/principal, and/or education expert;

PLO2 Critically evaluate and synthesize pedagogical theory, research and practice to apply knowledge of the needs of students from diverse backgrounds and across the full range of abilities to enhance learning;

PLO3 Apply principles of Islamization of education as a pedagogical approach to education;

PLO4 Select, curate, use and create a range of digital resources and technologies to support learning and teaching, and communicate professionally with students, parents, colleagues and the community;

PLO5 Plan and deliver effective learning and teaching experiences in curriculum and assessment; and

PLO6 Teach subjects in accordance with chosen subject specialization on a primary and/or secondary level.

The PGCE aligns with the vision and mission of IOU by:

• providing facilitated access to quality higher education to all students around the world, particularly in the field of Islamic Studies,
• promoting the Islamic values of peace, harmony and tolerance, embedded in the curriculum, pedagogical practices and teaching approaches of this programme,
•  contributing to the establishment and strengthening of knowledge-based communities globally through the teaching and learning activities of the programme, and
• committing to creating diverse, scholarly communities, where students are encouraged to engage in intellectual rigor, high ethical standards and critical evaluation

Minimum Eligibility for Postgraduate Certificate in Education Program Applicants

In order to be admitted to our accredited online Postgraduate Certificate Education program, the candidates must have:

• An accredited Bachelor’s degree or a relevant Honour’s degree or equivalent.

The submitted qualification should be equivalent to HEQF Level 7 or ISCED Level 6.

English Requirements

Applicants should be competent in English as a language of teaching and learning (LOTL).

Postgraduate applicants who have English as an additional/foreign language are required to achieve a minimum of IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in each component or equivalent.

Should English be an additional/foreign language, then the applicant may be required to also write an English for Academic Purposes Placement test (EAPP) with IOU.

Please click here for more information.

Note: Admission Disclaimer

I- The Faculty Management Committee and Head of the Department reserve the right to assess, accept, or decline admission to any program, irrespective of prior graduation from IOU (International Online University). This decision is made at the discretion of the committee and department heads, taking into consideration various factors.

The Method

IOU provides a unique learning experience for all of our students. The university also recognizes that many students may not have studied online before; it is quite different from traditional classroom-based learning. For this reason, IOU has provided demos and organized a user-friendly learning environment for those new to online education. It is vital that all IOU students be fully prepared for online learning and have the required level of English to enable them to effectively and successfully study in this environment.

IOU is comprised of students from around the globe. Our students learn through watching and listening to video and audio lectures as well as reading texts (PDF Format). Within the online study community, students may share resources, exchange ideas, discuss weekly topics, submit assignments, and take exams.

IOU is thankful to Allah for having enabled us to launch multiple online courses for students to choose from. We are dedicated to spreading authentic Islamic knowledge with a proper understanding of Allah’s true religion. Both students and professors represent a diverse group coming from both under-developed and developed countries.

Teaching and Learning

Lectures and tutorials will be delivered either via pre-recorded content or in real-time, synchronously and asynchronously. Presentations in real-time will be conducted in the university’s virtual learning environments.  

Assessments will all be conducted/submitted online. All assessments will have to be submitted on the learning management system. 

Examinations will be completed at approved examination centres globally, unless decided otherwise by the Senate. 

Academic faculty and students will engage via discussion forums and email asynchronously, and in real-time (synchronously) in virtual rooms.

Demo Course

IOU presents a demonstration course from the BAIS program to show people interested in IOU how the courses look and operate and give a real-time example of what it is like to study with IOU.

Please click here to download the BAIS Demo Course Guide to learn more.

Please click the button given below to access the demo course directly, (you may need to create and account and enrol in the course if you haven’t done so already)Demo Course

For further details and help with registration and enrollment in the BAIS or BMAIS, contact the info deks at: info@iou.edu.gm

Student Support

Students at IOU enjoy the support of dedicated full-time qualified faculty members, who are responsible for answering any questions students may have about the course.

Additionally, guest lecturers from the various fields offered by IOU and beyond will be invited from time to time, to enrich the program by providing an avenue for students to experience, firsthand, the cutting edge of academic research and professional expertise. Students will be informed of the timings and will be given ample opportunity to participate. The sessions will also be recorded and kept in the IOU archive for later viewing by those unable to watch the sessions live.

Faculty

There is a faculty for each course. The ​faculty may or may not be the actual instructor of the course. The ​faculty member, however, is able to handle all issues related to the course they are assigned to. They provide academic support and facilitate learning by:

1. Providing further clarification of materials studied in the recorded lectures.
2. Facilitating access to resources such as online libraries and additional learning materials.
3. Monitoring usage of module videos
4. Grading assignments
5. Supervising forums to ensure that they are properly utilized.

The faculty will work together with the Coordinator, Registrar and the Dean to ensure that all students receive the support they need to succeed in their studies

Student Responsibilities

Students are expected to devote at least four hours of study per week per subject. Students should read course materials, listen to the lecture, take the module test, and complete the course assignment.

1. Students should behave respectfully at all times. If a student is disrespectful to the faculty, to another student, or to the staff at the test center, he or she will be removed from the class and may be dismissed from the university, depending on the severity of the disruption.
2. All students should fully participate in the online forums.
3. All assignments should be handed in on time. They should be handed in before or at the time of exams. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, students cannot turn in an assignment on time, they need to get permission from the faculty for late submission. If a student misses an exam without informing the administration before exam week, he/she will receive a ‘failure’. It is the student’s responsibility, not the instructor’s or the faculty member’s, to attempt to make up and complete the exam within the late mid-term period.
4. Students of the Islamic Online University should pledge that all tests taken by them and that all work turned in by them are original and are solely the result of their own efforts. Any form of academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, will be recorded in the student’s permanent file. Breaches of academic integrity will be dealt with severely, as per the Islamic Online University’s policy. After the first instance of a breach of academic integrity, the student will receive a failing grade IN ALL CLASSES FOR WHICH HE/SHE IS CURRENTLY ENROLLED. After the second instance, the student will be expelled permanently from the university.
5. Note: Cheating is defined as using others’ planning or drafting to generate an essay, copying any part of another person’s homework, or collaborating on assignments that are meant to be individual efforts. Unless otherwise indicated, all assignments should be completed individually.

HOW IT WORKS OLD

THE IOU WAY OF E-LEARNING

• Both students and professors represent a diverse group coming from both under-developed and developed countries.
• The basic text(s) used for teaching the course will be provided as downloadable, printable PDF files.

THE COURSE MATERIAL CONSISTS OF:

1. Course text (PDF). The basic text(s) used for teaching the course will be provided as downloadable, printable PDF files. Supplementary reading texts will also be recommended, which students can get on their own. In the future, we plan to have an exclusive library of PDF books for our students to use as supplementary reading.
2. Recorded supplementary session conducted by the faculty members for each of the modules.

STUDY PATH OF EACH COURSE

Having thoroughly studied Module 1, the student then takes the Module 1 test. The test consists of multiple choice questions.

Each course consists of 20-30 recorded sessions. Video and audio recordings are available for the students.

The student first listens to the audio or video recording and reads the text that corresponds to Module 1.