Emirates College for Advanced Education Launch Two New Programs to Develop Teachers’ Skills

M.Ed and PGDE programs will enable teachers to develop skills to manage increasingly complex classroom environments
ABU DHABI, October 28th – The Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE) has announced that it will offer two new programs – Master of Education and Innovation (M.Ed) and In-Service Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) – from next academic year (2022 – 2023).
The M.Ed course is geared towards serving teachers at the senior-secondary level, while the PGDE program has been designed for primary and secondary teachers, who are in service. These two programs are offer to UAE national teachers serving in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Her Excellency Jameela bint Salem Mesbeh Al Muhairi, Minister of State for Public Education, chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of ECAE, said: “The primary mission of ECAE is to drive innovation in the educational sector, especially through research-oriented academic and professional-development programs in a collaborative, state-of-the-art learning environment. We place a high emphasis on innovative educational research solutions to improve learning opportunities in line with UAE educational and school reform vision.”
H.E. Al Muhairi gave credit to the competent, dedicated, and experienced faculty and staff for the institution’s ability to maintain excellence and prestigious academic status. “Our commitment stems from our founding fathers’ belief that human capital and quality education is our country’s most valued asset and a true indication of a country’s success and prosperity,” she said.
Commenting on the objective to introduce the two programs, Professor David Pedder, Dean of ECAE pointed out that the institution’s aim is to strengthen teachers’ subject knowledge, help them to build innovative strategies to deliver education, and to develop skills that will enable them to effectively navigate the increasingly complex school and classroom environments.
“The program emphasizes curriculum theory, pedagogy and innovation in education, educational advocacy, social dimensions of learning, instructional design, leadership and research, which can be applied in the teacher’s current field of work or towards advanced studies in education. Coursework is designed with the needs of working education professional in mind,” he said, adding that the subject-based Practice Development Placement (Practicum) component of the programs will help candidates to use new and innovative ways to help students to learn better.
The programs, which will be offered in a blend of online and physical modes, are suitable for those who wish to become better educators and recognized leaders.
To apply for the M.Ed program, candidates must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0-point scale or its established equivalent. Applicants with an undergraduate degree from a university outside of the UAE are required to produce a certificate of equivalency from the Ministry of Education in the UAE. In addition, the applicants will need to have a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent in TOEFL, IBT or Pearson PTE Academic or EmSAT). The selection and admission process involves a written test, followed by a personal interview.
Candidates for the PGDE program will need to have similar qualifications. Additionally, they need to be in service or have at least one year of teaching experience.
“At Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE), we strive to inspire and empower a new generation of qualified professionals to transform, lead, innovate and modernize the education sector in the United Arab Emirates and beyond. That way we support the country’s strides towards building a knowledge economy,” Dr. May Laith Al Taee, Vice Chancellor of ECAE, said.
Since its founding in 2007 under the decree of the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ECAE has been offering a variety of accredited academic and professional development programs that place emphasis on educational research solutions to improve learning opportunities within a state-of-the-art professional learning environment.