Training Options: Education and

Teaching is not just a career, it’s a vocation. Not everyone is called, but those who are usually go above and beyond the call of duty and thrive in an environment that allows them to help others reach their full potential. Teaching can be hard and taxing work but it is also rewarding and personally fulfilling in a way that many careers are not. Teachers can see their efforts pay off first-hand by positively making a difference to hundreds – if not thousands – of lives over the course of their career.

Students considering postgraduate study and research commonly have an ambition to become experts in their chosen sector or subject, and many decide to pass on the knowledge and expertise they have gained.

Teaching isn’t the only career in the education and training sector – a number of alternative options have recently been developed. More and more people are enrolling in further education and nightcourses, or developing their work skills and career prospects through corporate training, and these courses need teachers and administrators. A growing number of postgraduate courses are being developed to feed this demand.

Entry Requirements

Most postgraduate courses in the education and training require at least a second class honours primary degree. If you are planning on teaching a subject, it goes without saying that you should already have a decent knowledge of your particular subject. For the higher diploma (HDip) in education, a good degree in relevant teaching subjects is generally required.

Professional workplace experience can be useful; some specialised education programmes actually require a number of years’ experience in the field.

Courses Available

As well as the HDip and GradDip courses, other postgraduate options in the education and training area focus on subjects such as adult and community education, IT in education, and education management. A growing number of graduates are taking TEFL courses and using this qualification to travel and see the world.

A number of postgraduate courses that concentrate specifically on teaching one subject are now available. Also available are masters courses that do not include as much practical teacher training as the diplomas.

It is also possible to do a course in education theory and management that doesn’t necessarily lead directly to a teaching post, with graduates looking for careers in education administration, research or management.

Community and adult education is another area where postgraduate qualifications are useful for career progression.

Advances in information and communications technology have made a significant impact on the education and training sector. A number of HDip, GradDip and MSc courses have been introduced to meet these challenges, including IT in education, online education, and learning technologies.

Special needs teaching also offers a wide range of postgraduate course options – in everything from special needs education to deaf studies and early childhood education.

Research Areas

There is a wide range of subject options in education and training topics. Students who wish to become teachers should note that research degrees are not generally accepted by the Department of Education.

Research areas are diverse covering everything from foreign language pedagogy to the history and development of education. There is a particular emphasis on addressing learning difficulties such as dyslexia and aphasia.

Technology continues to shape the delivery of education and training programmes, and postgraduate researchers can examine the use of IT, digital multimedia and online education within different areas of the education and training sector.

Career Paths

People with Higher Diplomas (HDip) and Graduate Diplomas (GradDip) in education usually move directly into the secondary and primary level education systems respectively.

There are also options for those who want to get involved in the education and training sector but who don’t wish to stand in front of a blackboard in a classroom. Some graduates may move into specialist, adult or special needs education. Others may work in local government or the civil service. Education and training is also a popular area for further education and research.

Corporate training is a growing industry in Ireland and some graduates with experience in the education sector decide to move in that direction. Those with TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualifications can find work abroad, or may work in the growing number of English language schools catering for immigrants in Ireland.