Faculties & Departments
Education Department
Postgraduate & Masters programmes
Continuing Professional Development options for qualified teachers
(primary and secondary)
The department offers a range of options for qualified teachers wishing to engage in further studies. These comprise of Postgraduate diplomas and degrees of Master of Education and are available under a number of different strands within the department.
The department provides two one-year taught courses focused on school leadership and management.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Education Management: PGDEM (MH59G)
is a one year part-time taught course aimed specifically at teachers currently holding leadership positions (at all levels) in their schools, or who aspire to do so, with the knowledge, understanding attitudes and skills required for successful modern school management. For many participants, this course is also an opportunity to return to academic work, and to start on a path towards a Masters degree.
In addition we offer the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership PGDEL (Toraíocht) (MH61G) in conjunction with the Leadership Development for Schools (LDS) support service of the Department of Education and Science. This is a one-year part-time programme offered in a number of centres throughout the country, aimed at teachers who aspire to senior school leadership positions. A minimum of four years teaching experience is required.
A Postgraduate Diploma/M.Ed. in Innovative Learning (MHI65)
is offered as a restricted-entry course. It is open to teachers in schools participating in the TL21 Transfer Initiative – a research-led professional development programme for teachers, run jointly by the NUI Maynooth Education Department and a number of Education Centres in Leinster. The Postgraduate Diploma/M.Ed. in Innovative Learning provides opportunities for teachers to undertake action research work on their own practice, in collaboration with professional colleagues.
The Master of Education: MEd (MH51G)
is a two year taught programme, which provides taught courses in key aspects of education, an opportunity to develop research and critical reflection skills, and an opportunity to pursue a detailed study and prepare a thesis on a specific area of interest. For those who wish to focus specifically on school leadership, we offer a Master of Education, School Leadership: MEdSL (MH55G) which is similar in structure but focussed specifically on management and leadership in education.