Graduate Diploma in Further Education and Training (GDFT) - GradDipFET

This program is offered only to continuing students. No new admissions will be accepted. Students who are interested in this study area should contact us.

Notes

This program does not qualify you for teacher registration with relevant teaching authorities. If you are interested in a program that enables you to qualify for teacher registration, please refer to the Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching.

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Program focus

This program gives industry trainers and vocational teachers in education institutions the opportunity to acquire a university level education/training qualification.

We are currently redeveloping our programs for 2009. This area of study will remain available, with greater flexibility.

Program aims

Education and training are at the forefront of plans to restructure the Australian economy, and the demand for vocational education and training (VET) is increasing. The Graduate Diploma in Further Education and Training is an in-service program designed to enable practising educators and trainers in the post-compulsory education and training sectors who already hold a degree or diploma in a discipline other than education to acquire recognised education qualifications.

The flexible program design caters for the needs of a wide range of educators and trainers in the post-compulsory education and training sector. Thus, it is suited to teachers/instructors/trainers in such settings as TAFE, senior colleges, agricultural colleges, private providers, community providers, industry training settings, staff development programs and universities.

Program objectives

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• design, implement and evaluate programs of instruction which meet the needs of the learners in a range of post compulsory education and training settings.

• demonstrate an ability to select and implement teaching and learning strategies appropriate to a given post-compulsory education or training context

• assess, analyse and report on learning outcomes in line with accepted guidelines for assessment and measurement in post-compulsory education and training situations

• upgrade their knowledge and skills in their professional context or content areas through appropriate tertiary studies in those areas

• demonstrate analysis and understanding of the theoretical foundations of successful professional practices in post-compulsory education and training through the application of theoretical positions drawn from a variety of perspectives, including curriculum and instructional studies, management, philosophy, psychology and sociology, as they pertain to professional practice in the sector.

Admission requirements

To be eligible for enrolment in the Graduate Diploma in Further Education and Training, an applicant must meet the following criteria.

• hold a recognised undergraduate degree or three-year university diploma, or equivalent post-compulsory qualifications, in a field other than Further Education and Training

• have access to an approved setting in the post-compulsory education and training sector. Written verification of such engagement will be required before enrolment can be confirmed.

International applicants must have met the University's English language requirements or have completed the University's ELICOS/UNIPREP program.

Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of your higher education and you as a student pay a student contribution amount, which varies depending on the courses undertaken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called HECS-HELP.

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called FEE-HELP.

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

Program structure

To be awarded a Graduate Diploma in the Faculty of Education, a student must have normally completed 8 courses at levels 1 - 8, of which no more than three can be at level 8, and no more than five can be at level 3 or lower.

It is the students' responsibility to ensure correct enrolment in the program structure to meet graduation requirements.

The program consists of eight courses - four Core Studies in education/training, two Professional Studies Electives and two Context and Content Electives (in education studies or in the student's professional content area) taken over a minimum period of two years of part-time external study or one year of full-time external study. For this program students are required to complete the following courses:

Important Note: One of the central aims of this program is to allow students to develop teaching skills and strategies, while at the same time linking theory and practice. This is the basis for continual improvement. It is therefore essential that all students commence the beginning instructional course TEA2301 before undertaking any instructional placements associated with this program.

Note: This program does not, in itself, lead to Teacher Registration. Students interested in seeking Teacher Registration should contact either the Queensland College of Teachers or the Faculty of Education at USQ for the most current teacher registration requirements.

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 3 years to complete this program.

Practical experience

To ensure that all program and specific course objectives can be achieved, students are expected to maintain access to training delivery and design activities in the post-compulsory education and/or training sectors throughout the period of enrolment in this program.

Irrespective of level of academic performance achieved by students in courses of this program, no student will be eligible to graduate from this program without satisfactorily demonstrating current instructional competence against the instructional performance criteria identified in courses TEA2301, and TEA3401.

Important Note: One of the central aims of this program is to allow students to develop teaching skills and strategies, while at the same time linking theory and practice. This is the basis for continual improvement. It is therefore essential that all students commence the beginning instructional course TEA2301 before undertaking any instructional placements associated with this program.

Course transfers

Under certain circumstances, students completing the Graduate Diploma in Further Education and Training, (depending on electives studied), may be eligible for credit transfer into Masters degrees offered in the Faculty of Education at USQ. Only courses in levels 5 or 8 may be used for articulation into a Master of Education program. For further information, contact the Program Administration Office.

Note: Nurse Educators completing the Graduate Diploma in Further Education and Training may be eligible for credit transfer into the Master of Nursing at USQ. If interested please contact the Faculty of Sciences, USQ.

Other information

Courses in this program are offered primarily via print-based materials. Some elective courses are offered only via the online mode. Access to the Internet and an email address are required to study a course offered via the online mode.

Recommended enrolment pattern - continuing students

To be awarded a Graduate Diploma in the Faculty of Education, a student must have normally completed 8 courses at levels 1 - 8, of which no more than three can be at level 8, and no more than five can be at level 3 or lower.

Students choosing to transition into the MLAD (Adult, professional and workplace learning - APWL) will negotiate a Transition Plan with the Program Co-ordinator on an individual basis.