Graduate Certificate of Higher Education

Course overview

The Graduate Certificate of Higher Education is designed to meet the requirements for credentialing tertiary teaching for academic staff. Such credentials are becoming increasingly valued across the higher education sector, both in Australia and internationally.

The course is suitable for all academics teaching undergraduate or postgraduate students, in research supervision, and in the leadership or management of higher education. It caters for graduate students, tertiary teachers, adult educators, and professional development programs.

The course is designed to develop participants’ understanding of issues, research findings, and knowledge related to a range of tertiary teaching and learning contexts. Relevant policies, procedures and practices will be used to further participants’ knowledge of quality teaching and learning as well as approaches strategic to curriculum design, assessment, and the scholarship and leadership of teaching.

Course Structure

Students complete four units: a compulsory unit and three electives from one of the three pathways: coursework units only pathway; one research unit pathway; two research units pathway. Please refer to the course summary.

Course Aims

The course aims to develop your understanding and abilities to become a teacher who is:

• inclusive and aware of students' diversity and differences
• student-centred: understands student learning and needs
• scholarly: engages with the contemporary educational aims of tertiary education
• innovative: creative and flexible in teaching; inspires and challenges students, taking advantage of emerging technologies, particularly online learning
• relevant: conversant with content, issues and debates in the higher education sector and to industries relevant to your discipline area
• professional: fosters professional relationships within and outside your institution, with teachers and with members of relevant industry groups; confidence in your own teaching and teaching philosophy and its alignment with your practice; and
• strategic: informed about contemporary developments in higher education and how these are manifested in your institution's priorities, plans and practices: engages with these developments and relates them to the planning of your career paths.

Entry requirements

Normally, entrants to the course will have completed an approved qualification at degree level in any field. Participants in the course are expected to undertake investigation into their own teaching practices and contexts so it is highly desirable that they are engaged in tertiary teaching or in supporting teaching and learning processes.

Course duration

The Graduate Certificate of Higher Education is offered mostly off campus and is designed to be undertaken over four trimesters of part-time study. EEE710 Teaching and Learning in Higher Education unit is offered in Trimester 2 and 3.

Articulation to Masters course

The Graduate Certificate may articulate with either a Master of Education or Master of Professional Education and Training, depending on applicant's qualifications.

Credit for Prior Learning / Exemption

Credit for Prior Learning may be awarded to applicants with relevant experience and/or qualifications.
Further explanation on the policy and requirements for Credit for Prior Learning /exemption for Graduate Certificate of Higher Education

 

Why Choose Deakin University?

Knowledge
Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Higher Education covers key issues, concepts and knowledge required by tertiary teachers and academics. We consult with other Australian institutions and representative international colleagues about course content and assessment to ensure local and international professional relevance.

Flexibility
The course is genuinely flexible to help you with your studies and with workplace and personal commitments. It is offered in off campus mode with online and distance education elements. Content and ongoing interaction is provided through multimedia and online technologies and face-to-face workshop opportunities. Regardless of where you live resources can be posted to you or accessed from our comprehensive electronic collection.

Quality
At Deakin we pride ourselves on providing high quality postgraduate courses for people working in the area of education. Quality is evident in all aspects of our courses from the standard of our study materials to the teaching staff, who are leaders in their field. Ranked among the best in the world, our library service has set a benchmark for Australian universities.

Technology
As a Deakin student you have access to the best new technologies. The University has produced its own Software Essentials DVD to support online communication. All units offer a dedicated teaching and learning site Deakin Studies Online.

Networks
As a Deakin postgraduate student, you will become part of a network of researchers, academics, alumni and practitioners. You will have access to specialist knowledge and the opportunity to establish new contacts with people who are shaping and influencing all levels of the education sector.