Trinity College Dublin Announces a New Partnership for Teacher Education with its Associated Colleges of Education
Posted on: 11 May 2010
Trinity College Dublin has announced (Tuesday, May 11th) a new partnership for teacher education with its Associated Colleges, Marino Institute of Education and the Church of Ireland College of Education.
The new partnership, in keeping with best practice in teacher education and curriculum innovation, will develop a more integrated approach to theory and practice in teacher education and will further enhance the student experience. The two Associated Colleges of Education will have autonomy and control over the teaching and organisation of their own undergraduate programmes providing for greater flexibility and individuality in their delivery. The new partnership also provides for greater collaboration between Trinity College and its Associated Colleges in relation to postgraduate education and research.
Back Row: Brother John Burke. a trustee of Marino Institute of Education, Professor Patrick Prendergast, Vice-Provost/ Chief Academic Officer and TCD Professor Michael Grenfell, Professor of Education and Head of the School of Education.
Front Row: Dr Anne O’Gara, President, Marino Institute of Education, Dr John Hegarty, Provost, TCD, and Dr Anne Lodge, Principal, Church of Ireland College of Education.
The University will continue to accredit the programmes and award University of Dublin qualifications, and will oversee the quality assurance processes.
Existing registered students of the Colleges of Education will also continue to access Trinity College facilities, its libraries, sports facilities and student societies, and to enjoy the Trinity student experience.
Following year long discussions, the new arrangements were unanimously agreed by all parties involved and approved by Trinity’s University Council and Board.
Commenting on the new partnership, TCD’s Vice-Provost/ Chief Academic Officer, Professor Patrick Prendergast said: “This partnership will reconfigure and strengthen the longstanding arrangement with these institutions and offer a new focus for Irish educational policy and practice.”
Professor of Education Michael Grenfell and Head of the School of Education at TCD continued: “This new partnership will strengthen the provision of teacher education in Ireland across all phases. The proposed changes are in response to the students’ own needs and are also in keeping with the Teaching Council’s policy of integrating theory and practice. The School of Education is looking forward to working closely with the Associated Colleges in developing our partnership under these new arrangements.”
The Heads of the Associated of Colleges, Church of Ireland College of Education Principal, Dr Anne Lodge, and Marino Institute of Education President, Dr Anne O’Gara, jointly welcomed the new partnership: “This move acknowledges the experience and expertise in educational theory and practice that exists among the staff in the Associated Colleges of Education. Courses in the associated colleges have long been linked to excellence in classroom practice and we look forward to consolidating this reputation in the coming years. We appreciate the opportunity that this provides to further develop the relationship between the Associated Colleges and Trinity and look forward to continuing to enhance our partnership with the University.”
The Most Reverend Dr John R W Neill, Archbishop of Dublin and Chairman of the Governors of the Church of Ireland College of Education concluded: “The Church of Ireland College of Education enters a new phase of its relationship with Trinity College Dublin, with closer links for students with a wider range of academic disciplines, and the continuing accreditation of the degree of Bachelor in Education. It is of great importance for the Church of Ireland College of Education that the historic link with Trinity is not only maintained but welcomed by both institutions.”
As part of a separate arrangement, the College of Education Froebel College, will be transferring to NUI Maynooth from September 2013 where all aspects of its teacher education will be provided on the NUIM campus.
Background:
There are currently three Associated Colleges of Education affiliated with Trinity College Dublin. They are the Marino Institute of Education, Froebel College of Education, and the Church of Ireland College of Education.
Currently Trinity’s School of Education and the three Colleges of Education deliver conjointly the Bachelor in Education: Primary (B.Ed) and the Higher Diploma in Primary Education (H.Dip), both leading to qualifications awarded by the University of Dublin. The School of Education delivers separately a B.Ed. Honor Year.
The Bachelor in Education (B.Ed) Years 1, 2 and 3:
The School of Education delivers modules of 16 lecture hours in each of nine “foundational” areas (history, psychology, sociology, philosophy, policy etc), three modules taught in each year. Students from all Colleges attend classes in Trinity for a full day each Monday during the teaching term. B.Ed Honor Year.
The Bachelor in Education (B.Ed) Year 4:
The School of Education delivers this year in full which comprise four modules. Students attend courses on four evenings per week while employed in teaching during the day.
H.Dip Primary:
The School of Education delivers five modules in foundation subjects. Students attend classes in Trinity for a full day each Wednesday during teaching term.
When the above teaching model commenced in 1974, fewer than 100 students were in each of the combined year cohorts in each of the associated colleges, and there were no postgraduate students. The numbers have expanded substantially in the last ten years and there are now approximately 1,000 students registered across the B.Ed and H.Dip (Primary) programmes.
Under the new partnership between TCD and Marino Institute of Education and the Church of Ireland College of Education, the teaching and administration of the B.Ed programme, the B.Ed Honor year and the Higher Diploma in Education (Primary) will be delivered in full by the two Associated Colleges of Education. Degrees will continue to be awarded by the University of Dublin under an accreditation arrangement. As part of the B.Ed programme in the Church of Ireland College of Education students will be able to select from a suite of module options on offer in Arts and Science in TCD during the second year of their studies. CICE students will also continue to have access to certain services in TCD such as sports facilities.
The School of Education at TCD, Marino Institute of Education and the Church of Ireland College of Education will also work more closely to develop postgraduate teacher education and research.
In a separate agreement with NUI Maynooth, Froebel College of Education will transfer to the NUIM campus where students and teaching staff will be moved and all aspects of these.