Pathway enables students to put theory into practice
The practical experience gained in early childhood education was a major draw card for two international New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC) students to continue studying.
Yuzhuo Jia and Subing Xuan are enjoying putting the theory they learnt in their Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Early Childhood Education) into practice while studying towards a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood Education).
The graduate diploma blends online learning with face-to-face interactions and practice including tutorials, Block Courses, supervised Field Practice and work experience. Graduates are also eligible to apply for New Zealand teacher registration which can lead to full certification.
“The postgraduate diploma program provided a lot of theory in early childhood education and now the graduate diploma can provide me with a lot more practice in kindies and centres,” said student Yuzhuo Jia.
“It is much more practical and it will put me in a better position to find a job in the future. I can combine the theory and practice together and get a better understanding of the Te Whāriki curriculum.”
Originally a postgraduate qualification suited Yuzhuo as she transitioned into early childhood education. She enjoyed the flexibility of completing the course solely online which allowed her time to experience New Zealand with her daughter.
“I could focus on reading and writing and I could take care of my daughter as well. The postgraduate program gave me some time to adjust to a new environment and open my eyes to early childhood education.”
Subing Xuan
Another reason behind beginning with the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Early Childhood Education) was improving her English.
Before moving to New Zealand, Yuzhuo had completed an English master’s degree in the United Kingdom making her exempt from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) requirement for the qualification.
Yuzhuo, from China, focussed on her English while completing her postgraduate studies and was able to achieve the required IELTS score after graduating which met the entry criteria for the graduate diploma qualification.
Subing Xuan also chose to further her studies because of the practical component in the graduate diploma.
“I chose to study the graduate diploma because it leads to teacher registration and it provides opportunities to practice in early childhood centres.
“The program is very practical - students have 16 hours practicum in their home centres. I took the opportunity to put to use what I have learnt in my course into practice.”
For Yuzhuo and Subing, the combination of theory in the postgraduate diploma and the practical element in the graduate diploma suited their needs and will provide them with the opportunity to make a positive impact in children’s lives.