The University of Aberdeen's School of Education will be opening its doors next week to those considering a career in teaching.
An information evening will be held on Wednesday, February 20 to highlight the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary and Secondary), a one year programme specially designed to give teachers the skills needed in today's classroom.
The event is an ideal opportunity for graduates considering a career change, or anyone still deciding what to do with their degrees, to learn more about the programme and meet with course leaders and current students.
Secondary school subjects where teacher shortages need to be addressed include English, French, Gaelic, German, Home Economics, Mathematics, Physics, and Technological Education. Graduates in any of these disciplines are especially encouraged to attend next week's event.
Jayne Bruce, PGDE Programme Director, said: "The opportunities for job and promotion prospects in these priority subjects should, therefore, be good. Teaching in Scotland is now an attractive, rewarding and well-paid profession, which offers a real opportunity for both professional and personal development."
Applications for places on the Primary teaching course are still being considered and there remains a high demand for Primary teachers in the North and North East of the country.
On successful completion of the PGDE course, eligible students will take up a one year Training Post in a school in Scotland through the Teacher Induction Scheme.
The new PGDE programme, which started in August 2007, is a ground-breaking course which is a specially-designed teaching programme that equips trainee teachers with the skills required to become 21st Century school teachers. The aim of the programme is to encourage a more inclusive approach to teaching, with part of the programme seeing Primary and Secondary students working together, as well as opportunities to work with students across subjects. This year will see the first cohort enter the teaching profession.
The information evening will focus on the one-year (36 week) full-time course, with the School of Education particularly encouraging those who may be contemplating a career change to consider teaching as an option.
"A high number of students currently on the PGDE course have previously had established and successful careers, but have decided to fulfil a long-held ambition to become a teacher," said Chris Munro, Depute Programme Director (School Experience & Recruitment).
"Others have opted for a complete change of career due to redundancy or other major changes in their life or work circumstances, and found the challenges of teaching to be very rewarding.
"We are inviting applications across a range of subjects, but particularly in the shortage subject areas."
He added: "The University of Aberdeen has a proven record in developing innovative approaches to initial teacher education and the new PGDE programme is no exception.
"We are the first University in Scotland to bring the training of Primary and Secondary teachers together in one combined programme and this pioneering approach is founded on the move towards greater collaboration and understanding between sectors.
"Few careers can provide the variety and challenge of teaching. If you are looking for a rewarding, enjoyable and sociable job where you can make a real difference then teaching may be for you."
The information evening takes place in the Arts Lecture Theatre and will be followed by a drinks reception in the Macrobert Building, which is situated at the heart of the King's College campus. The MacRobert Building was completed in July 2005 after two years of renovation and features state-of-the-art facilities. The building ensures the School of Education has access to unparalleled facilities to continue to provide innovative teacher education using the latest in technology.
The PGDE Information Evening will be held on Wednesday, February 20, from 6-8pm, in the Arts Lecture Theatre, MacRobert Building. To book a place, contact the Student Recruitment and Admissions Service on (01224) 272090/91 or visit: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sras/general/PGDEevening