The University of Aberdeen's School of Education will host information sessions this week for anyone who might be interested in taking up a place on an initiative designed for oil and gas workers who may be facing redundancy.
The School of Education, in partnership with the Northern Alliance (Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Argyll & Bute, Highland, Moray, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles), have developed a PDGE course for those in the oil and gas sector at risk from redundancy that are looking for a change of career into teaching.
The scheme, into STEM Teaching Energy PGDE (iSTEP) enables people to undertake a full-time Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in Business Education; Chemistry; Home Economics; Maths; and Physics. Successful candidates will receive support from the local authority in order to carry out their studies.
The first information evening will take place on Thursday, March 15 at 6pm-7pm in the MacRobert Building, King’s College. Those attending are asked to bring along copies of their qualifications. An event will also be held at the Jury’s Inn, Inverness, on the same day, also from 6pm-7pm.
The events will give potential applicants the opportunity to learn more about the course, and to receive support with the application process.
Candidates will take up an iSTEP post with one of the Local Authorities. Participants will undertake the full-time PGDE (Secondary) programme which includes campus-based learning and placements in school. Simultaneously, and in addition to PGDE, applicants will also undertake additional practicum time in a local school (one day a week and network days) to gain an understanding of teaching and learning in one educational setting across an academic year.
All entrants must already have a degree in a relevant subject and have suitable qualifications in English and Maths (https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/degree-programmes/992/secondary-education/ ).
Dr David Smith, Head of the School of Education at the University of Aberdeen commenting on the into STEM Teaching Energy PGDE (iSTEP) said: ‘I am delighted that the School of Education is offering this innovative and vital initiative in conjunction with the Northern Alliance and Scottish Government. This is a great opportunity for oil and gas personnel, who have been considering working with children and young people as a Teacher, to be supported to change careers. I am confident that in addition to other steps that the School of Education in Aberdeen is taking, into STEM Teaching Energy PGDE (iSTEP) will contribute to addressing recruitment shortages in STEM subjects across the Northern Alliance.”
Laurence Findlay, Regional Improvement Lead for the Northern Alliance said, “I am delighted that the Northern Alliance local authorities will be part of the iSTEP initiative. This is one of a number of key programmes designed to encourage more people into a career in teaching and given the focus on STEM nationally. We are very much looking forward to welcoming more teachers into the profession in the STEM disciplines as a result of our involvement in iSTEP.”
For more information, contact: l.bjorkvoll@abdn.ac.uk