One- Year Master of Education (Full- Time Studies) Information for Applicants

Transcription

1 Aga Khan University Institute of Educational Development, East Africa One- Year Master of Education (Full- Time Studies) Information for Applicants Introduction Thank you for your interest in the Master of Education programme here at the Institute of Educational Development, East Africa, based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Details about the programme, admissions criteria and contact information are provided below. Please ensure that you read the information carefully before filling out the application form. Rationale The one- year full- time Master of Education is an intensive graduate programme geared at experienced teachers, teacher trainers, principals and other education professionals, that provides clear theoretical frameworks and principles that support quality professional practice, equipping them to be exemplary teachers and educational leaders in a variety of contexts. Applications are welcomed from candidates across East Africa and beyond, women are strongly encouraged to apply. Please note that this is not an initial training course. The expectation is that candidates already have experience in their chosen specialization. So, applicants for Educational Leadership and Management will already have experience as leaders, albeit this may be informal. In the same way, applicants for Early Childhood Care and Education will already have experience working with very young children, and similarly for the other specialisations. Location The Institute of Educational Development, East Africa (IED- EA) is based in Upanga, Ilala District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Course Content The programme comprises of 5 core courses: - curriculum, learning and assessment; - research methods; - ICT in education; - teacher learning; - pedagogical leadership. You will choose one of the following five specialisations: - educational leadership and management; - early childhood care and education; - language and literacy in education; - science in education; - mathematics in education. Master of Education Page 1 of 18 Entry January 2015

2 Note 1: Note 2: a specialization on Monitoring and evaluation is under preparation and may be ready for January The application form gives a space to register an interest in this specialization. if you are from the Kenyan public sector then you will need approval from your County office to take the Early childhood care and education specialization. You will also choose one of the following elective courses: - gender in education; - fundamentals of classical logic; - teaching sensitive issues; - early childhood literacies. Note: it is not permissible for a student to do both Early childhood care and education as a specialization and Early childhood literacies as an elective. You will also undertake a four- week Practicum period in a school or other educational setting, that will give you an opportunity to try out ideas in practice. You will have the opportunity to conduct your own sustained research project, examining an area of interest in depth and practising research skills. Course Timings Typically taught sessions are held from 8.30am. to 12.30pm. Monday to Thursday, leaving afternoons and Fridays free for independent self- study. Please see below an example as to how the year may be planned: 5 January 2015 Induction week (1 week) 12 January 2015 Term 1 (12 weeks) 6 April 2015 Break (2 weeks) 20 April 2015 Term 2 (12 weeks) 13 July 2015 Practicum (4 weeks) 10 August 2015 Break (2 weeks) 24 August 2015 Research project development (2 weeks) 7 September 2015 Research project (12 weeks) 30 November 2015 Final week (1 week) Admission Requirements - An undergraduate degree, normally with upper second- class standing (or equivalent); - Minimum two years teaching (5 years if from the Kenyan public sector) or equivalent educational experience; - English skills sufficient to access a graduate level course; - Ability to demonstrate strong reasoning and reflective skills; - Ability to demonstrate a clear motivation for graduate level study. If you meet the minimum admission requirements and are selected for interview, you will be asked to go to a designated centre within your home country. During that interview you will be asked to produce originals of your degree certificates, take written tests in English and logical reasoning, and be interviewed by two members of Faculty. All proceedings will be completed within one working day. Master of Education Page 2 of 18 Entry January 2015

3 Key points to bear in mind when applying - send the information and copies of documents requested. No more and no less! Particularly, do not simply copy your file of important documents and send it to us; - ensure all sections are filled out accurately and legibly. The personal statement Please note that your personal statement will be read very carefully as part of the process of deciding whether to offer you an interview. We therefore suggest that you write this very carefully. Particularly: ensure that it is word processed and well presented; take care with the quality of the written English; the personal statement should make clear some of your own personal experiences of chosen specialization; make clear how you think masters level study, and the qualification, are going to help you in your future career; The key test: as you read each sentence you have written in your draft, ask yourself the question: is this sentence going to help convince somebody to take you on as a masters student? Some nots! - do not write a large amount about yourself without relating your account to applying to a masters degree; - do not write a large amount about your specialization without relating it to your own experience; - do not copy your statement, in whole or in part, from anybody else s nor from any other source, including the Internet. This can lead to immediate dismissal of your application, or, if detected at a later stage, dismissal from the programme. If offered an interview If you are offered an interview, be ready to take an English test, a logical reasoning test, and to be interviewed for approximately ½ hour by two members of faculty. Particularly: - come smartly dressed; - see if friends or colleagues can practise interviewing you to get some further experience before the event itself; - bring pens and pencils with you; - whilst we try to keep the amount of waiting to a reasonable minimum, you can expect to have to wait for a certain amount of time during the course of the day; - make reasonable attempts to find out what logical reasoning tests look like, you are at a disadvantage if you have not done this in advance of interview; - if necessary, take every available opportunity to practise your written and spoken English. Master of Education Page 3 of 18 Entry January 2015

4 Funding All students have some of their tuition costs supported through the Aga Khan University. There are a small number of scholarships available as set out below. Please consider carefully whether, if you are offered a place on the programme but not a scholarship, you will be able to come on a self- funded basis. 1. Strengthening Primary Education Through the Strengthening Educational Systems in East Africa (SESEA) Project, support for the Master of Education programme is available for educational leaders (such as Headteachers and Teacher Training College Tutors) and teachers whose studies will relate to strengthening the primary education sector in areas of Early Years Literacy, Numeracy, Early Childhood education and Educational Leadership and Management. Successful candidates will need to be aligned to the primary or pre- primary sectors. Priority will be given to applicants who live or work in or near to: Kenya: Coastal Region, in particular Kwale, Kilifi and Mombasa counties; Tanzania: regions of Mtwara and Lindi; Uganda: North West Nile region, in particular Koboko, Yumbe and Arua. 2. Building Capacity for Mathematics Teaching in Rural and Remote Communities Project Support for the Master of Education programme is available for teachers and educational leaders (such as Headteachers and Teacher Training College Tutors) in Tanzania whose studies will relate to mathematics education in rural communities. Funding is provided by the Building Capacity for Mathematics Teaching in Rural and Remote Communities Project (supported by the Canadian International Development Agency). Priority will be given to applicants from the Dodoma, Iringa, Morogoro, and Singida Regions. In addition, priority will be given to candidates applying for the mathematics in education or educational leadership and management specialisations. 3. Ugandan Government If you are working in a public educational institution in Uganda (e.g. Teacher Training College or school), then you may be eligible for a scholarship from your Government. 4.. Private and International Students Fees for private students in the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community are US$4000. For other students fees are US$6000. Beyond this you will need to pay your living expenses for the duration of the programme. Accommodation Scholarship students will be offered accommodation in a University hostel as part of their scholarship conditions. Private students wishing to live in hostel accommodation may be able to, subject to availability. If you are interested in this possibility please contact the Assistant Registrar for further information, including the cost. Professional Development Tutors As part of the agreement with the University, students on the Master of Education programme are normally expected to undertake to be available for three years on graduation to take on work on behalf of the University in the role of Professional Development Tutors (PDTs). This normally involves working in a support role to Faculty running Outreach Courses for serving teachers, with other possibilities including acting as research assistants and helping with recruitment to future masters programmes. In matching PDTs with opportunities which arise, efforts are made to Master of Education Page 4 of 18 Entry January 2015

5 minimize travelling involved and disruption to places of employment. This proves to be highly popular with PDTs actively wanting to be involved. Please note that sponsors may have additional requirements as part of their terms, please make sure you read all information you are sent very carefully before you accept the formal offer from the university. Medical information All students will be required to undergo a medical at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam at the beginning of the programme. Please note that the medical report will remain the property of the Aga Khan University and will not normally be disclosed to students. In addition, students are required to have medical insurance cover valid for Tanzania for the duration of the programme. To apply for a place on the programme - Complete the attached application form; - Attach one passport size photograph; - Attach a copy of your degree certificates and your transcript; - Arrange for two reference letters; - Write a personal statement; - Where applicable, ask your Principal to complete the bonding agreement; - If in the Kenyan public sector, send a copy of your application to the Teachers Services Commission, Kilimanjaro Road, Nairobi; Return your full application pack to Master of Education (Applications), The Registrar s Office, East Africa, Salama House, Urambo Street, P.O. Box 125, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. If shortlisted: You will need to check before agreeing to interview that your Principal, or equivalent, will release you to join the MEd programme. If offered a place on the programme your responsibilities include: - ensuring that your are released from work responsibilities for the year; - ensuring that you have medical insurance cover valid for Tanzania; - ensuring that your financial and personal affairs are in order so that you are able to be in Dar es Salaam for the full duration of the MEd; - if you are not Tanzanian, ensuring that you have a valid permanent passport. (Temporary passports are not acceptable.) - transporting yourself to and from Dar es Salaam at the beginning and end of each term. Master of Education Page 5 of 18 Entry January 2015

6 If you have any other questions please contact: Ms Agatha Damas Assistant Registrar, Tanzania East Africa Salama House Urambo Street P.O. Box 125 Dar es Salaam Tanzania Tel: +255 (0) DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: MONDAY 16 TH JUNE 2014 Master of Education Page 6 of 18 Entry January 2015

7 Attach Recent Photograph For office use only THE AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY Tanzania Institute of Higher Education Institute for Educational Development, East Africa Master of Education Application Form Application No: Received: Class of: Instructions Please fill out the application form (pages 8-11); Complete a personal statement (see page 11); If applicable, ask your Principal to fill out the bonding agreement (page 12); Ask two people, including your Principal if working in an educational establishment, to complete a reference (brief and names of referees on page 13, letters to give referees on pages 15-18); Provide a passport- size colour photograph with the application; Provide copies of your degree certificate and your transcript. Candidates will be asked to produce originals both when attending interview, if shortlisted, and on arrival in Dar es Salaam, if offered a place; If you are Kenyan working in the public sector, you will need also to send a copy of this application form to the Teachers Services Commission. DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: JUNE 16, 2014 Master of Education Page 7 of 18 Entry January 2015

8 Personal data Full name: If you have previously been known by another name (e.g. before marriage) please give it here: Gender: Male Female Date of Birth: / / Nationality: Passport No: DD MM YEAR (If you have one) 1 Permanent Address (to which all correspondences should be directed) P.O. Box: City: Country: Tel. Number: Cell Number: Application routes As noted in the information, there are a small number of scholarships available. If you are invited to interview this will be discussed with you. Meanwhile, please answer the question below: If you are offered a place on a self- funding basis, are you able to accept this offer? Yes No Have you previously applied for the MEd programme at AKU? Yes No If yes, provide year: 1 Please note: if given a place, non- Tanzanian students will need a full passport to be able to join the programme. Master of Education Page 8 of 18 Entry January 2015

9 Academic and professional qualifications Please include below and overleaf, if required, all programmes of study that were of at least 100 hours in duration. Please attach photocopies of your degree certificate and your degree transcript, noting you will need to produce originals if invited to interview (see the front page) Name of Institution Attendance Dates Qualification Obtained Classification / GPA / %age Master of Education Page 9 of 18 Entry January 2015

10 Employment information Name of current employer: Your employee reference number (e.g. TSC No or PF No.): Name of institution in which you are employed: Institution s contact address: P.O. Box Town: Country: Tel. number: School system (eg. AKES, Government, Private): Years of teaching experience: Other related experience Your teaching subjects: (1) (2) Current position / post of responsibility: Summarise main responsibilities of your current position: Please list all previous positions held in educational institutions. Insert an additional sheet if if required: Name of institution City and country Teaching subjects / leadership responsibilities Dates Master of Education Page 10 of 18 Entry January 2015

11 Accommodation Do you require University arranged accommodation? Yes No Please note that if you are a privately sponsored student, this will be subject to availability. For information on availability and costs of accommodation, please contact the Assistant Registrar, Tanzania. Contact details are listed at the end of this Application Form. Do you have any special needs that the University needs to be aware of? Yes No If yes, please specify: Specialisation in the Master of Education Programme Indicate below the specialisation you would like to choose for the MEd programme. This area of specialisation should be decided in consultation with the head of your organization. Educational leadership and management Early childhood care and education (if you are Kenyan working in the public sector, please note you will need approval from your County office to take this specialization) Language and literacy in education Science in education Mathematics in education An additional specialization in Measurement and Evaluation may be available for January If you would like to be considered for this specialisation, please tick this box: Personal statement Please attach a statement of approximately 1000 words explaining why you are applying for this programme. Your statement must be word- processed. This will be evaluated as part of the shortlisting process. Please see page 3 for additional guidance as to what the personal statement should contain. Declaration I confirm that the information I have given is correct and that no relevant information has been omitted. I understand that the University reserves the right to withdraw any offer or cancel a registration made on the basis of information which proves to be false or misleading. Signature: Date: Master of Education Page 11 of 18 Entry January 2015

12 Bonding Agreement Applicant s Name: Employment Number: i. The (employer) agrees to second and grant leave to the above candidate for one year to undertake the Master of Education Programme at, EA. ii. During the MEd programme the candidate be entitled to all benefits as per service rules of the institution. iii. iv. On successful completion of the MEd programme the employer: will allow the candidate to work with AKU- IED, EA as a facilitator on at least one Certificate programme or on any other academic activity (e.g. research) for a total duration of six months, in the period of three years following programme completion or longer if by mutual agreement. To the best of its ability,, EA will arrange certificate programmes primarily during school holidays. In case any candidate does not comply with the conditions of the agreement, you as the employer will assist, EA to enforce the relevant clauses of the agreement signed with the candidate. On behalf of, EA Name Designation Signature Date On behalf of employer Name Designation Signature Date Master of Education Page 12 of 18 Entry January 2015

13 References Please list the names and addresses of your TWO referees. Letters to give your referees can be found at the end of this form. Please could you include your name on the form and give them to your referees. One referee should be your current Principal if you are working in an educational institution. Both referees should be familiar with your personal, academic and professional background, who understand your educational goals, and who can verify your ability to teach and complete a graduate education. Friends and family members are not acceptable. Please ask your referee to write a reference for you and either send it directly to IED- EA or give it to you in a sealed envelope for you to send on with your application. Please note: you will not be considered for shortlisting until we have received both references. It is your responsibility to ensure that the references reach us before the deadline for receipt of applications. Referee 1 Name: Designation: Institution: Postal Address: Tel. Number: Referee 2 Name: Designation: Institution: Postal Address: Tel. Number: Master of Education Page 13 of 18 Entry January 2015

14 Checklist for submission of application form Please check that you have included the following documents before sending the application: Application form If you are from the Kenyan public sector, you will need also to send a copy of your application form to the Teachers Services Commission One passport size photograph (attached to page 7) Copies of degree certificates and transcripts Provide a copy of all transcripts from Bachelor s degree(s) and above. Two references If one or both of your referees decide to send the reference directly to us, please indicate this in a covering letter. Remember: your application will not be processed until these are received. Personal statement See page 11. Bonding agreement (if applicable) Note: Please ensure you provide all the above documents. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Candidates should send or deliver all application materials at the same time and in a single package to the Registrar s Office, East Africa, Salama House, Urambo Street, P.O. Box 125, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. [email protected], tel: +255 (0) DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: JUNE 16 TH, 2014 Master of Education Page 14 of 18 Entry January 2015

15 THE AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY Tanzania Institute of Higher Education Institute for Educational Development, East Africa Master of Education Reference Form To be filled out by the referee Thank you for agreeing to provide a reference for the one- year, full- time Master of Education programme. Your input is most valuable. Full name of applicant: Name of referee: Address of referee: of referee: Current employer and job title: In what capacity do you know the applicant? For how many years have you known the applicant? Please tick ONE of the boxes below: I support the candidate s application for a place on the one- year full- time Master of Education programme without reservation. I support the candidate s application for a place on the one- year full- time Master of Education programme with reservations I do not support the candidate s application for a place on the one- year full- time Master of Education programme. If you wish to given further information please use the space overleaf: Master of Education Page 15 of 18 Entry January 2015

16 Further information if necessary: Signed: Date: THANK YOU FOR FILLING OUT THIS REFERENCE FORM When complete, please: EITHER: OR: put in a sealed envelope and return to the candidate send it to: The Registrar s Office, East Africa, Salama House, Urambo Street, P.O. Box 125, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. [email protected] Tel: +255 (0) Master of Education Page 16 of 18 Entry January 2015

17 THE AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY Tanzania Institute of Higher Education Institute for Educational Development, East Africa Master of Education Reference Form To be filled out by the referee Thank you for agreeing to provide a reference for the one- year, full- time Master of Education programme. Your input is most valuable. Full name of applicant: Name of referee: Address of referee: of referee: Current employer and job title: In what capacity do you know the applicant? For how many years have you known the applicant? Please tick ONE of the boxes below: I support the candidate s application for a place on the one- year full- time Master of Education programme without reservation. I support the candidate s application for a place on the one- year full- time Master of Education programme with reservations I do not support the candidate s application for a place on the one- year full- time Master of Education programme. If you wish to given further information please use the space overleaf: Master of Education Page 17 of 18 Entry January 2015

18 Further information if necessary: Signed: Date: THANK YOU FOR FILLING OUT THIS REFERENCE FORM When complete, please: EITHER: OR: put in a sealed envelope and return to the candidate send it to: The Registrar s Office, East Africa, Salama House, Urambo Street, P.O. Box 125, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. [email protected] Tel: +255 (0) Master of Education Page 18 of 18 Entry January 2015