East London teachers urged to become career coaches

Kay Atwal, Chief Reporter Saturday, June 30, 2012
7:00 AM

Teachers can help plug a “massive gap” in careers advice at schools by signing up for a coaching diploma at the University of East London.

With much of the onus now on secondary schools to deliver careers advice and guidance to students, the diploma offers teachers a wide range of practical and theoretical skills. As a result, the teaching profession can use these skills to help young people who are seeking credible and professional careers advice at such a critical time of their lives.

The university’s Postgraduate Diploma in Career Coaching, which is the first one of its kind in Europe, is perfectly suited for full-time teachers, who can opt to either study at home through distance learning or in person at UEL’s Stratford Campus. A major part of the course focuses on how young people make decisions, and what kind of factors help influence a happy work environment.

Julia Yates, Programme Leader for the Postgraduate Diploma in Career Coaching, said: “This diploma could be just the ticket for school teachers. They will gain exceptional coaching skills from this course, and it will enable them to help young people identify the right educational or career choice.”

Clare Murdock, who is a secondary school teacher and student on the course, said: “The course is really well taught and great value for money. I think that career coaching is extremely valuable within a school setting, and it is great that we will now be able to provide this resource in-house.”

The course requires attendance from students one day a month and is supplemented by online resources. The Postgraduate Diploma programme can be complete by part-time study over two years. The certificate can also be completed part time over one year. Modules are available full time, part time and there is access to web-based learning

For more details contact Julia Yates on j.c.yates@uel.ac.uk