10 Reasons to Consider a Postgraduate Teaching and Learning Qualification

So you’re considering a postgraduate qualification in Education, Learning and Development. But maybe you’re not quite sure if it's right for you.

At Griffith, we offer three postgraduate programmes designed to meet the needs of educators and practitioners who support adult learners in their workplace. Those who may benefit from these programmes include Learning & Development specialists, HR role holders, trainers and lecturers in higher education. This list is far from exhaustive but should give you an idea of who a course like is suitable for. If you fit the description, find out why this might be the programme for you. 

1. Motivate and engage your learners, participants or clients

Our programme is ideal if you want to update tired teaching methods and energise your professional practice. You will learn and explore new and engaging theories and practices, including the use of technology, and decide if and when these are appropriate to enhance the learner experience.

You will consider how to best support your learners within your own context (e.g. learning and development in higher education or organisations) whilst learning from being in the role of the learner yourself.

The skills gained will allow you to provide a more engaging learning experience for your participants or clients. 

2. Learn to design educational programmes appropriate for your learners 

The world of education and training is evolving, learning has gone online and is no longer restricted to the training room/lecture room. Through our programme, you will advance your skills in designing, implementing and assessing effective learning programmes (including accredited and non-accredited learning) which are inclusive and appropriate. This experience will support you in designing an effective learning experience for your learners.

3. Strategic learning and development

Learn how L&D influences and impacts on corporate and higher education strategies, and how it can act as a driver of innovation and change.

Students will explore how Learning and Development can influence operational and cultural factors, talent planning and managing change within organisations and higher education. Through discussion and completion of a group project, you will learn to how better influence and communicate and how to apply authentic solutions which will benefit your organisation.

4. Increased confidence as a practitioner 

Having a postgraduate degree in this area will enable you to support and inform your current and future roles. This added confidence will transfer to your teachings and give your learners/clients an even more engaging and rewarding learning experience. 

You can use these new skills to make a genuine, positive impact in your workplace through delivering new and improved learning to your participants or client or by introducing and implementing new learning programmes to your organisation. 

5. Networking opportunities

Taking a course in such a specialist subject will lead to rich engagement opportunities with fellow practitioners in education, learning and development. Students learn from and with each other through experiential learning activities, collaborative group tasks, peer reflection and discussion.

Students will also benefit from a programme team includes practitioners from a diverse range of education, learning and development roles who offer insights to participants of a practical and applied nature.

6. Change/refocus your career path 

Our master's programme provides a path for practitioners such as L&D specialists to move into lecturing in Higher Education and vice versa as participants on the programme learn from both contexts.

7. Elective specialism

As educators, we operate in a market of specialism. Those who generalise tend to get overlooked when it comes to the best opportunities. An MA at Griffith College allows learners to choose modules which align with their individual, educational and training needs or career development.

You will be able to choose two electives from the following:

• Emergent Learning Technologies
• Innovation for Learning
• Supervision of Research Projects
• Workplace Learning
• Learning Analytics

8. Requirement for a formal qualification

There is an ongoing push from employers to have the best educators in their workplace. This means that there is also an increased demand at organisational and international level for adult educators to have formal qualifications.

The demand for specialists over the past few years has risen exponentially thanks in large part to huge changes in the workplace and the roles within it. Employers now have to keep pace with competitors at breakneck speed, meaning an HR degree and a Train the Trainer qualification might not cut it.

9. Boost earning potential and advance your career 

If nothing else, your earning potential will increase exponentially with an MA on your CV. The importance of adding value to the skillset that you can bring to a prospective (or even your current) employer cannot be underestimated. Over time, this can lead to far more career opportunities, a higher pay grade and a much greater sense of job satisfaction. 

10. Gain a qualification as part of your Continuous Professional Development

Our programmes offerings can be used as a professional development programme to revitalise the practice of existing practitioners and lecturers alike. With the option to complete the programme in three stages or on a modular basis, you can maintain a full-time role whilst applying new learnings throughout.