Queen's partnership
Pickering College partners with Queen’s University to offer educators a post-graduate certificate in experiential education and global leadership
Thursday, May 4, 2023 (Newmarket, ON): Pickering College is pleased to partner with Queen’s University to offer a new post-graduate certificate for educators. Enrolment opens May 8 for the inaugural session in September, which aims to transform how children are educated, making their learning experiential, purposeful and meaningful.
This certificate was inspired by the thought leadership of two giants of progressive education – Duncan McArthur, a distinguished Queen’s University graduate and visionary leader, and Joseph McCulley, a pioneer of the project-oriented approach to education who served as Head of School at Pickering College from 1927 to 1948. McCulley believed education’s primary goal was to prepare students to contribute to society, with an emphasis on the balance between individual and social needs. Inspired by John Dewey’s philosophy, McCulley was well ahead of his time in recognizing the world’s interdependence and the impact of this group outlook.
The mission of this post-graduate certificate is to empower teachers to extend their teaching practices outside of the classroom into real-world contexts so every student’s learning experience is holistic, purpose driven, and ignites wonder, passion and curiosity. The goal is for every student to have the ability and responsibility to make the world greater, better, and more beautiful than they found it. This echoes the timeless Oath of the Athenian Youth, written over 2000 years ago to inspire young people to engage and effect change within their society. This pledge is repeated aloud by Pickering College’s students each year during special Morning Meetings and at commencement, to reaffirm the school’s commitment to this ideal.
To earn the post-graduate certificate, teachers will need to complete five Additional Qualifications (AQ) courses (two mandatory and three electives from a set of five choices). When the teacher completes the required courses, they will receive advanced standing that counts towards 20 per cent completion of the professional master’s degree program at Queen’s University. At the conclusion of the five courses, teachers will receive a post-graduate certificate from Queen’s University and a certificate in global leadership from Pickering College.
“There is a tremendous amount of synergy between our two educational institutions, which is what makes this partnership such a great fit,” says Dr. Cinde Lock, Head of School at Pickering College, and alumna of Queen’s University. “Experiential education has always been a key part of learning at Pickering College, stretching back to Joseph McCulley’s time as Head of School. To have the opportunity to share our expertise with other teachers through this post-graduate certificate is so meaningful, and it will broaden the impact we can collectively have on students to affect positive change.”
“We are thrilled to be working with Pickering College on this exciting program which will inspire teachers to design learning that transcends the curriculum and will transform how they educate children,” says Dr. Rebecca Luce-Kapler, Dean, Faculty of Education, Queen’s University.
More information about this new partnership and the post-graduate certificate for educators can be found by visiting Pickering College online: https://www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/queens
Educators can register for the program by following the link from the Pickering College website, or by directly visiting the Queen’s University website: https://coursesforteachers.ca/on/certificates/ONEXP