Student Profiles

Bogdana Konotop

Home country: Ukraine
PGCEi cohort: Bangalore
Year of graduation: 2023 

Why did you choose to study at the University of Nottingham?

I chose to study at the university because of the flexibility it offers with its online courses. I had been thinking of taking a PGCE course to advance my teaching career, but with a full-time job it was not be possible. Therefore, the part-time PGCEi was an excellent solution for me.

How has the course helped you in your career?

The PGCEi has broadened my views and helped me to gain new insights into teaching and learning, which I believe will benefit me as an educator. I am also hoping that I can use this experience to advance my teaching career in the future. 

What do you want to do now you have completed the course?

I plan to keep developing my career as a kindergarten/early years teacher. 

Is there a specific module on the PGCEi course that you enjoyed the most?

I especially enjoyed Understanding Learning and Teaching in International Contexts, as it gave me an opportunity to explore a wide range of learning theories. I liked the flexibility of this module as it allowed me to focus on the theories I was interested in, so I could develop a deeper understanding of the relevant concepts.

What was the best part of the course?

I liked how approachable the tutors were and how flexible the course was, not only in terms of schedule, but also in terms of freedom of choosing a direction for my own research and topics for written assignments.

How have you been supported on this course?

The tutors were available to answer any question or address any concerns throughout the course. I’d like to thank my tutor, Jalpa Ruparelia, for her support and encouragement throughout the course from day one through to the submission of my last assignment and completion of the course. I truly appreciate it. 

If you were working while studying, how did you manage to balance job/course (and personal life)?

Balancing a full-time job and studying is always challenging. I also had to move countries midway through the course, which was an additional hassle. However, I feel that having a clear plan and knowing the deadlines for each assignment was truly beneficial. I also received some great advice from my tutor, whose guidance helped me form a strategy in order to successfully move from module to module.

Do you have any advice for someone considering the course?

Get familiar with the course outline, know what to expect in terms of assignments and deadlines and this course will become enjoyable journey. 

Ying Cao

Home country: China
PGCEi cohort: Hong Kong 
Year of graduation: 2022

Why did you choose to study at the University of Nottingham?

Choosing to study at the University of Nottingham turned out to be a great fit for me. I started to work as a teaching assistant at an international school a couple of years ago and I became quite passionate about learning as much as I could about international education. With the suggestion from my principal, I started to investigate options to further my study in this area. I have quite a few colleagues that had studied at Nottingham before and they all spoke highly of the university and the course. Therefore, when it came to my own PGCEi studies, Nottingham was one of the universities I researched and compared with other universities and finally chose.

How has the course helped you in your career?

The course has helped me greatly in better understanding how to support my students with their academic growth, social development, and connection to their studies. After completing the course, I was able to transfer my role from teaching assistant to early years teacher. I have now been in the role of a teacher for almost a year and it is really great to apply what I have learnt during the course to my daily work with the students.

What do you want to do now you have completed the course?

I am looking forward to beginning my postgraduate journey in education with the university in the very near future. 

Is there a specific module on the PGCEi course that you enjoyed the most?

This is a challenge to answer, as I liked all the modules, but the last module (inquiring into educational practice) gave us an opportunity to build on the first two modules of study and connect the research directly to our students and everyday classroom situations. It helped me transfer and connect knowledge of the learned theories of education, its aims and values, and learning and teaching methodologies into my classroom practice. It definitely enabled me to better appreciate and assist my own students with their own learning and understanding.

How have you been supported on this course?

Perhaps I can put this into a list:

• University - the online library was such a good supporting resource
• Tutor - an experienced tutor, replying to any questions, concerns, and needs in a speedy and informative manner, providing excellent guidance
• Peers – information and resources shared in our Wechat group was essential
• Colleagues – very supportive and always ready for a pedagogical discussion
• Family – helped me with my time management, ensuring I could best manage my work-life balance
• School – helped me find a mentor and enabled my research opportunities 

The Wechat group we organised and set up for those peers that were in China during the study was a really positive support tool and provided wonderful and lasting connections. We shared our thoughts about certain articles, modules, and resources, and reminded each other about deadlines and other course needs. It actually felt like we were a team and, as such, it really was a stimulating and collaborative effort at times. I really enjoyed everyone’s company while doing this challenging learning journey together. 

If you were working while studying, how did you manage to balance job/course (and personal life)?

Before taking the course, I was working full-time, a mother of two young children, and already trying to maintain a work-life balance. So then to put study on top of this, was challenging – but so rewarding. I would say it was not a battle that I undertook alone, the support of my family and colleagues was so appreciated. The set-up of the course, also gave us the opportunity to choose the most convenient time to plan and do our study. It was flexible enough, but the structure and course information also enabled me to plan ahead. For me, studying a couple of hours at night, every night, after the children were asleep, allowed me to devote myself fully to my job during working hours, and also gave me the precious time to spend with my family that I needed during the weekends. 

Why do you think students should choose this course?

It definitely helps with educators who are willing and want to work internationally. The study builds a strong theoretic base and has many thought-provoking and reflection-triggering readings and videos. It also offers great real-life connections to your students. I am absolutely an even better teacher after successfully navigating this course.

Do you have any advice for someone considering this course?

Stay strong and positive, take one step at a time. Reach out when you need to, but know that with a determined mind, you will grow, succeed and benefit.

Fan Yang

Home country: China
PGCEi cohort: Bangalore
Year of graduation: 2022 

Why did you choose to study at the University of Nottingham?

I was introduced to this PGCEi course by one of my colleagues in an international school in China. He highly recommended this programme, especially at the University of Nottingham because of its high ranking in all the PGCEi international courses. And the most important thing is that it would help me with my professional development from an international education perspective.

How has the course helped you in your career?

PGCEi is one of the essential requirements for teachers in our school to be promoted as a member of the academic management team. Taking the PGCEi course helped me develop into a more reflective educator as well as creating more opportunities for me to utilise my existing transferable skills, while developing new ones. In addition, it is encouraging to see myself grow to a level where I can create a productive and successful teaching environment which helps my students to achieve the best of their potential. It is helpful for me to work out the most effective teaching styles and strategies for my students.

What do you want to do now you have completed the course?

I hope to complete the QTS in the future to further develop my skills in teaching from the lens of an international educator. 

Is there a specific module on the PGCEi course that you enjoyed the most?

Inquiring into Educational Practice in International Contexts, because it provided me with an opportunity to read  educational philosophies and reflect on my own informed ones. In addition, I got some interesting feedback from students which helped me to question my pedagogical teaching strategies and change to more student-centred ones. 

How have you been supported on this course?

I am very appreciative of my tutor, Jalpa Ruparelia, who helped a lot in guiding me with incredible patience. She is a very kind person and had never hesitated to offer me tutorials when needed. I am also thankful to one of the expat colleagues in my current work school who helped me with English grammar corrections. They made me feel supported in this tough but worthful learning experience.

If you were working while studying, how did you manage to balance job/course (and personal life)?

I devoted myself to work during the day time in weekdays, and weekday nights and holidays to PGCEi. I am working in a boarding school, so I spent all the weekends with my family.

Why do you think students should choose this course?

The PGCEi course is a soft power for any teachers who are working at an international school. Teachers can further develop their pedagogical strategies which will help them as an individual educator to be more professional and responsible.

Anil Khemani

Home country: India
PGCEi cohort: Bangalore
Year of graduation: 2023 

Why did you choose to study at the University of Nottingham?

I chose to study at the University of Nottingham because of its reputation for academic excellence. The curriculum offered was interesting and in alignment with the knowledge required by teachers to teach to international standards. I know many of my friends who studied there and they were all very impressed with the university.

How has the course helped you in your career?

The PGCEi course helped me apply and successfully obtain the job of a secondary science teacher at a prestigious school in China. I will be helping students understand the different concepts through the learning techniques I learnt during this course.

Is there a specific module on the PGCEi course that you enjoyed the most?

I enjoyed module 2 'Understanding Learning and Teaching in International Contexts' the most. Learning about the different theories of teaching and learning, exploring them in depth and establishing the relationship between the learning techniques and learning theories was quite fascinating and enriching.

What was the best part of the course?

The best part of the course is its meticulous attention to both the theoretical and practical aspects of teaching. The modules are designed as an introspection to a teacher’s own values, while educating them about the different educational theories, techniques and practical methods of learning in international contexts. 

How have you been supported on this course?

There is an immense amount of support provided by the university during this course. I was supported by my tutor, Jean Dyson, every step of the way. She provided me with insights and valuable feedbacks with the course work and assignments and helped me achieve proper understanding. The interactive sessions with her regarding the coursework were extremely insightful and enriching. I am thankful to her.  

If you were working while studying, how did you manage to balance job/course (and personal life)?

This course demands planning and hard work. Its difficult to maintain the balance and honestly, I struggled with that in the beginning, but later I formulated a schedule, made sure I read everyday and did the writing part on the weekends. I maintained a course book and notes while I was studying the modules and worked on the writing and researching part mostly on weekends. 

Why do you think students should choose this course?

They should choose this course to explore what kind of teachers they are and what values they align themselves with. They should choose this course to gain knowledge about different educational values, theories, techniques and in what better ways they can apply this knowledge in designing the classes, developing a curriculum and helping their students in a better way. This course might also help them achieve advancements in their career.

Do you have any advice for someone considering the course?

The only advice I can give is to manage your time well and be consistent with your studies.  

 Chandni Sharma

Home country: India
PGCEi cohort: Bangalore
Year of graduation: 2023 

Why did you choose to study at the University of Nottingham?

The University of Nottingham is highly ranked and reputed amongst the top universities globally for providing world class opportunities to learn, live and work as a global citizen. Alumni have been awarded a variety of prestigious accolades. The courses offered foster employability and a growth mindset. It has a plethora of student support online services that are easily accessible. Needless to say, being part of this organisation will only take me from strength to strength.

How has the course helped you in your career?

The PGCEi course offers a great pathway to educators for professional growth across the world. It provides a robust platform to understand and appreciate some of the best pedagogical practices that will help us to become skilful educators. While pursuing the PGCEi, I was able to dive deep into evidence-based research to understand the multitude of ways in which new knowledge is acquired and internalised by young learners. Also, I learned about the evolving needs of bilingual and multilingual learners in the 21st century and the ways in which I can inspire them to be increasingly self motivated, independent and creative in their educational journey. 

Collaborative teaching is an integral part of the international school that I work with. The PGCEi has helped me in understanding the nuances of  collaborative, traditional and non-traditional methods of teaching that can be incorporated to meet the learning needs of all the students in an equitable manner.

According to Vygotsky, “Children grow into the intellectual life of those around them.” Students need to see an image of teachers as thinkers and learners that they can imitate and learn from. As a lifelong learner, I want to be able to make classroom learning invigorating and purposeful.

I am currently working as a Teaching Assistant in elementary school in The American Embassy School, New Delhi. I am optimistic about having the opportunity to step into a higher role in my school and in the future would like to be a main faculty English as an Additional Language (EAL) teacher.

Is there a specific module on the PGCEi course that you enjoyed the most?

I enjoyed Inquiring into Educational Practice in International Contexts the most as it presented an amazing opportunity to conduct educational research with grade 5 students in my school to understand how they learn.

What was the best part of the course?

1. It is easily accessible
2. It encapsulates teaching and learning practices across the world and how pedagogical practices have evolved over the centuries 

How have you been supported on this course?T

My tutors have been extremely helpful in guiding me through the course. In the beginning of the year, it was challenging to form a routine of studying. I benefitted tremendously from the guidance of Ms Ruparelia on building stamina for studying and honing the skills of skimming, scanning and analysing study material to articulate my thinking effectively in the three modules.  

Why do you think students should choose this course?

Pursuing the PGCEi course will help in many ways, it will:

• aid in enhancing the knowledge and intellect required for effective teaching
• help in acquiring pertinent skills for working as a main faculty teacher in international schools
• give the flexibility to work in other countries.

Lastly, the PGCEi qualification will create ample opportunities for attractive employment and therefore, economic independence. 

Do you have any advice for someone considering the course?

Balance between work and study by devoting time on a daily basis.