PGCHE student profiles
Stephanie and Agnieszka both completed the PGCHE in 2022. They talk about their experience of the course and how it has helped them develop in their professional roles.
Stephanie Manning
Stephanie works in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham as a Teaching Associate (Child Health).
Why did you decided to complete the PGCHE?
Coming from a clinical background in nursing, I felt it was important and vital for me to gain the full PGCHE qualification, with me now teaching both pre- and postgraduate nursing students.
How has the course helped with your role?
Undertaking and completing the full PGCHE qualification has enabled me to learn and engage with evidence-based teaching literature/knowledge frameworks, enabling me to consider the wider context of teaching, what’s involved and how to develop this into my existing teaching modules which I run or am involved with.
How will the course help with your future career?
This course has enabled me to progress to a development point, now being eligible to apply from a level four to a level five teaching and learning pathway role.
What are your interests and ambitions for the future after your engagement with the PGCHE course in relation to teaching and supporting learning?
I will be specifically looking at applying for the ‘Teaching and Learning’ pathway for level five, ensuring I have mapped my development to the expected level five criteria, evidencing a high level of contribution in this primary area.
What were the best aspects of your engagement with the PGCHE course?
The online engagement with the teachers and students from other specialist backgrounds.
How were you supported on the course?
Excellent tutorial support is offered throughout.
Why do you think others should choose the University of Nottingham to study the PGHCE Global course?
This course is taught to a high standard and the resources available are excellent, signposting students to various resources and literature which will enable them to achieve the assessment criteria of the course.
Do you have any advice for someone considering the PGCHE Global course?
Become familiar with the course content before each session and utilise the reading list provided.
Agnieszka Monika Zoltowska
Agnieszka is a Clinical Assistant Professor in Veterinary Education in the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science.
Why did you decided to complete the PGCHE?
As a veterinary surgeon, I was always involved in teaching in practice. I love teaching and seeing others progress and develop. Once I started PGCHE, I realised that by knowing more about teaching and learning, I can be a better educator.
How has the course helped with your role?
The course helped me to improve my understanding of the learning and teaching process and implement this newly discovered knowledge into my everyday teaching. The sessions I prepare and teach are more mindful and have clearer objectives. I have a better understanding of what is achievable and how to maximise the learning outcomes.
How will the course help with your future career?
I used obtaining full PGCHE as the evidence of my academic progress in my recent promotion application.
What are your interests and ambitions for the future after your engagement with the PGCHE course in relation to teaching and supporting learning?
I became very interested in learning theory and its application to the veterinary degree. I am hoping to participate in research related to teaching, learning and assessment within veterinary profession (undergraduate and postgraduate formal education, as well as in-practice learning).
What were the best aspects of your engagement with the PGCHE course?
The best aspects of my engagement is interacting with other staff members from different departments and learning from their experience and being able to approach the problems utilising a different perspective.
How were you supported on the course?
As I completed a science-based degree, I struggled with being engaged with educational literature. The PGCHE lecturers helped me to find the applicability of the theory to my practical teaching. They helped me to learn how to find the important bits from the texts and not become overwhelmed with jargon.
Why do you think others should choose the University of Nottingham to study the PGHCE Global course?
Nottingham’s PGCHE Global course will help you to develop as an educator in your own discipline without trying to turn you into an excellent theorist on education. The applicability to my teaching was supported and encouraged. I felt the teaching was designed to support me and my progress.
Do you have any advice for someone considering the PGCHE Global course?
Use the excellent feedback from the students who are engaging with the sessions to develop your PGCHE knowledge.