The accreditation process involves a rigorous assessment of an initial teacher education (ITE) program against a set of nationally agreed standards. Accreditation standards and procedures are designed to ensure that all graduates of ITE meet the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the Graduate career stage. This ensures the program is of high quality and prepares pre-service teachers for the teaching profession. The process also includes an assessment of a provider’s quality assurance and continuous improvement mechanisms, as well as ensuring that the provider has a nationally endorsed teaching performance assessment which all graduates must successfully complete.
In Queensland, each program is assessed by a panel of nationally trained assessors that includes school leaders, employers, practising teachers and higher education representatives. A mandatory site visit involving forums with school partners, graduates, ITE students and the teaching staff of the ITE program is embedded in Queensland reaccreditation processes. Panels make a recommendation to the QCT’s Professional Standards Committee, which holds responsibility for granting accreditation and determines the length of the accreditation period. A maximum of five years accreditation may be granted.
More information on the accreditation process may be found at: www.aitsl.edu.au/deliver-ite-programs/standards-and-procedures.
| Jurisdiction | QLD |
| Provider | University of Queensland |
| Program title | Master of Teaching (Secondary) |
| Program type | Postgraduate |
| Program duration in equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL) | 2 years |
| Minimum program duration | 2 years |
| Stage of schooling | Secondary |
| Mode(s) of delivery | On Campus |
| Campus location(s) | St Lucia |
| Date of current accreditation | 18/11/2022 |
| Accreditation outcome* | Five-year accreditation period was approved. |
| Accreditation expiry date (optional) | 31/12/2027 |
| Quality assurance processes in place | Quality assurance data collection processes include, but are not limited to:
|
Program description and rationale
The Master of Teaching (Secondary) degree (AQF level 9) is designed for graduates who have already completed degrees in other fields and now want to become secondary school teachers. Our program provides access to the teaching profession for recent graduates and career changers.
The Master of Teaching (Secondary) program aims to produce graduates from a range of disciplines who are eligible to apply for registration as qualified teachers with the QCT. However, our commitment to our graduates goes beyond eligibility and qualifications. We aim to produce outstanding teachers who understand and address the learning needs of students with varying abilities and characteristics and from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds; and possess strong research capabilities that enable them to evaluate and improve their teaching practice. Preservice teachers will specialise in two equally weighted teaching areas based on discipline knowledge developed during their Bachelor degree.
Data collected over the accreditation period is analysed to evaluate pre-service teacher performance, graduate outcomes and to identify opportunities for program improvement, including:
● performance of preservice teachers on Critical Tasks including the Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment and professional experience placements, and demonstration of impact on student learning;
● graduate outcomes, including preparedness to teach, capacity to positively impact on student learning and employment and registration outcomes;
● satisfaction of employers with the work readiness of graduates and their capacity to positively impact on student learning;
● feedback from preservice teachers, graduates, supervising teachers, practicum coordinators and employers to inform ongoing and continuous improvement of the program.
* Nationally accredited ITE programs delivered in Queensland are subject to ongoing monitoring, including: