Connor from the UK

Studying Education: International Perspectives at Newcastle University

How did you get into this job after graduating from Newcastle?   

I started tutoring secondary school students in the first term of the MA for the Newcastle University Students’ Union school outreach programme, and I enjoyed the experience so much that I decided to expand my tutoring efforts to more age ranges and schools across the region.

I have spent the past academic year tutoring primary school students exclusively and used both that experience and what I learned on the MA to get a place on a ITT programme.

How has studying Education: International Perspectives helped you in your current or future career? 

Studying pedagogical approaches and various educational theories in-depth has both helped me improve my tutoring practice and strengthened my ITT personal statement.

When I completed the PGCE and core training during my teacher training, the knowledge I gained will put me ahead of my peers in terms of foundational knowledge.

The research skills gained from my dissertation and analysing the evidence-base behind various pedagogical approaches also helps me ensure that my practice is based in evidence.

Additionally, being introduced to ChatGPT on one of the modules helped me learn and master how it can help with organisation, time management and research, and I am currently a paid subscriber, and I continue to use what I learned about it in to help me with organisation and time management, which will help me manage the demands of ITT.

What was the best thing about studying Education at Newcastle? 

It’s hard to name the best thing about studying Education at Newcastle University.

The diverse range of modules, the staff that supported me both academically and professionally and being able to implement my new knowledge as a secondary school tutor for the Students’ Union all contributed to making my MA experience a fantastic one.

What advice would you give to a student interested in studying Education: International Perspectives?  

• Don’t be afraid to select modules that feel out of your comfort zone as you may develop a new interest – while I always thought Artificial Intelligence was too complex for me to grasp, the way I learned about it during the degree was accessible and easy to understand.
• Create a system that helps you organise and manage your time – for me this was a digital weekly planner. This will become really useful when dissertation season comes and you have to do independent research.
• Enjoy the ride! While a year feels like a long time when you first start the degree, the time will go by quicker than you expect.