International Educating Class (postgraduate certificate) | UCLL

To change the world, educate the world… start here.

In the words of the great Dutch footballer, Clarence Seedorf, Education is the key solution for change, for peace, and for help in the fight against racism and discrimination in general. This Post-graduate certificate programme is called “International Educating Class” (PIEC) and aspires to positively and sustainably change the world for the better.  The programme is not just for educators, but  for everyone who is committed to become a changemaker, a peacebuilder and a true global citizen.

Education is fundamental for a positive and humane transition into the future and for development that is sustainable. Hence, this Postgraduate aims to actively contribute to the realization of the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly SDG4: to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Dynamic and flexible one or two semester programme

This one-year English-language 60 ECTS credit programme is divided into two (2) semesters of 30 ECTS credits each. You can follow these semester programmes separately or together as a whole. You can begin either in the Fall or Spring.

The courses support you in building lasting professional and personal capacities to be successful in life, in work and to become the change needed in the world today. You will enhance your English language skills, but also specific skills sets like self-reflection, critical-thinking and creative problem-solving, communication and understanding the implications of technology and media, intercultural collaboration,  entrepreneurship, leadership, …  Each semester you embark upon your journey as a class, developing empathy and understanding for other perspectives and cultures, but also lasting and lifelong friendships and networks.  

Based on unesco inspired values, the programme offers:

  • Immersion into capacity building, empowerment, human rights, cultural awareness, appreciative inquiry, academic communication, strategic scenario planning, global citizenship education, project cycle management, …
  • Project-based collaborative group work where students from differing cultures and backgrounds work together towards a common goal
  • Based on UNESCO’s learning objectives for sustainable development education, the programme supports you to become an agent for positive social change and peace, while stimulating the building of capacities you will need to be successful in life and work
  • An officially recognized certificate by both the Flemish Ministry of Education and UNESCO. The certificate provides you with an important edge when applying to other institutions of higher education and for employment. The certificate does not lead directly, however, to a teaching certificate or another degree.

Post-graduate students may visit important international institutions like the International Court of Justice in the Hague;  the Headquarters of UNESCO, IIEP and the OECD (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development) in Paris as well as international and national institutions in Belgium.

Application deadline

  • Fall programme
    • non-EEA students requiring a study visa: 1 May
    • all other students: 15 August
  • Spring programme
    • non-EEA students requiring a study visa:  30 September
    • all other students: 30 November

Ambition: together we can change the world

Since 2009, the Postgraduate International Educating Class has empowered students to become agents of positive and sustainable social change and contributors to peace through education.

Today’s challenges require specific skill sets.  Humane skills like critical-thinking, entrepreneurship, communication, creative problem solving, understanding the implications of technology and media, but also social skills like self-reflection, deep listening, collaboration, leadership, flexibility and just plain grit. Through formal, non-formal but also informal learning, PIEC students build on their capacities to acquire important and lasting professional and personal skills, but also significant networks and friendships. 

Fall programme

Join us for the fall semester or for the spring semester or for both!

Are you looking for a longer or a shorter experience or programme?  Are you in-between degrees or wanting to enrich your skills?  This one-year English-language 60 ECTS credit programme is divided into two (2) semesters of 30 ECTS credits each. You can follow each semester programme separately or together as a whole. You can begin either in the Fall or Spring.  At the end of each Semester, you receive a valuable certificate that is recognized by the Flemish Ministry of Education and endorsed by UNESCO. 

Educating for Education: Care                  

3

A theory of care and a nurturing approach to schooling has become a fundamental aspect of education. We review the ethics of care, the role of UNESCO in education and care as well as Paolo Freire’s, Pedagogy of the Oppressed.

Educating for Natural Sciences: Sustainable Development

3

Global future issues related to climate change, ecocities, water management… and how science education can be employed to adopt the right skills and sustainable attitudes to safeguard our planet and our common future are treated in this course.  

Educating for Social and Human Sciences: Human Rights and Social Justice

3

You will acquire the knowledge of international treaties concerning basic human rights and be able to connect human rights issues in current world problems. Topics include issues like equality and non-discrimination, the right to liberty of person, the right to a fair trial, the right to education, the right to life and the links between human rights, world citizenship and education.

Educating for Culture: Making Cultural Diversity Work

3

Living together in harmony and in a sustainable world can only happen through open dialogue amongst cultures and with an attitude of mutual respect and creativity. We review how new forms of identities in multicultural and multi-ethnic modern societies can be built to combat prejudices and discrimination.

Educating for Communication and Information: Empowerment

3

In this course we aim at making students aware of the impact information and communication can have on individuals and societies. We will give special emphasis to the use of these tools for empowering individuals and societies from a local as well as from a global perspective.

Project Management and Educational Planning: Theory

6

In this course you will learn the fundamentals of project management and educational planning. You will receive an additional two-day training from the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), Paris on e.g. managing human resources in the education sector and financing educational projects by means of public-private partnerships.

Project Management and Educational Planning: Internship

6

During the internship, you will (1) set up a UNESCO oriented project or (2) contribute to an on-going project in an organization working on UNESCO related themes. In both situations, you will integrate the knowledge and skills you have learned throughout the semester and implement the theory of the course “Project Management and Educational Planning -Theory”.

Communication for Academic Purposes

3

You will learn how to become a more effective public speaker and presenter, but also a better academic writer in English. Although the basics of writing good papers will be taught, the focus of the course is the steady growth of self-confidence in public speaking, especially in the giving of informative and persuasive presentations.

Educating for Education: Care                  

3

Educating for Natural Sciences: Sustainable Development

3

Educating for Social and Human Sciences: Human Rights and Social Justice

3

Educating for Culture: Making Cultural Diversity Work

3

Educating for Communication and Information: Empowerment

3

Project Management and Educational Planning: Theory

6

Project Management and Educational Planning: Internship

6

Communication for Academic Purposes

3

Educating for Education: Care                  

A theory of care and a nurturing approach to schooling has become a fundamental aspect of education. We review the ethics of care, the role of UNESCO in education and care as well as Paolo Freire’s, Pedagogy of the Oppressed.

Educating for Natural Sciences: Sustainable Development

Global future issues related to climate change, ecocities, water management… and how science education can be employed to adopt the right skills and sustainable attitudes to safeguard our planet and our common future are treated in this course.  

Educating for Social and Human Sciences: Human Rights and Social Justice

You will acquire the knowledge of international treaties concerning basic human rights and be able to connect human rights issues in current world problems. Topics include issues like equality and non-discrimination, the right to liberty of person, the right to a fair trial, the right to education, the right to life and the links between human rights, world citizenship and education.

Educating for Culture: Making Cultural Diversity Work

Living together in harmony and in a sustainable world can only happen through open dialogue amongst cultures and with an attitude of mutual respect and creativity. We review how new forms of identities in multicultural and multi-ethnic modern societies can be built to combat prejudices and discrimination.

Educating for Communication and Information: Empowerment

In this course we aim at making students aware of the impact information and communication can have on individuals and societies. We will give special emphasis to the use of these tools for empowering individuals and societies from a local as well as from a global perspective.

Project Management and Educational Planning: Theory

In this course you will learn the fundamentals of project management and educational planning. You will receive an additional two-day training from the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), Paris on e.g. managing human resources in the education sector and financing educational projects by means of public-private partnerships.

Project Management and Educational Planning: Internship

During the internship, you will (1) set up a UNESCO oriented project or (2) contribute to an on-going project in an organization working on UNESCO related themes. In both situations, you will integrate the knowledge and skills you have learned throughout the semester and implement the theory of the course “Project Management and Educational Planning -Theory”.

Communication for Academic Purposes

You will learn how to become a more effective public speaker and presenter, but also a better academic writer in English. Although the basics of writing good papers will be taught, the focus of the course is the steady growth of self-confidence in public speaking, especially in the giving of informative and persuasive presentations.

Spring programme

Join us for the spring semester or for the fall semester or for both!

Are you looking for a longer or a shorter experience or programme?  Are you in-between degrees or wanting to enrich your skills?  This one-year English-language 60 ECTS credit programme is divided into two (2) semesters of 30 ECTS credits each. You can follow each semester programme separately or together as a whole. You can begin either in the Spring or Fall.  At the end of each Semester, you receive a valuable certificate that is recognized by the Flemish Ministry of Education and endorsed by UNESCO. 

Learning for Life                

4

In this course, you will strengthen your critical and creative attitude concerning educational theories and practices: the focus lies on meta-cognitive approaches to learning.

Global Education Networks and Agencies

4

In this course, you explore ten agencies: UN, UNESCO, OECD, UNICEF, UNHCR, WIPO, UNIDO, World Bank, IIEP, and the African Union. You will research their missions, visions, priorities, functions, analyze their work in  reaching the SDGs, and argue their roles in global collaboration and innovation in the field of education. The course includes visits to the UNESCO headquarters, the IIEP and the OECD in Paris.

Participatory Research for Capacity Building

5

You will engage in explorations of action research in theory and practice in relation to teaching in schools and educating for global citizenship. You will make links between the theoretical understandings of research and your own emergence as practitioner researchers in educational settings. As producers of knowledge who can learn about their teaching and their students' learning by studying your own experiences. You will have an opportunity to identify a problem/issue, make a plan, gather and analyze data, report results, and develop implications for your future practice and action research.

Between Memory and Dialogue

3

Living together sustainably and in peace can only happen through open dialogue amongst cultures as well as mutual respect for the other and his or her own cultural heritage and identity.   In this course, you review how new forms of identities in multicultural and multi-ethnic contemporary societies can be built to combat prejudices and discrimination while finding new ways of living together in greater harmony.

Language, code and culture

3

You will gain insight into how language in general - and English in particular - is coloured by one's cultural and societal background. Language can bring together, but it can also act as a potential cultural divider, which can affect teaching mixed groups in a foreign language that impacts cross-cultural understanding.

Scenarios for Living Together in 2060

5

You will be introduced to the complexities and inter-relatedness of many of the challenges facing society. You will learn the skills to think creatively about possible solutions: strategic planning, research skills, critical thinking, intercultural dialogue, interdisciplinary problem solving, and how to collaborate with others in order to develop policy, events, programs that can meet the challenges of an increasingly interconnected and globalized world.

Learning for Global Citizenship

3

In this course, you assume active roles to face and resolve global challenges and become proactive contributors to a more peaceful, tolerant, inclusive and secure world. 

Personal Growth

3

Appreciative Inquiry is a framework for reaching your full potential as complete human beings. You will develop courage, wisdom and leadership qualities required to constructively contribute towards building a culture of peace as well as grow as a person.  

Learning for Life                

4

Global Education Networks and Agencies

4

Participatory Research for Capacity Building

5

Between Memory and Dialogue

3

Language, code and culture

3

Scenarios for Living Together in 2060

5

Learning for Global Citizenship

3

Personal Growth

3

Learning for Life                

In this course, you will strengthen your critical and creative attitude concerning educational theories and practices: the focus lies on meta-cognitive approaches to learning.

Global Education Networks and Agencies

In this course, you explore ten agencies: UN, UNESCO, OECD, UNICEF, UNHCR, WIPO, UNIDO, World Bank, IIEP, and the African Union. You will research their missions, visions, priorities, functions, analyze their work in  reaching the SDGs, and argue their roles in global collaboration and innovation in the field of education. The course includes visits to the UNESCO headquarters, the IIEP and the OECD in Paris.

Participatory Research for Capacity Building

You will engage in explorations of action research in theory and practice in relation to teaching in schools and educating for global citizenship. You will make links between the theoretical understandings of research and your own emergence as practitioner researchers in educational settings. As producers of knowledge who can learn about their teaching and their students' learning by studying your own experiences. You will have an opportunity to identify a problem/issue, make a plan, gather and analyze data, report results, and develop implications for your future practice and action research.

Between Memory and Dialogue

Living together sustainably and in peace can only happen through open dialogue amongst cultures as well as mutual respect for the other and his or her own cultural heritage and identity.   In this course, you review how new forms of identities in multicultural and multi-ethnic contemporary societies can be built to combat prejudices and discrimination while finding new ways of living together in greater harmony.

Language, code and culture

You will gain insight into how language in general - and English in particular - is coloured by one's cultural and societal background. Language can bring together, but it can also act as a potential cultural divider, which can affect teaching mixed groups in a foreign language that impacts cross-cultural understanding.

Scenarios for Living Together in 2060

You will be introduced to the complexities and inter-relatedness of many of the challenges facing society. You will learn the skills to think creatively about possible solutions: strategic planning, research skills, critical thinking, intercultural dialogue, interdisciplinary problem solving, and how to collaborate with others in order to develop policy, events, programs that can meet the challenges of an increasingly interconnected and globalized world.

Learning for Global Citizenship

In this course, you assume active roles to face and resolve global challenges and become proactive contributors to a more peaceful, tolerant, inclusive and secure world. 

Personal Growth

Appreciative Inquiry is a framework for reaching your full potential as complete human beings. You will develop courage, wisdom and leadership qualities required to constructively contribute towards building a culture of peace as well as grow as a person.  

Inspired by UNESCO

The programme is officially recognized by the Flemish Ministry of Education in Belgium and supported by UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization). IEC shares UNESCO’s commitment to a holistic and humanistic vision of quality education, the realization of everyone’s right to education and the belief that education plays a fundamental role in human, social and economic development.  Inspired by and based on UNESCO’s Four Pillars of Education (Learning to know, Learning to be, Learning to do and Learning to live together), the International Educating Class is a future-oriented programme for sustainable development education that leads to greater personal and professional growth. We are committed to the attainment of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Together we learn about and educate for a sustainable future. 

Admission and requirements

As a postgraduate programme in sustainable development education, IEC welcomes students, who have successfully completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree and are interested in developing educational competences as well as professional and personal capacities. 

Students are required to have attained a level of English language proficiency based on internationally recognized standards.

For both Spring and Fall semesters, students are required to live in Belgium and be available for our Introduction Days that will be communicated to them before the beginning of each semester.

 Students must go through an admissions process.

For more information about the programme and admissions, please contact the coordinator at iec@ucll.be

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Campus Leuven

Classes are held at Campus Hertogstraat, Hertogstraat 178, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.  The campus can be easily reached by bus or bike. The city of Leuven is about a 20 minute train ride from the city of Brussels and the Brussels National Airport, a major international HUB.   For more information about the programme and admissions, please contact the coordinator at iec@ucll.be

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