PME Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training)

Teaching as a profession is both challenging and rewarding. The best teachers are those who combine a passion for their subject with the skills necessary to teach it to a variety of learners, and who enjoy interacting daily with a variety of young people. Good teachers can make a real difference in young people’s lives.  The PME in UCC is a ground-breaking and innovative teacher education programme, which is excellent preparation for teaching at second level. It incorporates the latest research in the field of education studies with a key emphasis on fostering innovative and inclusive classroom pedagogies.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

Two school placements in two contrasting post-primary schools (one in Year 1 and one in year 2) is an integral part of this course. For practical reasons, placement schools must normally be within 50 km (30 miles) of UCC. Students may also elect to complete a placement in an Irish medium immersion post-primary school setting.

As per Teaching Council guidelines, the programme includes a requirement for two separate mentored and supervised school placements (one in Year 1 and one in Year 2) in recognised cooperating post-primary schools. School placements are designed to give student teachers opportunities to gain professional experience in classrooms and schools, to learn about teaching and learning in a variety of situations, to participate fully in the life of the school and to gain an in-depth understanding of the role of the teacher and the school more generally. In both Years 1 and 2, students must obtain placement teaching hours in cooperating post-primary schools. A list of PME partner schools where UCC PME Placement can be completed will be provided to successful applicants when offered a place on the programme. Note: While most co-operating schools are in the greater Cork City area, some schools on the list will require a considerable amount of travel and may necessitate use of a car or public transport.