By Christine Cudis/PNA
MANILA — Forging better opportunities for their students, Miriam College has recently sealed a partnership with the Goldsmiths University of London with the creation of a dual-awards graduate degree program.
This collaboration gave birth to niche program Designing Education, a fusion of the theory of design thinking and education.
The venture is anchored on both institutions’ shared culture of teacher education; Goldsmiths, in its expertise in fusing design and education, and in Miriam College’s 92 years of expertise in the area of education as well as on its recognition as a Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-designated Center of Excellence in Teacher Education.
“We want to cultivate a culture of design thinking among teacher education institutions that will directly influence the practice of education in schools and, ultimately, in Philippine society,” Miriam College president Dr. Rosario O. Lapus said.
“We have chosen to partner with the Goldsmiths University of London because we have a common vision of education — one that puts creativity, wonder, and initiative at the heart of the learning process. The program is called Designing Education, for the soul of the program lies in human design: it brings the focus of education back to the learner,” she added.
Excited for the things to come, Warden of Goldsmiths University of London Patrick Loughrey said he hopes it would help inspire and equip teachers looking to introduce design thinking into K-12 curriculum.
“Alongside our partners at Miriam College, we look forward to providing Filipino educators with resources and pedagogies that support risk-taking and creativity through a design-led approach to learning,” Loughrey added.
The launch, held on February 26 at the college’s Henry Sy Sr. Innovation Center, was also graced by UK Deputy Head of Mission Alastair Walton Totty and British Council Head of Education Lotus Postrado.
The first cohort of students taking up the niche program have started classes in January. The students are set to leave for London in May for a study tour.
The dual-awards program is a fusion of the theory of design thinking and education.
It has two components, a Master of Arts in Designing Education (MADE) and a requisite Philippine-based post-graduate Certificate in Designing Education (PGCERT) that will be taken up at Miriam College.
Part of the unique learning context of the program is a 10-day London-based field study and expert mentoring, 60 credits of recognition towards a full British master’s degree, and a four-month immersion in the UK while pursuing the master’s degree.
The partnership with Goldsmiths is spearheaded by the Miriam College Henry Sy Sr. Innovation Center through the British Council and CHED’s transnational education program.
TNE offers disciplines for Filipino students that are currently not available in the country.
Miriam is the only college among a roster of top Philippine universities selected for this UK-CHED linkage.
