School of Education

To describe an individual as ‘Fit to Practise’ in the context of certain professions is to say they possess the attributes considered necessary in an individual to allow that individual to practise as an independent practitioner in their relevant profession. 

The core competencies for Programmes in the School of Education subject to Fitness to Practise are listed below.

Programmes of Initial Teacher Education

(B.Ed. Science Education, B.Sc. Science Education, B.Ed. Gaeilge, B.Ed Physical Education, Sports Studies & Arts / B.Ed. Sports Studies & Physical Education, Professional Master of Education, Professional Master of Education (Art & Design), Professional Diploma in Further, Adult and Community Education).
Student teachers must be capable of demonstrating the following competencies throughout their ITE programme and on programme completion:

1. Understand and enact the core principles and values enshrined in the Teaching Council Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers 2016. In particular, student teachers should adhere to the Teaching Council Standards of Teaching, Knowledge, Skill, Competence and Conduct set out on pages 6-8 of this Code.
2. Manage their own health and wellbeing including consulting and following the advice of a suitably qualified professional on any risk posed to self or others (including peers, staff, pupils/students, colleagues, the University, and the Profession) by their own mental/physical health.
3. Be aware of their role in the wellbeing and care of others in the school setting /FET Centre including being cognisant of, and responsive to, the impact of one’s actions on self and on others (including peers, staff, pupils/students, colleagues, the University, and the Profession).
4. Demonstrate effective and appropriate interpersonal and communication skills (to include spoken, written, electronic and nonverbal methods) with all programme stakeholders including UCC staff and students, partner school/FET Centre staff, cooperating teachers (Treoraithe) and pupils/students.
5. Use social media and electronic communication responsibly and professionally to support learning and teaching, uphold ethical standards, and engage effectively with others (including peers, staff, pupils/students, colleagues, the University, and the Profession).
6. Develop and enact decision making capacities to ensure effective and responsive management and care of young people and adults in their professional setting.
7. Be able to remain alert at all times and implement all Health and Safety requirements appropriate to your responsibilities as a teacher.
8. Critically evaluate and implement appropriate and holistic theories of teaching, learning, and assessment to ensure the learning of pupils/students in their care and contribute appropriately to broader education debates in these areas of professional expertise.
9. Develop the range of professional and research skills to contribute to, respond to, manage, and enact ongoing change in their professional practice and in education generally.
10. Work responsibly with their own pupils/students to achieve the appropriate curriculum and assessment standards as determined by the relevant awarding body (e.g., QQI) to whom they are linked, as well as to associate teaching professional standards as set out in the Teaching Council Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers 2016.
11. Follow and obey the laws of the land and refrain from unlawful activity at all times. All student teachers must undergo and receive Garda Vetting prior to commencing professional practice placement. No student may attend placement if Garda Vetting is not in place.

In addition to these competencies, students on these programmes must also fulfil the requirements of the Teaching Council in order to be able to register as a teacher when they graduate.

Early Years and Childhood Studies

(BA Early Years and Childhood Studies)

Students on the BA Early Years and Childhood Studies programme must be capable of demonstrating the following competencies throughout their programme and on programme completion:

1. Understand and enact the core principles and values enshrined in the Professional Award Criteria and Guidelines for Initial Professional Education (Level 7 and Level 8) Degree Programmes for the Early Learning  and Care (ELC) Sector in Ireland
2. Manage their own health and wellbeing including consulting and following the advice of a suitably qualified professional on any risk posed to self or others (including peers, staff, children, colleagues, the University, and the Profession) by their own mental/physical health.
3. Be aware of their role in the wellbeing and care of others in the practice setting including being cognisant of, and responsive to, the impact of one’s actions on self and on others (including peers, staff, children, colleagues, the University, and the Profession).
4. Demonstrate effective and appropriate interpersonal and communication skills (to include spoken, written, electronic and nonverbal methods) with all programme stakeholders including UCC staff and students, partner placement staff, mentors and children.
5. Use social media and electronic communication responsibly and professionally to support learning and teaching, uphold ethical standards, and engage effectively with others (including peers, staff, children, colleagues, the University, and the Profession).
6. Develop and enact decision making capacities to ensure effective and responsive management and care of children in their professional setting.
7. Be able to remain alert at all times and implement all Health and Safety requirements appropriate to your responsibilities as an Early Years student and Practitioner.
8. Critically evaluate and implement appropriate and holistic theories of childhood to support the learning and development of young children in their care in accordance with Aistear (2024) curriculum and Siolta (2016) standards and contribute appropriately to broader debates in these areas of professional expertise.
9. Develop the range of professional and research skills to contribute to, respond to, manage, and enact ongoing change in their professional practice.
10. Follow and obey the laws of the land and refrain from unlawful activity at all times. All Early Years and Childhood Studies students must undergo and receive Garda Vetting prior to commencing professional practice placement. No student may attend placement if Garda Vetting is not in place.