Background
The National College of Physical Education was founded in 1973 to provide teacher education for physical education students; in 1980 it was expanded to meet the needs for teacher education in the area of woodwork, metalwork and rural science under the title Thomond College of Education. In 1991 Thomond College was integrated into the University of Limerick.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of the Department of Educational and Professional Studies is to educate teachers who will be equipped to assess the effectiveness of their own teaching and to contribute to the critical evaluation of prevailing educational practice. The graduate teacher will be able to plan courses which are responsive to the demands of the contemporary school and will be able to plan and implement educational innovation.
The programmes of study in the Department aim to provide graduates with:
in-depth appreciation of the role of education in the development of society
an expertise to a level of excellence in methodology and pedagogics
a level of expertise in teaching in keeping with the perspective that the classroom plays a vital role in the
development of the whole person
an excellence in skills and knowledge in science, technology and the humanities in the curriculum
the opportunity to develop the attitudes and values necessary to fulfil their professional roles.
The Department also promotes:
the continuing professional development of teachers and others
educational research through taught and research based programmes.
