This week an online Masters degree in English Language Teaching will be launched worldwide by the University of Southampton in collaboration with the British Council after successfully training teachers in Mexico for five years.
The part-time five semester programme takes place entirely online across two and a half years and is available for all teachers with at least two years teaching experience.
While students will study remotely, they will have the chance to physically graduate at the university.
“This partnership is a great example of how the University can deliver excellence in teaching to students around the world in an innovative way”
The university will provide oversight of the online teaching material and academic quality assurance toward the degree while the British Council will be responsible for e-tutoring and student recruitment.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton Don Nutbeam said the programme will benefit from the British Council’s extensive global reach.
“This partnership is a great example of how the University can deliver excellence in teaching to students around the world in an innovative way – giving them access to the considerable experience of our academics, who are experts in the field of English Language Teaching,” he added.
The course builds on a similar initiative introduced in Mexico in 2008 that saw teachers at Mexican state universities study toward a UK postgraduate Diploma and Masters degree.
By making the course available to teachers, ministries of education, and education institutions world wide, the organisers hope the MA will contribute to the professionalisation of English Language Teaching globally, as well as increase career development opportunities.
The first global cohort of students commenced course last month, but the worldwide launch will take place at the University of Southampton on March 12.
