60 ECTS Diploma in Education

The 60 ECTS Diploma in Education provides graduates with professional qualification to teach both in the upper classes of primary education and in secondary education. The studies are intended for those who have completed at least a BA or BS degree. The Diploma can be finished in a year's time or over a long period if preferred. A fall semester, spring semester, and summer semester are taught. Students can begin studying at the beginning of each of the semesters but rules on prerequisites must be observed when selecting courses.

The School works closely with leading schools in the field of education, for example, Columbia University and Penn State University.
The main emphases of the School's Diploma programme are to increase the ability of teachers to communicate to students the knowledge they possess of their fields and, furthermore, to make teachers capable of constructing an invigorating study environment which encourages joy at work, independence, and creative thought.
The pedagogy part of the programme revolves around the life circumstances of children and adolescents, inside and outside the class room, in Iceland today. Prospective teachers receive training in how to work with children and adolescents who are at risk of developing disorders in learning, behaviour, or well-being. The key elements of the programme are self-confidence, respect for students, communication skills, and professional knowledge.
The Diploma programme places an emphasis on diverse teaching methods and students' project work.

Research into the Behaviour and Well-Being of Young People

The School actively researches, for example, the educational performance of children and adolescents and also gender-based differences in academic achievement. Research is also conducted into the impact of social resources on educational performance and individuals' well-being, inside and outside the classroom. Furthermore, the School researches innovations in teaching methods and the influence of information technology on school work.

The School's Vision for the future

• A world-class teaching and research centre.
• Powerful and diverse collaboration with foreign universities and institutions.
• Leadership in teacher education and pedagogy with an emphasis on providing teachers with outstanding professional knowledge.