Miriam College and Goldsmiths, University of London formally launched the Designing Education degree programme on 26 February 2019 at the Miriam College-Henry Sy, Sr. Innovation Centre.
Under the Joint Development of Niche Programmes through Philippine-UK linkages (UK-PH Now), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the British Council brought together Philippine and British schools to develop programmes that otherwise would not be available for Filipinos in the country. Designing Education fuses the theory of design thinking and education. It has two components; a Master of Arts, and a requisite Philippine-based Post-graduate Certificate 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 or recognition towards a full international master’s degree, and a four-month immersion in the UK while pursuing the master’s degree.
“We hope that this exciting partnership will help inspire and equip teachers looking to introduce design thinking into the 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,” said Mr. Patrick Loughrey, Warden of Goldsmiths.
“What’s really interesting about our transnational education partnership with Miriam College is that it pioneers a new way of developing Higher Education practice as international collaboration,” he added.
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 in education and recognition as a CHED-designated Centre of Excellence in Teacher Education. Miriam College is the only college, among a roster of top Philippine universities, selected for this UK-PH linkage.
“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,” according to Miriam College President Dr. Rosario Lapus. “We have chosen to partner with 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 programme 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.
The partnership with Goldsmiths is spearheaded by the MC-Henry Sy, Sr. Innovation Center through the British Council and CHED's transnational education (TNE) program. Deputy Head of Mission, UK Embassy Alastair Walton Totty; and British Council Head of Education Lotus Postrado also graced the launch.
The first cohort of students taking up the niche program were also present. They have started classes in January and are set to leave for London in May for a study tour.
For enquiries and admissions, please email mcibanez@mc.edu.ph or call 930-MCQC loc. 1265.