Post-Graduate Diploma in Higher Education Pedagogy
The Post-Graduate Diploma in Higher Education Pedagogy is a professional qualification designed for university and college lecturers seeking advanced training in teaching and learning in higher education. The programme provides pedagogical training specifically tailored to the higher education context, covering adult learning theories, curriculum design for higher education, assessment in higher education, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
The curriculum covers higher education pedagogy, adult learning theories, curriculum design, educational technology, assessment and evaluation, research methods in education, and a teaching practicum. Students engage with both theoretical foundations of higher education teaching and practical application through a practicum component. The programme is designed for academics seeking to enhance their teaching effectiveness.
Quality teaching in higher education is critical for Kenya's educational development. Many university lecturers hold advanced subject qualifications but lack formal pedagogical training. The programme addresses this gap by providing professional development in higher education teaching. Institutions increasingly require pedagogical qualifications for teaching staff, reflecting a growing emphasis on quality assurance in higher education.
The programme combines coursework with a teaching practicum. Students study pedagogical theory, develop teaching portfolios, and apply their learning in higher education classroom settings. Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, micro-teaching, peer observation, and a supervised practicum. The programme emphasises reflective practice and scholarly approaches to teaching.
Graduates work as university lecturers, college instructors, educational developers, or quality assurance officers in universities, colleges, and higher education regulatory bodies. The qualification enhances teaching effectiveness and supports career advancement in academia. The programme supports careers in higher education teaching, educational development, and academic quality assurance.
This programme is ideal for university and college lecturers, teaching assistants, and academic staff seeking formal pedagogical qualifications. The programme provides advanced skills for teaching excellence in higher education.
- Duration
- 1 year
- Private, up to
- Ksh 143,700
- Job market
- Moderate
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Practicalities
- Study mode
- Full-time, Part-time
- Attachment
- 0 months
- Average class
- 20 students
- Award
- Postgraduate Diploma
What you study
8 subjects- Higher Education Pedagogy
- Adult Learning Theories
- Curriculum Design for Higher Education
- Educational Technology
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Research Methods in Education
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
- Reflective Practice
Modules
5 in the programmeFoundations of Higher Education Pedagogy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theoretical foundations of higher education teaching, including adult learning theories and pedagogical models.
Curriculum Design for Higher Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles and practices of curriculum design, development, and alignment in higher education programmes.
Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Assessment strategies, evaluation methods, and quality assurance in higher education teaching and learning.
Educational Technology in Higher Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Integration of educational technology, online learning, and digital tools in higher education teaching.
Teaching Practicum and Portfolio
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Supervised teaching practicum in higher education settings, combined with development of a teaching portfolio.
Specialisations
Educational Technology
Focus on integrating digital tools, online learning platforms, and educational technology in higher education teaching.
Assessment and Quality Assurance
Focus on assessment design, evaluation methods, and quality assurance in higher education programmes.
A day as a student
A typical day combines lectures on higher education pedagogy with reflective practice and teaching observation. Students attend seminars on adult learning theories, curriculum design, and assessment strategies, participate in micro-teaching sessions, observe peers teaching, and develop teaching portfolios. The practicum component provides hands-on experience in higher education classroom settings. The programme emphasises reflective practice, scholarly teaching, and continuous professional development.
The trade offs
In its favour
- Provides formal pedagogical qualifications increasingly required in higher education.
- Specifically designed for higher education context, not general school-level teaching.
- Short duration of 1 year enables rapid professional development for practising academics.
Against it
- Offered at only one institution in Kenya, limiting accessibility.
- Private university fees may be a barrier for some academics.
- Career advancement benefits depend on institutional recognition of pedagogical qualifications.
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 243 education coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
SPU 71.85K/sem=143.7K/yr (spu.ac.ke PDF). No public provider; UoN/KU offer PGDE only.
HELB loans may be available for eligible Kenyan students. Some universities offer staff development sponsorships for their academic staff.
Funding options
HELB Loan
Scholarships
1 recordedHELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in postgraduate diploma programmes at chartered universities
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
- Alternative entry
- Bachelor's degree from a recognised university. The programme is designed for practising or aspiring university and college lecturers.
How you are assessed
3 componentsCoursework and Assignments
Written examination50% of the mark
Coursework assessments, written assignments, and reflective papers evaluating pedagogical understanding.
Teaching Practicum
Practical30% of the mark
Supervised teaching practicum assessment evaluating practical teaching competence in higher education settings.
Teaching Portfolio
Project20% of the mark
A comprehensive teaching portfolio demonstrating reflective practice, teaching philosophy, and evidence of teaching effectiveness.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) through St Paul's University, a chartered university.
Accredited by
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by CUE through St Paul's University, a chartered university.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
3 rolesUniversity Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Teaches in universities with enhanced pedagogical skills, applying evidence-based teaching approaches.
Educational Developer
Low demand
Supports teaching excellence in universities through staff development, curriculum support, and pedagogical training.
Quality Assurance Officer
Moderate demand
Ensures quality standards in higher education teaching, assessment, and programme delivery.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as university lecturers, college instructors, educational developers, and quality assurance officers in universities, colleges, and higher education regulatory bodies.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Career Guidance & Labour Market Information CounselorEducation11Low exposure
- School Guidance CounselorEducation17Low exposure
- Motor Vehicle MechanicEducation21Low exposure
- School Counsellor / Guidance TeacherEducation23Low exposure
- AI Literacy Program CoordinatorEducation33Low exposure
- Food Production ChefEducation33Low exposure
- Educational Assessment SpecialistEducation37Low exposure
- Independent Education ConsultantEducation37Low exposure
Industry links
Common misconceptions
A post-graduate diploma in pedagogy is only for new lecturers.
The programme benefits both new and experienced lecturers seeking to enhance their teaching effectiveness and gain formal pedagogical qualifications.
Subject expertise alone is sufficient for university teaching.
Effective higher education teaching requires pedagogical knowledge, understanding of adult learning, and skills in curriculum design and assessment.
Pedagogy training is not relevant in higher education.
Quality assurance in higher education increasingly requires pedagogical qualifications, and research shows pedagogical training improves teaching effectiveness.
The programme is only for those in teacher education.
The programme is designed for lecturers across all disciplines in higher education, not just those in education departments.
Related courses
Further reading
Fees and entry marks for Post-Graduate Diploma in Higher Education Pedagogy are restated every intake. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.