Plans for a new international teaching qualification aimed at exporting “English-style” initial teacher training across the globe have been unveiled today.
International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS) is intended to be a qualification awarded after initial teacher training (ITT) courses to be taken “in a range of international settings around the world”.
“The UK’s methods of teacher training and development are highly respected and sought after around the world,” a Department for International Trade spokesperson said.
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“We believe that a new international teaching qualification, with the quality assurance associated with being based on English standards, will enable English ITT providers to meet growing global demand and support the education export sector in the UK.
“Global demand for high-quality education has created unprecedented demand for qualified and capable teachers. The government is committed to fulfilling its ambitions set out in the International Education Strategy 2021 by supporting further internationalisation of the education sector and building lasting global partnerships.”
A consultation on the new qualification begins today and seeks views on proposals relating to standards and entry criteria, course content and school experience, methods of delivery and quality assurance. It will run for 12 weeks and can be found here.
Minister for exports Graham Stuart, a former chair of the Commons education select committee, said: “The UK offers a world-class education. Thanks to our global reputation for excellence and strong presence in international markets, our education exports - from edtech to transnational education - reached £23.3 billion in 2018...
“It’s vital we help the UK’s world-renowned education industry to build back better by exporting our brilliant goods, services, skills and innovation across the globe.”
