Early Childhood Education Leadership (ECEL) Certificate Programme

Overview

The Early Childhood Education Leadership (ECEL) Certificate is a one-year, credit-bearing programme designed for early childhood educators working with the NTUC First Campus (NFC).

The ECEL programme closely integrates classroom learning with a structured 12-month on-the-job training. The assessment structure is purely based on assignments and how they apply what they learn to their own workplace so that they can study while continuing their jobs. The programme strives to achieve seven leadership outcomes in the participants:

• Demonstrates deep conceptual understanding of early childhood education and leadership by applying them meaningfully in their leadership role;
• Strengthens teachers’ conceptual understanding of early childhood education and empowers them to apply their understanding meaningfully to enhance teaching practices and children’s learning;
• Demonstrates intentionality through leadership actions and behaviours that are guided by forethought and purpose;
• Supports the teachers’ development of intentionality through meaningful interactions and/or activities (e.g. curriculum meetings, individualised coaching and mentoring);
• Takes responsibility to create awareness and foster psychological safety for their teams by promoting authenticity and vulnerability so as to build an inclusive and collaborative workplace culture;
• Leads team to drive change and impact at centre’s and/or organisational level to solve complex problems and challenges and enhance teaching practices and children’s learning; and
• Empowers self and others to take ownership (i.e. initiative and responsibility) to achieve the best possible outcomes for work activities in service of self as well as others.

Media Coverage / Release

1 June 2023

NTUC First Campus and SUSS Renew Partnership to Upskill Early Childhood Educators

25 April 2023

Upskilling gives early childhood educator a chance to help shape Singapore’s future generation

29 June 2020

NTUC First Campus partners SUSS to uplift the quality of education leaders and childcare practices

Programme Structure

Participants are required to complete a total of 30 credit units (cu) to graduate with an ECEL Certificate.

The breakdown of the cu to be completed is:

• 10 cu of courses
• 20 cu of work-study programme

Curriculum

Programme Instructors and Mentors

Our programme is spearheaded by individuals who are passionate about creating challenging, collaborative and supportive learning ecosystems of growth and success.