The Education, Curriculum and Leadership Department (ECL) is based at DWU, Madang campus. It was created in 2013 after the restructure of the former Faculty of Flexible Learning (FFL) to coordinate all education programs offered through the then FFL. The department currently coordinates three programs:

1. Master of Educational Leadership (MEDL) (Full time and Flexible Learning)
2. Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning (PGCHET&L) (Flexible Learning)
3. Bachelor of Education Primary In-service (Flexible learning)
4. Postgraduate Certificate in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
5. Postgraduate Certificate in Online Teaching (PGCOT)

The graduate attributes of scholarship and social awareness are embedded into all our programs covering professional knowledge, analysis and problem solving, research, information technology, personal development, communication, social responsibility and social interaction. We embrace the DWU core values; integrity, academic excellence, community engagement, respect, diversity, hospitality and learning for life in the delivery of the programs. All programs are delivered using blended mode; face-to-face and the Moodle learning management system (LMS).

The MEDL program is run in collaboration with the Postgraduate and Higher Degree Center (PGHD) and it is aimed at developing capacity and ability of its participants to develop and lead the educational systems of the country at primary, secondary or tertiary levels to achieve student, institutional and national goals. The MEDL program provides students with values, attitudes, knowledge and skills that will enable them to lead their systems and organizations with a commitment to the highest standards of administrative and curriculum practices. The emphasis is on the praxis of leadership within a Christian moral and ethical framework.

The PGCHTL program is designed for people with teaching or training responsibilities who hold graduate and postgraduate qualifications, but not in teaching. The program is aimed at skilling those who have demonstrated excellence in content knowledge and workplace experience in their profession, but lack a teaching qualification. The program provides participants with essential knowledge and skills for planning programs and lessons (curriculum), using a variety of teaching and learning strategies, managing learning environments to facilitate productive learning, and designing a variety of tasks to assess learning.

 The Bachelor of Education Primary, In-service program aims to improve professional learning and develop awareness of educational reforms, developments in curriculum and pedagogy, and best practice in the classroom and other learning environments. The program offers experienced teachers with a Diploma of Teaching (Primary) the opportunity both to gain such professional learning and to upgrade to a Bachelor of Education (Primary).

The Postgraduate Certificate in TESOL program is a flexible learning program that is designed to provide basic knowledge and skills of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, particularly for academic purposes. With over 800 languages in PNG, people in this country are using English, not as a second language, but as a third, fourth or fifth language. While many Papua New Guineans consider that they have communicative competency in using English, they are less confident about their competence in using English for academic purposes. The PGTESOL program is designed for lecturers in higher education institutions whose goal is to enhance students’ skills in using English for academic purposes.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Online Teaching program is a flexible learning program offered in fully online mode.  The program intends to provide theoretical and applied skills to assist learners to design and offer programs in fully online or blended modes in higher education. A new generation of students entering higher education institutions demands new approaches to teaching and learning. The program provides a better understanding of contemporary online learners and its implication for program design. It builds the pedagogical foundation and equips those teaching in online or blended mode with skills and strategies to successfully teach online at higher education level. The program is designed for those lecturers who are already engaged in online teaching as well as those who intend to teach online

The department also coordinates matriculation program in five locations in the East Sepik, Western Highlands and Jiwaka provinces. The DWU Council in 2018 approved matriculation program policy. In line with one of DWU’s core values of community service and engagement the matriculation program aims to provide opportunities for young Papua New Guineans who are pushed out of the formal education system to matriculate and apply for tertiary level education.

Peter Kelaki (HoD)