Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
How the course broadened my outlook on professional learning
As the Director of a language school in Spain, Lisa came to the PGCert in Mentoring and Coaching for Education Practitioners from a slightly different background to many of her peers on the course. Despite not working in a more traditional education setting, she found the course to be incredibly relevant, thought-provoking, and directly applicable to her job role, here she tells us about her experience.
The course had a profound impact on my professional development. It changed not just how I support others, but also how I interact with my colleagues day to day. I’ve become a more active listener, more intentional in my conversations, and more aware of the importance of creating spaces for reflection and growth within my team. The emphasis on authentic dialogue and partnership in mentoring has really shifted the way I lead and collaborate.
One of the major strengths of the programme was how well it balanced theory and practice. The academic material was rich and stimulating, really stretching me as I had never engaged with so much educational research material, but it was always grounded in practical application. Everything we explored was framed in a way that encouraged us to apply it meaningfully within our own settings — and this was especially valuable to me coming from a different educational context.
The support provided was excellent throughout. The tutors were knowledgeable, encouraging, and genuinely invested in our development. The sense of community among participants was also a highlight — I learnt a great deal from the experiences of others, and appreciated the openness that shaped our discussions.
Overall, this course broadened my outlook on professional learning. It has had a lasting effect on how I view mentoring, leadership, and ongoing development — not just for others, but for myself too. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to any education professional, wherever they are in the world. The insights I gained have been transformative, and I continue to draw on them in my work every day.
Lisa Ellen Dold
PGCert in Mentoring and Coaching for Education Practitioners graduate.