Kingston University and St George's, University of London programme first undergraduate degree in UK to receive Social Pedagogy Professional Association endorsement

Posted Friday 14 June 2019

Current first year working with children and young people: social pedagogy students.

A Kingston University and St George's, University of London course has become the first undergraduate programme in the United Kingdom to receive an endorsement from the Social Pedagogy Professional Association.

The seal of approval from the association, which has recently been granted charitable status, highlights the quality of teaching and learning of the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education's, run jointly by Kingston and St George's, three-year BA (Hons) in Working with Children and Young People: Social Pedagogy and recognises that it meets expected standards of education, training and proficiency.

The endorsement will allow students on the degree, which prepares them for a career working with children, young people and their families, to have the professional title of social pedagogy practitioner on their curriculum vitae - making the programme the first in the country to produce graduates with this title. This will increase the employability of students when going to interviews for roles such as family support worker, youth worker, teaching assistant and social work assistant.

As part of the endorsement, the University has agreed to pay for full SPPA membership for all current first years and future students on the course. This will allow them to network with other members online and at events, vote at the association's annual general meeting, have an opportunity to contribute to its bi-monthly newsletter and help shape future policy.

Head of the Department of Social Work and Social Care Dr Wilson Muleya believes the endorsement will make graduates from the degree even more employable. "The achievement of being the first undergraduate programme to be approved by the Social Pedagogy Professional Association really highlights the importance of this area of professional practice. The endorsement will give graduates great opportunities to compete in the job market and excel in their chosen career."