About us

UOW’s School of Education is nationally recognised for its innovative preservice teacher education programs, and has long-standing international links in teaching, research and professional experiences. The Federal Government’s Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching ranked UOW in 2017 as the best university in Australia for Teacher Education.

More than 2,200 students are currently enrolled in our undergraduate and postgraduate programs in teacher education and training, and higher degree programs up to doctoral level. Our programs cover Early Years, Primary, Secondary, Science, Mathematics and Physical & Health Education. Our students are immersed in local schools for realworld professional experience and are provided with opportunities for international teaching experiences. Our graduate employment rate is well beyond that of similar institutions.

The New South Wales Department of Education cooperates in the development and monitoring of our undergraduate programs and provides support for postgraduate students engaged in research and higher degree study. Many staff retain close working links with Commonwealth departments such as the Department of Education, Employment, Training & Youth Affairs (DEETYA) and with international agencies such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and OECD.

The Faculty of Education was formed in 1984 from the amalgamation of the former Department of Education in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Wollongong, and the nearby School of Education (Institute of Education). 

In 2013 the University of Wollongong underwent a Faculty transition seeing eleven Faculties merge into five super Faculties. As a result of the merger, the Faculty of Education transitioned to the School of Education, and sat within the Faculty of Social Sciences. In 2020 the University of Wollongong approved a new faculty structure which saw the Faculty of Social Sciences become the Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (ASSH).

The School currently employs over 60 academic and professional staff, and has more than 2000 students enrolled in its undergraduate and postgraduate programs in teacher education and training, and higher degree programs up to Doctoral level. Staff undertake teaching across both undergraduate and postgraduate areas, and in most cases are also active researchers in their areas of expertise.