Effective mentoring practices for secondary teachers in Aotearoa NZ
Gain the skills and attributes to become an effective mentor in your role as an educational leader.

Course overview
Developed in partnership with PPTA and Victoria University of Wellington, this 5-point micro-credential course is taught over one school term. It includes online self-paced modules, 3 live online webinars and a one-day face-to-face workshop, with some small assessment activities. Full course enrolment costs are funded by the PPTA, including costs for travel to attend the workshop (more information on this is provided below under Further Information and once the course starts).
The content has been designed to focus on practical skills and knowledge that can be applied and assessed within a professional context. The course has a specific focus on mentoring in the context of Aotearoa, and matauranga Māori will be drawn on throughout the course and appropriate tikanga used in both online and face-to-face interactions.
On achieving the micro-credential requirements you will be awarded a digital badge.
In partnership with
What you'll learn
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Examining different approaches and frameworks of effective mentoring through the lens of an educational leader in Aotearoa
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Critically reflecting on your experiences of mentoring and your current mentoring practices
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Articulating and demonstrating the principles and practices of effective mentoring in your role as an educational leader
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Developing your mentoring capabilities through practice, reflection and feedback
Course modules
This micro-credential course is delivered as six modules over 11 weeks:
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What is mentoring and why do we need it?
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Effective mentoring approaches, strategies and capabilities.
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The impact of context on mentoring.
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Mentoring in practice.
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Setting up a mentoring relationship.
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Conclusion and final assessment task.
Further Information
Format
This course combines online and in-person components. It begins with self-paced learning, followed by a 1-day in-person workshop, and three interactive webinars outside of school time. This blended approach allows flexibility while providing opportunities for face-to-face collaboration.
This micro-credential is total of 50 hours (5 points [Level 8, post-graduate]) of learning made up of:
- 1-day in-person workshop
- 3 x 90min webinars
- Self-paced learning modules
- Assessment and reflection tasks
Workload and Assessment
This micro-credential involves 50 hours of learning, including a 1-day in-person workshop, webinars, self-paced learning modules, and assessment tasks.
Assessments include:
- 4 assessments
Requirements to pass:
- Attend all webinars
- Attend in-person workshop
- Complete all assessments
What You'll Receive
This course is a university-approved micro-credential worth 5 points (Level 8, post-graduate), assessed to meet academic and industry standards. Upon successful completion, you will receive:
- A digital badge
- Academic credit recorded on your official Victoria University of Wellington academic transcript
All credentials include the total CPD/PLD hours completed.
University credits achieved may be used through ‘credit transfer’ to stack towards future qualifications. These digital credentials are portable, verifiable, and designed to support both your current role and long-term career advancement.
Reimbursements
The PPTA will cover travel, accommodation, and childcare costs, up to the total value of $500 (including GST), in order for you to attend the workshop. The cost of TRDs are not covered by the PPTA.
More information about reimbursements will be given upon registration and reimbursement forms will be available to course participants via email after the face-to-face workshop.
Contact
If you would like more information about this micro-credential, please email:
Crystal Collins
Programme Coordinator Education
or
Elizabeth Craker
Education Programme Manager
What is a Micro-credential?
A micro-credential is a formal credential that acknowledges specific skills and knowledge gained through learning programme or activity. These credentials are assessed and meet industry standards, allowing you to demonstrate mastery in particular areas. Our micro-credentials carry University credit at defined level (eg undergraduate or postgraduate) and credit may be used towards further learning. Micro-credentials are designed to be stackable, creating a pathway to further qualifications or career advancement.
Study towards a Master's degree using micro-credentials
This course has been developed to specifically focus on supporting secondary teachers to build classroom and leadership capability. By successfully completing this course and any two of the below micro-credentials participants achievement can be recognised towards the Master of Secondary School Leadership (MSSL) and Master of Education (MEd) programmes at Victoria University of Wellington, opening up potential further learning and career pathway opportunities.
Here's what others are saying
“Simply fantastic. I learnt the theory as well as practical applications of the skills. The ability to connect with other teachers in multiple types of mentoring positions was great. A course that is of benefit to everyone.”
“This was an incredibly useful course for refining skills and providing new ideas and techniques to use in my mentoring practice. It was thoughtfully presented and will have ongoing benefits to my own practice.”
“Some of the most engaging and enriching professional development I have done in years. Excellent course content that allows for both deeper theoretical understanding but also practical applications.”