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The University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) announced today that it is phasing out its Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) and Diploma programs in teacher education and is becoming an all-graduate institute of teaching, learning and research.

There is a strong and increasing demand for OISE’s distinct graduate programs in teacher education. Candidates in OISE’s Master of Teaching and Master of Arts in Child Study and Education programs undertake advanced study in the educational sciences and at the same time meet the requirements for licensure to teach in Ontario. Graduates of these programs become advanced practitioners and experts in the education field and many go on to assume leadership positions not only in education but in healthcare, government and the private sector.

“This is an important and exciting change. OISE is already recognized around the world as a leader in education programs and research and taking this new direction will increase our impact on how the world thinks of and goes about education”, said Dean Julia O’Sullivan who has been leading the organization for the past four years.

The change is part of OISE’s strategic objective to align graduate and initial teacher education at OISE; to provide the highest quality graduate education and research programs in the nation; and to attract the best and brightest students from Canada and from around the world. OISE is a leader in teacher education and is using its world-class academic resources to mobilize knowledge and provide the maximum contribution to research and innovation. 

"This is a much needed investment in the professional capital of the teaching profession in Canada,” said Joan Green, founding chief executive officer of Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office, former director of education of the City of Toronto Board of Education.

“OISE graduates are leading innovators, reformers and thinkers who create successful change in our education system," said Green. "There is no doubt that we have great teachers in the province. Their reflective practice will be enhanced by colleagues whose investment in inquiry and graduate study provides leadership and focus to take us to the next level of student achievement and well being.” 

The change aligns both with the Government of Ontario’s request to universities to develop differentiated program offerings and with the University of Toronto’s goal to be recognized as a research-intensive university.

“I am very pleased with the new direction in teacher education at OISE. It plays exactly to the strengths of the University of Toronto as an advanced research institution responding to the needs of a diverse population and changing economy,” said Cheryl Regehr, vice-president (academic) and provost at the University of Toronto.  

In the most recent QS World University Rankings, OISE rose to ninth overall in the world and to first in North America among public institutions.