While working as a tutor for the British University in Egypt (BUE), Mostafa Youssef decided that he wanted to apply for QMU’s online e-PgCert in Professional and Higher Education to help him advance his career.
Graduating in 2024, Mostafa tells us how his PgCert degree from QMU helped him accelerate into a senior position at BUE as a Senior Advisor in Teaching and Learning Innovations.
What did you enjoy most about your course?
The diversity that was present in the course, the variety of decolonized materials, and the quality of questioning every concept whether you are for it, or against, really made my experience! It wasn’t about ‘the literature stated that this is correct, so let’s adopt it’, it was more of a ‘look at this, question that, challenge this and reflect on that’ philosophy. That’s the QMU thing! #QMUBelong!
I also loved that the course blended professional practices with Higher Education, meaning that we were able to hear from several established speakers from the sector and engage with a variety of interesting and relevant activities that helped me adopt reflective, as well as reflexive practices.
Since it was an entirely online course, this meant that I was able to meet people from multiple countries and backgrounds who had also enrolled on the course - I made friends from the UK, Greece and Lebanon!
Were there any particular course activities you found especially interesting?
Absolutely! There were some activities where we had to engage with other candidates in peer-reflection and exchange feedback. It was eye-opening to see yourself from the perspective of someone else.
Also, I really enjoyed that a few of our modules included activities which involved listening to podcasts or watching webcasts, which made a nice change from reading through a gigantic yellow-coloured paper book (which is what I thought the majority of university life might have been like!)
What have been some of your challenges with the course and university life? How have you overcome them?
My greatest challenge as an online learner living in another country was that I yearned to experience the physical campus life. As I was unable to see my classmates face-to-face, I tried to overcome this by creating an online channel to instantly communicate with them, share experiences on different aspects related to the modules, and have some light-hearted chat when there was a stressful deadline approaching. This also created a space to support newer students joining the course at a later date.
My lecturers also hosted some drop-in, flexible sessions where we were able to ask questions and get advice – I really appreciated those.
Do you have any advice for students who might be interested in this course?
Focus on the learning and make it your own. I understand it is natural for students to focus on assessments and grades, but another way to truly reshape your understanding and graduate as a better version of yourself is to internalise what you learn, process it, digest it, and blend it into your own biography. You will realise that you achieved more than what you had thought - without even knowing!
Can you tell us about your life post-graduation?
New knowledge, new power, new life and new challenges! That’s life, isn’t it?!
Thanks to my new degree from QMU, I was able to advance my career significantly, moving from a Foreign Language Tutor, to my current role as the University Senior Advisor in Teaching and Learning Innovations, which is a whole new level!
I effectively utilise what I have learnt in the modules now in my advisory role, implementing quality concepts, constructive alignment and educational leadership in my practice. I also make sure to disseminate what I have learnt to new staff members through continuous staff development. I am proud to be a driver in helping my current institution advance its teaching and learning processes.
I wouldn’t have made it to where I am now in my career without my QMU qualification and learning journey - I am forever grateful to QMU!
