Academic Handbook

The National Institute for Christian Education is the training institute for Christian Education National (CEN). Although its key focus is to help teachers develop in their capacity to educate from a biblical perspective, the Institute also works with the other members of school communities–parents, administration staff, Board members, and students.

The National Institute was formed in the early 1990s following the influential operation based at Mt Evelyn Christian School called the Institute of Christian Education. Christian Education National has always been committed to a robust philosophical engagement with education from a Christian viewpoint and of the need to facilitate deep reflection by practising teachers who had generally trained in secular institutions. It was deemed necessary to obtain government accreditation for courses of study taught by the Institute for credibility and rigour. In partnership with the Institute of Christian Tertiary Education (ICTE)¹ the College of Christian Higher Education (CCHE) was formed, which subsequently gained accreditation with the NSW Department of Higher Education for a number of postgraduate courses.

When the vehicle of CCHE became unacceptable to government regulations, the accreditation was transferred to Morling College Ltd (MCL) and the Institute continued to develop and deliver its courses through a third party agreement with MCL. In 2018, we entered into a new accreditation arrangement with Alphacrucis College (AC). Alphacrucis was awarded University College status in 2022. Our third party agreement with AC will allow for the expansion of our education offerings through undergraduate courses as well as MPhil and PhD degrees in the future.

Currently teachers (or in fact, any eligible community member such as a business manager or board member) can study with the Institute towards a fully accredited MEd, MEd(Leadership) degree or, a Graduate Certificate of Education or a Graduate Certificate of Education (Leadership) that is shaped by the biblically grounded philosophy of Christian Education National.

The Institute’s courses are offered mostly online with virtual classes of students around Australia and the globe relating via class forums with a qualified tutor. The Institute also offers supplementary face to face seminars to assist students in the distance learning process by arrangement with AC. Assessment is made through assignments that have direct applicability to the students’ day to day pedagogical tasks. See also NICE@School.

The National Institute however, is more than a provider of postgraduate education programs. It is the repository and guardian of the intellectual capital of Christian Education National–the fruits of scholarly endeavour in the cause of Christian education for over fifty years. Although there is a CEN / NICE national office and resource centre based in New South Wales the Institute is spread throughout the national and international Christian education community. Qualified lecturers, tutors and educators are located around Australia and in various parts of the world.

The Institute has produced resources, books, and a journal; develops and delivers courses for professional learning; facilitates an educators’ professional body; contributes to educational debate; encourages educational research; and engages in tertiary collegial interchange. The related journal publication is titled the Christian Teachers Journal. Information about subscriptions can be found here.

The National Institute is committed helping people to think, act and teach in ways that take seriously the public truth of the Christian gospel and its implications for all of life.