Master's in Teaching Chemistry — Didactics of the Chemical Sciences

The IPA's Master's in Chemistry Teaching trains expert educators in chemistry didactics and the chemical sciences, able to transform chemistry teaching in contexts where understanding reactions and substances is fundamental. The programme rests on four inseparable pillars that structure every semester and every academic project.

The first pillar concerns in-depth mastery of chemistry in its theoretical, experimental and applied dimensions. Students develop excellent scientific expertise in general, organic, inorganic and analytical chemistry, while gaining a critical understanding of molecular structures, chemical reactions and contemporary chemical research methods.

The second pillar concerns the didactics of chemistry as a science based on experimentation and observation. Students master modern teaching approaches based on demonstrations, laboratory practicals and molecular modelling, critically assess their relative effectiveness, and develop the ability to design innovative learning sequences rooted in the Burundian and African context.

The third pillar concerns the in-depth study of the applications of chemistry to industry, health and the environment. The IPA emphasises chemistry as a lever for understanding contemporary issues: how the study of reactions and materials develops scientific thinking, strengthens ecological and health awareness, and prepares citizens for Africa's technological and environmental challenges.

The fourth pillar emphasises continuing professional development and the ability to innovate in teaching practice. Graduates are not trained to reproduce existing practices, but to question them, adapt them and create innovative solutions to the real educational problems of Burundian and African schools.

• Deepen knowledge of general, organic, inorganic and analytical chemistry;
• Master chemistry didactics based on experimentation, demonstrations and molecular modelling;
• Study the applications of chemistry to industry, health and the environment;
• Design and conduct research in chemistry didactics.

This programme rests on three principles that shape every course, project and academic interaction.

Principle 1: From the macroscopic to the microscopic — visualisation and experimentation

Recognising that chemistry is studied at several scales: observable macroscopic phenomena, microscopic molecular models and symbolic representations. Students learn to teach chemistry by connecting these three levels, creating environments in which learners observe reactions, handle molecular models and develop deep conceptual understanding. This approach roots chemistry teaching in direct observation and gradual abstraction.

Principle 2: Supporting change in teaching practice

Training not only qualified teachers, but also professionals able to develop scientific and educational practice in their institutions. Our graduates develop the skills to motivate colleagues, implement educational change and contribute to debates on the quality of chemistry teaching at institutional and national level.

Principle 3: Contextual roots and African relevance

Effective chemistry teaching in Africa must respect the industrial, health and environmental realities of the continent. Students develop a teaching practice that addresses the real chemistry issues of Burundi and Africa, uses local materials and phenomena as teaching resources, and prepares citizens to take part in debates on green chemistry and sustainable technological development.

This Master's programme spans two academic years, i.e. four semesters. It totals 120 ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer System), corresponding to about 1,800 hours of academic work combining theoretical courses, seminars, supervised practical work, research projects and classroom placements. Each semester is worth 30 ECTS credits.

The balance between theoretical teaching, laboratory practicals, experimental demonstrations, research projects and professional placements ensures well-rounded and genuinely professional training. To complete the Master's, students must pass all modules, submit an original research thesis on a question of chemistry didactics or the chemical sciences, and defend this work publicly before an academic panel.

The Master's in Chemistry Teaching is aimed at experienced chemistry teachers and science professionals who wish to deepen their subject and teaching expertise.

Admission to the IPA's Master's in Chemistry Teaching is based on the three official conditions set by the University of Burundi:

1. Hold a first-cycle degree. Applicants must hold one of the following qualifications: a Licence or Bachelor's degree awarded by the University of Burundi, or a university degree recognised as equivalent by the National Commission for the Equivalence of Diplomas.
2. Hold a degree compatible with the chosen specialisation. The degree submitted must correspond to the field of the Master's in Chemistry Teaching applied for, demonstrating adequate prior training in teaching the chemical sciences or related fields (chemistry, natural sciences).
3. Pass the entrance examination or admission selection. The University of Burundi generally organises a Master's entrance examination according to an academic calendar published each year. The admissions committee assesses applicants on the basis of their academic record, their examination results and their fit with the objectives of the Master's programme.