International Teachers University · Action Research Fellowship
Every teacher has a classroom problem they keep trying to solve. The Action Research Fellowship gives you the framework to stop guessing — and start knowing.
The ITU Action Research Fellowship is a structured, progressive pathway that takes classroom teachers from practitioner to practitioner-researcher. Unlike generic professional development, every level of this programme requires teachers to produce real work — a research question, a proposal, or a complete research report — grounded in their own classroom context.
The fellowship is built on the same research standards as ITU's Master's in Education programme. Sample reports from ITU M.Ed. students are available to view before you enrol, so you can see exactly what the output looks like — and judge the standard for yourself.
Why Action Research
You adjust your approach, try a new strategy, change how you explain a concept. Without a framework for systematic inquiry, you're left guessing. Action research changes that.
Move from "I think this works" to "I have evidence this works — and here's why."
The research question comes from your actual teaching context — not a textbook problem or a case study.
Every fellowship report includes pre/post evidence of change. You finish knowing — not hoping.
Held to the same standard as ITU's M.Ed. graduates. Sample reports available to view before you enrol.
The Programme
Each level is complete and valuable on its own. Together, they take you from curious practitioner to practitioner-researcher. Begin wherever your readiness sits.
★ These 6 credit hours are creditable towards the ITU Master of Education (M.Ed.) programme.
Full Pathway — Level 1 + 2 + 3 · $1,150Cohort Calendar
All cohorts are self-serve — register online, pay instantly, receive your confirmation and onboarding materials automatically. Spots are limited per cohort.
Cohort Calendar
Level 1
Foundations Workshop
Cohort 1 · 10 & 12 Jun 2026
Level 1
Foundations Workshop
Cohort 2 · 14 & 16 Jul 2026
Level 1
Foundations Workshop
Cohort 3 · 11 & 13 Aug 2026
Level 2
Design & Readiness Certificate
Cohort 1 · 22 Jun 2026
Level 2
Design & Readiness Certificate
Cohort 2 · 27 Jul 2026
Level 2
Design & Readiness Certificate
Cohort 3 · 24 Aug 2026
Level 3
Action Research Fellowship
Cohort 1 · 1 Oct 2026
Level 3
Action Research Fellowship
Cohort 2 · 1 Jan 2027
Level 3
Action Research Fellowship
Cohort 3 · 1 Apr 2027
| Level | Cohort | Start Date | Format | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 — Foundations Workshop | Cohort 1 | 10 & 12 Jun 2026 | 2 × 3-hr live sessions online | Open |
| Level 1 — Foundations Workshop | Cohort 2 | 14 & 16 Jul 2026 | 2 × 3-hr live sessions online | Open |
| Level 1 — Foundations Workshop | Cohort 3 | 11 & 13 Aug 2026 | 2 × 3-hr live sessions online | Opening soon |
| Level 2 — Design & Readiness Certificate | Cohort 1 | 22 Jun 2026 | Self-paced + 5 hrs live · 2 months | Open |
| Level 2 — Design & Readiness Certificate | Cohort 2 | 27 Jul 2026 | Self-paced + 5 hrs live · 2 months | Opening soon |
| Level 2 — Design & Readiness Certificate | Cohort 3 | 24 Aug 2026 | Self-paced + 5 hrs live · 2 months | Opening soon |
| Level 3 — Action Research Fellowship | Cohort 1 | 1 Oct 2026 | Mentored · 6 months | Open |
| Level 3 — Action Research Fellowship | Cohort 2 | 1 Jan 2027 | Mentored · 6 months | Opening soon |
| Level 3 — Action Research Fellowship | Cohort 3 | 1 Apr 2027 | Mentored · 6 months | Opening soon |
Every teacher who registers receives a referral code in their confirmation email. Or if you're registering as part of a group with 3 or more teachers, use code TEAM10 at checkout for 10% off.
What You'll Do & Produce
The fellowship follows four phases of practitioner inquiry. Each phase produces tangible work.
Name a real classroom challenge. Turn it into a focused, answerable research question. Define what evidence would look like.
Build your research proposal: question, context, participants, data tools, timeline. Reviewed and approved by ITU faculty before you proceed.
Run your classroom intervention. Collect data. Maintain a reflective journal. Notice what's working — and what isn't.
Make sense of what you found. Write your report. Present your findings and what they mean for your teaching practice.
What a Completed Level 3 Report Contains
From ITU Masters Researchers
The fellowship draws on the same action research methodology ITU's M.Ed. graduates have practised. Here's what the process felt like from the inside.
I came in thinking action research was something academics did, not classroom teachers. By the time I submitted my proposal, I had a question I genuinely didn't know the answer to — and a plan to find out. That shift in how I see myself as a professional has been the most lasting thing.
What surprised me was how much my students noticed. I was collecting data on participation, but the real change was that they started asking better questions too — because I was modelling what it looks like to not know something and investigate it properly. The report almost wrote itself by the end.
Who This Is For
You notice patterns — things that work, things that don't — but you don't have a framework to investigate them. Level 1 is your starting point.
You know your classroom problem. Now you want to design and execute a real study — with structure, feedback, and a reviewed proposal. Level 2 is built for you.
You're ready to implement, collect, analyse, and write a report that stands up to academic scrutiny. Level 3 is the full fellowship.
Common Questions
How is this different from just reading about action research online?
You can find recipes online too. The question is whether you'll cook the meal. The fellowship gives you structure, mentoring, expert feedback, and a credential. Reading gives you information. We give you proof.
I'm not an academic. Can I really do research?
Action research is not academic research. It starts with a problem you're already living every day. Level 1 alone — 6 hours — will change how you see your classroom and what's possible inside it.
How much time does it actually take?
Level 1 is 6 hours across 2 days. Level 2 is self-paced over 2 months — roughly 1–2 hours per week. Level 3 runs alongside your existing teaching. You're researching your own classroom, not adding a separate workload.
Will my school or employer recognise this credential?
The credential is issued by ITU, approved by the HELC in Washington D.C. More practically, the research report itself is the credential — tangible, reviewable evidence of what you investigated and what changed in your classroom.
Can my school sponsor a group of teachers?
Yes. Schools can book group spots for 3 or more teachers at a reduced rate. We work with progressive international schools across the world. Use code TEAM10 at checkout for 10% off.
Do I have to complete all three levels?
No. Each level is complete and valuable on its own. Many teachers start with Level 1 to build conceptual clarity, then decide whether to continue. There's no pressure to commit to the full pathway upfront.
Start with 6 hours and $100. Leave with your first real research question — and a clear view of where it can take you.
Cohort 1 · 10 & 12 Jun 2026 · Online