Education (Leadership and Management)

Entry requirements

A good honours degree (2.2 or above) and a significant interest in education and/or equivalent professional qualifications, experience and evidence of continuing professional development.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

This pathway is a state-of-the-art exploration of educational leadership and management. It appeals to individuals at all stages of their careers; those starting out and thinking about their next steps, and those already in a post where they hold responsibility. Collectively the modules expose students to cutting edge leadership theory and research and links these to the internal and external challenges faced by today’s educational leaders.

We focus on the leadership practices and processes which enhance, improve and transform organisational others, and society. The modules are thought provoking and exciting, you will emerge with expert understandings of what it takes to be an effective leader, your responsibilities and the impact of your approach on key educational stakeholders and society.

Key features

• We get under the hood of leadership research and theory and tie key concepts, frameworks and models to the practicalities of educational leadership
• Teaching and learning approaches are innovative and creative, we look beyond the rhetoric to consider what knowledge and abilities are required to be an educational leader, examining long standing leadership issues, dilemmas, challenges and the responsibilities of leading
• Students are encouraged reflect upon their roles and identities, examine their own beliefs and assumptions in order situate, re-imagine and explore the leadership response
• Flexibility: The programme of study can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Modules are delivered at weekends, in the evenings and online to maximise accessibility and to allow students to retain their other professional and family commitments
• International and full-time route: This route meets the needs of professionals wishing to study and familiarise themselves with the UK educational environment alongside their own contrasting experience. The programme consists of two taught modules in each of the first two semesters and a dissertation in the first half of the second year

Teaching

All modules emphasise self-directed autonomous learning with students applying learning outcomes and content to their own particular specialism, discipline and, where relevant, practice.

Students are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and the university Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) - BlackBoard.  Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures. Tutorials offer additional support both during taught modules and significantly through offering supervision for the dissertation. The VLE is employed to support face-to-face sessions with additional resources and is also utilised to deliver online modules, where available, where journals and discussion forums are also hosted.

Some modules focus on the teaching of specific practical skills e.g. mentoring and coaching, whilst all the modules foster the critical dialogue between theories and practice by the means of critical reflection upon experience, discussion, scenario- and enquiry-based learning.

Students are assigned a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT); the PAT will work with them throughout their studies on the MA. Meetings with PATs are formally scheduled on at least 2 occasions in the year.

The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement. A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services, and also the personal academic tutoring system enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will help you to flourish and be successful.

Careers

The course has a tradition of improving the career profiles of participants, as many case-studies of former students demonstrate. This award is intended to prepare students to deepen their engagement with issues in the educational workspace, fostering transformative personal and organisational learning for those involved. The programme additionally offers preparation to continue study for some participants wishing to go on the professional doctorate (EdD) award or to an MPhil/PhD.

The University maintains close links with education providers locally and regionally and meeting workforce need is the ethos of a number of modules and pathways in the MA Education. In addition, the course is also designed to enable those with an intention of working in an education context to deepen their understanding of education in a range of contexts and building the skills which will enhance their career opportunities. For example, the Institute of Education works with members of the Careers and Employability Service. Where appropriate, many modules have an applied focus intended to facilitate the development of learning, which will have direct impact on professional contexts from which participants are drawn.

The course team is comprised of academic staff with a breadth of backgrounds in education, research profiles in specialist areas and in most cases extensive experience of education in various contexts. Staff within the Institute, and the Institute itself, maintain strong relationships with schools, colleges and other education providers.

Information for international students

International students must hold a qualification equivalent to a UK first or second class honours degree

All International student for whom English is not their first language are required to achieve IELTS 6.5 or equivalency – with no less than 5.5 in any element.