Professional Enquiry MSc/Postgraduate Diploma/Postgraduate Certificate

www.ioe.stir.ac.uk

This programme aims to enable you to contribute to the improvement of practice in your own professional setting and the wider professional community, through engaging in professional enquiry in your own work setting. The taught and distance learning elements are intended to support the development of knowledge and skills in professional enquiry and to allow you to develop your expertise in an area of your choosing.

Programme Objectives

The MSc in Professional Enquiry seeks to support the development of professionals by fostering the knowledge and skills that you require to improve your practice, work collaboratively with others and respond effectively to changes in your own setting.

This programme will enable you to gain a sound understanding of the central themes of relevance to professionalism in the public services, especially those of long-term and contemporary significance. It will enable you to develop and broaden your own practice through analysis, reflection and debate, and become a more competent and reflective practitioner who contributes effectively to your community of practice.

Entrance Requirements

You should have a first degree from a university or institution recognised by the University of Stirling and either an appropriate professional qualification or at least two years' relevant experience. Non-graduates with appropriate professional qualifications and experience may exceptionally be admitted to the Certificate or Diploma.

You must also have access to an appropriate work environment.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your proficiency such as a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum 6 in each skill) or TOEFL 577/233/90 (Paper/Computer/Internet).

Funding

For information on possible sources of funding, visit: www.stir.ac.uk/postgrad/finance

Modes of Study

This programme is offered on a part-time basis only. The period of study is normally three years.

Participants who successfully complete any of the Postgraduate Certificates can undertake further modules towards the Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Professional Enquiry. A Postgraduate Diploma can be awarded to participants who successfully complete four modules.

Programme Start Date

September

Programme Director

Morag Redford

The Stirling Institute of Education

Structure and Content

This MSc programme consists of six modules, each calibrated as providing 30 SCQF credit points at Level II:

• Professionalism and Reflexive Practice: This module sets professionalism within the public services context, enabling programme members to look critically at the socio-economic and political forces shaping current practice and provision. You will be expected to undertake a rigorous self-evaluation as well as participate in a critical survey of current issues and theoretical perspectives in your own branch of the public sector. Ideas about how we understand and value professional practice, the needs and perspectives of clients and the basic principles of professional enquiry will be explored.
• Constructing Professional Knowledge: The purpose of this module is to equip you with the knowledge, understanding and skills related to a particular field that can then be applied during the work-based action cycle. The module concentrates on extending your knowledge and understanding of a given field and then focuses on methods of investigation and intervention appropriate to professional enquiry.
• Improving Professional Practice: This module is the first major work-based element of the programme where you seek to actively change and extend your practice in order to achieve enhanced outcomes for all pupils. The first phase will consist of data collection and analysis in order to clarify an improvement strategy for the second phase which consists of an action project. Tutorials, individual study and network sessions will be used to support your learning.
• Professional Enquiry: This module builds on and extends the understanding and skills developed during the Improving Professional Practice module with an increased emphasis on the wider context and the practitioner as an active leader contributing to the development of their local community of practice. The concept of professional enquiry is developed in greater depth and set within a shared agenda for professional development.
• Collaborative Professional Enquiry Part 1: This module builds on and extends the understanding and skills developed during the Professional Enquiry module. You will undertake the planning stages of your collaborative enquiry with your colleagues, while exploring the relevant research and literature, ensuring that your enquiry is evidence informed.
• Collaborative Professional Enquiry Part 2: Working with a supervisor, you will prepare a critically reflective project report of approximately 10,000 words on the outcomes of your enquiry and your own professional development, together with a complementary portfolio evidencing claims for competence and improved outcomes as a result of the enquiry.

Delivery and Assessment

Candidates for the MSc degree must complete six modules. Participants who are teachers, and are eligible for Chartered Teacher status, can submit a claim for accredited prior learning (APL) towards part of the MEd Professional Enquiry in Education (Chartered Teacher) programme. If seeking APL, you must consult with the MEd in Professional Enquiry in Education Programme Director in the first instance.

Timetable

Contact the Institute for information on your timetable and reading lists.

Career Opportunities

The MSc in Professional Enquiry programme provides continuing professional education for professionals working in educational environments.

Research Opportunities

PhdD/MPhil by Research
The programme will develop specific and generic skills to allow you to develop a career in a broad range of public sector, private and voluntary organisations, including Higher Education.
Doctor of Education (EdD)
The EdD is aimed at professionals working in educational training and public sector settings who wish to pursue high-level research in some aspect of their professional practice.

The EdD has a more professional and vocational orientation than the PhD and is designed for staff in education and health authorities, schools, colleges, universities and related areas, who wish to develop their understanding of what research can offer practitioners and policy-makers in their decision making, the policy implications of research, and how to conduct research in their own professional domain.

Research is organised into three clusters, led by professors, and draws together staff from across the Institute.

The three clusters are:

• Contexts of Learning (Professor Biesta)
• Inclusion and Social Capital (Professors Allan and Field)
• Communication, Learning and Interaction (Professors Plowman and Edwards)

For information on our current research projects and activity, visit: www.ioe.stir.ac.uk/research

Research Proposal

Research proposals should be around 2,000 words and include the following: executive summary, importance of the proposed research, prior relevant research and literature review, research questions and methodology, any limitations or particular requirements for the research.

• PhD/MPhil by Research: Guidelines fFor guidelines on writing a proposal, visit: www.ioe.stir.ac.uk/research/students.php
• EdD: A 2,000-word statement is required, indicating previous professional experience and general focus of the research.

RAE Rating

The UK-wide Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) confirmed the quality of the work being done by our researchers. 85% of the University of Stirling’s research has been judged to be internationally excellent and internationally recognised, with the top 10% of that judged to be world class.

View the full outcomes of Stirling’s RAE performance

Use the online enquiry service to find out more or to request a prospectus.

If you are ready to apply you can fill out an online application form now.