MSc Professional Education and Leadership

Overview

This Masters in Professional Education and Leadership is designed to impact educators' learning and leadership practices to the benefit of their learners (who could be pupils, students, trainees and/or colleagues).  You will explore the complexity of professional learning in the context of your profession and colleagues, your workplace and career-stage, and your regulatory standards and policy frameworks.  This exploration involves critiquing the ways in which a curriculum (its content, pedagogy and forms of assessment) is shaped and practiced  so that you can lead others in discerning the need for change and the best, research-informed way of achieving it.  The Professional Education and Leadership team in the Faculty of Social Sciences has worked in partnership with local authorities and other stakeholders over a number of years to develop this highly regarded professional education course.  Originally designed for educators working with learners 3-18, most often in schools, educators from other professions have also chosen this masters through which to develop their leadership of learning in, for example, the police, armed forces and paramedic professions.

This course draws upon current research to support education practitioners in leading critical, collaborative and enquiring approaches to improving professional practices in education contexts.  Each module is an opportunity to explore professional values, commitments and standards (e.g. General Teaching Council for Scotland’s (GTCS 2021) Professional Standards) recognising that leadership of learning is accomplished at all levels and stages. 

The benefits of this course extend beyond individual participants to include their colleagues and wider learning communities, facilitating the development of strong professional networks within and beyond the course.  Additionally, in joining this programme of study, participants (and their colleagues) have access to, and often advance notice of, our research and CPD events (e.g. Professional Reading Group;  Stirling Centre for Curriculum Research Seminar Series).

Course details

In years one and two you will undertake a compulsory core module and select one of six option modules: Middle Leadership, Curriculum Leadership, Digital Leadership, Coaching and Mentoring, and Promoting Equity to meet your individual professional learning interests and career aspirations.

In year three you will undertake the final two modules in the course, Leading Critical Collaborative Professional Enquiry 1 and 2.  Through the work of these two modules, you will lead a group of colleagues in designing and implementing research-informed improvements for learning experiences (of learners, colleagues and wider education communities). 

A minimum of a second class Honours degree (2:1 preferred) or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.