Professional Enquiry

This programme enables 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

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: Listening 23, Reading 23, Speaking 23, Writing 23.

Funding

information on possible sources of funding

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.

September

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 clients. 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 use their MSc modules to 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 School for information on your timetable and reading lists.

RAE Rating

The School of Education was rated number 1 in Scotland in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

Career Opportunities

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