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
The Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Enquiry: Creativity supports the professional development of practitioners with an interest in creativity and learning and, enable them to contribute effectively to the improvement of practice in their own professional setting and the wider professional community.
This programme will enable you to gain a sound understanding of the central themes of creativity and learning, especially those of long-term and contemporary significance. It will support you to develop and broaden your practice through action, 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 of relevant experience.
Non-graduates with appropriate professional qualifications and experience may exceptionally be admitted. Applicants 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.
Modes of Study
This Postgraduate Certificate: Creativity programme is offered on a part-time basis only. The period of study is normally one year.
Structure and Content
The Postgraduate Certificate consists of two modules. You will take Constructing Professional Knowledge in your first semester, followed by Improving Professional Practice in your second semester:
- Constructing Professional Knowledge: Creativity: This module offers you the opportunity to explore creativity and learning using practice-led and theoretical means. The theoretical element will involve the analysis of contemporary creative practice of groups and individuals who have diverse backgrounds and skills bases.
- Improving Professional Practice: Creativity: Once the proposal from the first module has been assessed as satisfactory, you will then move into the work-based element of the programme, where you are seeking 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-learning project.
Delivery and Assessment
The programme is delivered through a mixed mode of seminars, self-study materials and work-based learning. Progress is assessed in a number of ways through self-evaluation, reports, classroom and collaborative professional enquiries.
Timetable
Contact the School for information on your timetable and reading lists.
Career Opportunities
The Postgraduate Certificate provides continuing professional education for arts and cultural educators from all art forms, teachers, community learning and development staff who, through practice-led methods, wish to nurture their own creative skills and transfer these into an educational environment. Applicants who successfully complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Enquiry: Creativity can undertake further modules towards the Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Professional Enquiry. If you are a teacher, and are eligible for chartered teacher status, you can use your completed certificate to submit a claim for Accredited Prior Learning (APL) towards part of the MEd in Professional Enquiry in Education (Chartered Teacher) programme. If seeking APL you must consult with the MEd in Professional Enquiry Programme Director in the first instance.
