Professional Enquiry

This course enables you to contribute to the improvement of practice in your own education setting and the wider education 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. 

Course objectives

The MSc 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 course 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 degree from a university or institution recognised by the University of Stirling and either an appropriate professional qualification or at least one 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 course is offered on a part-time basis only. The period of study is normally three years for the MSc.

Course start date

February and September

Structure and content

Advanced Practice

This pathway offers teachers from early career onwards an opportunity to enhance their professional confidence and creativity through an exploration of their practice. It develops teachers’ abilities to ask critical questions of policy, research and practice through examining current developments in curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. The two modules at the start of this pathway enable participants to work collaboratively to develop an active and enquiring approach to sustainable professional practice with a focus on impact on outcomes for children and young people. The first module provides an opportunity to explore what it means to be a professional educator in the current policy context through a critical examination of professionalism and the role of values in professional learning and practice. The second module provides an opportunity for teachers to critically examine educational ideas, for example: sustainability; emerging digital technologies; active learning; school based curriculum development and/or interdisciplinary learning.

Research

The pathways in this course are directly informed by current research in the areas of Advanced Practice, Curriculum Studies, Equality and Diversity, Outdoor Learning and Environmental Education, and Supporting Professional Growth.

Delivery and assessment

Candidates for the MSc degree must complete six modules.

Recommended reading

This will be provided on enrolment for the course.

Example timetable

The timetable below is a typical example, but your own timetable may be different.

These modules are taught in cohorts with four days on-campus interspersed with the equivalent of four self-study days.

Module titles

• Exploring Professionalism in Practice (EDUP28)
• Enquiring into Ideas (EDUP29)
• Understanding Professional Enquiry (EDUP30)
• Enquiring into Classroom Practice (EDUP32)
• Negotiating for Collaborative Professional Enquiry (EDUP330
• Conducting Collaborative Professional Enquiry (EDUP34)
• Professional Enquiry into Classroom Practice (60 credit APL module) (EDUPA1)
• Professional Enquiry (30 credit APL module) (EDUPA2)

Why study Professional Enquiry at Stirling?

Course Director

Morag Redford

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 course provides continuing professional education for professionals working in educational environments.