Postgraduate Course: Education Policy (PGSP11439)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Education in many countries has gone through several enormous transformations in the last half century, in common with public services more generally. This course investigates these changes in education policy and why they have come about. It aims to provide an understanding of change in the context of perennial concerns about the relationship between pedagogical and political authority, the role of the state and of civil society in underpinning free enquiry and debate, the problematic questions of accountability and professional autonomy, and the implications of social diversity and social inequality for education's role in enabling a common citizenship. |
| Course description |
1a. Academic description
Education in many countries has gone through several enormous transformations in the last half century, in common with public services more generally. This course investigates these changes in education policy and why they have come about. It aims to provide an understanding of change in the context of perennial concerns about the relationship between pedagogical and political authority, the role of the state and of civil society in underpinning free enquiry and debate, the problematic questions of accountability and professional autonomy, and the implications of social diversity and social inequality for education¿s role in enabling a common citizenship.
1b. Outline content
Introduction: what is education for?
The nature and role of schools in society: justice, democracy, and liberty.
The European education space.
The OECD and education policy.
Globalisation and education policy.
Education, opportunity and social mobility.
Culture and the curriculum.
Professionals and policy making in education.
Governing by inspection.
Education and identity.
1c. Student Learning
Each of the topics is dealt with through a lecture and a seminar discussion.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 20 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
There are two components to the assessment:
(1) 1,000-word policy brief (worth 25% of final marks), due by about the middle of the semester. The policy brief should be based on one of several research reports which will be provided to you by the end of the second week of the semester.
(2) 3,000-word essay (worth 75% of final marks), due by about three weeks after the end of the semester. The essay topics will be provided to you by the end of the sixth week of the semester.
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| Feedback |
Feedback is provided on the first item of assessment noted below, well before the deadline for the second assessment. The main form of feedback is through the discussion that takes place at the seminars noted in 1c. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically evaluate the nature of education as a social institution
- analyse objectively the deeply controversial issues that debate about educational policy provokes;
- critically assess the importance of power in the governance of and practice of education;
- seek systematically to understand the relationship between education and social diversity;
- conceptualise the relationship between education and democracy.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Lindsay Paterson
Tel: (0131 6)51 6380
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Lee Corcoran
Tel: (0131 6)51 5122
Email: |
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