Adult Education for Social Change (Erasmus Mundus International Master)

Aims

The IMAESC programme aims to build from each learner’s interest in adult education to deepen and broaden their knowledge and understanding of adult education in a globalizing world. It is designed for students with diverse prior knowledge and interests and will develop their understanding of adult education from an international perspective and with a focus on social change. Students will receive a theoretical grounding in adult education, as well as intercultural and practical skills development through teaching placements, focused seminars and online courses. The programme provides a platform from which students will participate in critique and discussion of relevant cutting-edge and international adult education research, practice and policy designed to broaden their perspectives with particular attention to the varied and contested missions of adult education

• developing adults’ skills and competences for better employability and adaptation within the existing economic crisis and social change
• raising people’s awareness of critical active citizenship and sustainable development
• anti-racist education and the social inclusion of migrants
• supporting marginalized and disadvantaged people of all ages
• human flourishing and well-being.

The aims of the programme are, through an in-depth study of policy, practice, research and theory, to

• offer a coherent programme of in-depth study of adult education and social change, based on the specialized knowledge of the consortium’s academics, settings and community partners, using a variety of teaching and assessment methods
• develop evidence based practical skills in adult education and social change
• develop intercultural communication and cooperation skills within a European framework to strengthen equality, and increase active citizenship
• provide students with ongoing professional development and transferable skills training including the opportunity to acquire key employability skills through work placements.

Intended learning outcomes and skills

The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes designed to prepare them for future academic and/or professional careers. 

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of the programme, students will be able to:

• facilitate adult learning, using appropriate teaching and learning methods and materials in both traditional and online settings, in Europe and globally
• evaluate the links between adult education and economic and social policy
• evaluate the application of adult learning theories in relation to issues of social justice
• critically analyse and evaluate current trends and developments across the range and diversity of adult education provision in the EU and international context
• plan, manage and implement adult education projects in Europe
• contribute to planning and policy formation within adult education projects in the EU and globally
• evaluate the practical solutions to problems that most educators of adults are likely to encounter in their practice, through traditional and online platforms
• evaluate their own and their students’ progress by setting assignments and giving feedback to their students, and by monitoring and evaluation their own teaching
• assess critically the ideas of some leading adult education theorists and apply their thinking to adult education in the EU and globally
• assess the differential impacts and use of various forms of research in the field of adult education
• construct and conduct a substantial piece of applied research pertaining to adult education
• critically analyse a variety of problems and issues within the field of study of adult education, enabling them to proceed to further academic study in this field.

Skills and other attributes

Students will also develop skills that can be applied to other areas, and will be able to

• collate and analyse information from a range of sources relevant to specific issue
• prepare and conduct oral presentations effectively
• write clear, accurate and insightful analytical texts
• debate issues verbally in tutorial situations
• use references clearly, appropriately and consistently
• demonstrate competent use of IT skills in information retrieval and document preparation
• demonstrate ability to conduct applied research within a specific context
• demonstrate greater understanding and responsiveness to social, linguistic and cultural diversity.

The language of instruction is English. However, students are strongly encouraged to undertake second language training (English, Maltese and Estonian) in all mobility periods and relevant classes will be highlighted to students by each partner institution. Students will also have the opportunity to study a third language, such as French, Spanish, German, Italian or Portuguese, to develop or maintain their language skills in general.

The Consortium Management Board will have overall responsibility for safeguarding the common standards and mechanisms for the examination of students (European and Third Country).

Each of the course components of the International Master programme has its own form of assessment. These are outlined in the individual course handbooks. In order to calculate the final mark achieved the marks for each component are weighted according to their credit rating. See the Erasmus Mundus IMAESC Postgraduate Policies and Regulations Guide.

IMAESC Regulations 2021-22

Each joint partner university will take responsibility for marking according to its own criteria and IMAESC students will be assessed in the same manner as local students. A system of double marking will be employed. Each partner university will provide assessment marks as they stand to the Consortium’s Board of Examiners, along with detailed additional descriptors, for the Board of Examiners to translate to University of Glasgow, the given partner university and the ECTS grading systems to facilitate the production of the joint degree transcript and diploma supplement issued by the consortium.

All examination results will be discussed and finalised by the Board of Examiners and formally approved by the Consortium Management Board. The marking systems for each partner university and how these relate the University of Glasgow and ECTS systems will be made clear to students in advance.

The joint degree will have its own external examiner who will be represented on the Board of Examiners.

Students will use a variety of sources throughout the programme. Our Sample Reading List  ‌has been designed to give you a flavour of the programme.

Last updated 05/05/2017