Name: Dawn Cunningham Hall

Programme: Online MSc Education             

Nationality: Canadian

What did your time studying at the University of Glasgow teach you?

One of the reasons I chose the MSc Education online programme was the opportunity to complete a specialisation in adult education. Unlike other programmes on offer, this course targeted exactly what I was looking for within an international online learning community. Professionally, this programme taught me valuable skills in policy and theory analysis that have expanded my understanding of education. Personally, this programme gave me increased confidence in my ability to understand complex problems and advocate for systemic change.

Since graduating, how has the online programme shaped or benefitted your career?

The research emphasis of this programme has given me a lens through which to evaluate processes and procedures and make data informed decisions. I have recently been accepted to the Research Ethics Board at my institution, where I will have opportunities to apply this knowledge and influence institutional research initiatives.

What is your current role and has your further education helped you to overcome any challenges in it?

I am an Assistant Registrar at a community college in British Columbia, Canada. The MSc Education has sharpened my ability to think critically about educational theory, policy, and practice. This is essential in my role, as I collaborate with departments across the institution to effect positive change for our students.

What was the subject of your dissertation? Did your dissertation apply to your career, and if so, how?

The process of researching and writing my dissertation overturned the way I think about education. Exploring local Indigenous perspectives of academic integrity challenged me to re-evaluate the colonial systems that exclude Indigenous ways of knowing and being in higher education. Through my dissertation, I gained a better understanding of the importance of decolonisation and reconciliation in repairing relationships and improving educational outcomes for all. More importantly, I acquired new perspectives that have transformed my views of education and set me on a journey of ongoing learning, advocacy, and action.

For anyone looking to study on the programme, what advice would you give?

The MSc Education programme will challenge your preconceived notions of education. Embrace the opportunity to learn from your professors and classmates; you won’t regret it.

First published: 5 September 2024

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