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Programmes of Study

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Community Learning and Development

Course Leaflet (pdf)

The University of Aberdeen in partnership with local Community Learning and Development Managers is offering a Postgraduate Diploma in Community Learning and Development. It has received from CeVe, the professional body for Community Learning and Development. The Programme will begin in January and will be a workplace based route to the professional qualification. Participants will study at the same time as being employed on working on a voluntary basis.

The aims of the Programme are:

• Engage effectively with the community, including individuals and groups;
• Design and manage relevant learning experiences;
• Engage in empowering relationships;
• Organise and manage resources according to identified needs;
• Be flexible and practice community learning and development in a range of settings;
• To make active use of evaluative practice.

The Programme is available on a part time study basis and combines study blocks with e-learning experience.  Participants are required to have a minimum of 17 hours experience per week (paid or unpaid) on which to draw for learning purposes.

One distinctive  feature of the programme is that it is offered on a partnership basis with the individual’s employer.  A partnership arrangement is negotiated by the University with the student’s employer.  A Practice Tutor is appointed at each workplace to provide local mentoring and support.  This tutor works closely with academic tutors to ensure that theory and practice are closely linked.

The Postgraduate Diploma is located within the Advanced Professional Studies Pathway which seeks to promote:

• Critical evaluation and application of advanced professional knowledge and understanding;
• Commitment to critical self evaluation and development;
• Enhanced and highly effective professional performance;
• Personal and professional commitment to an extended professional role and wide professional vision;
• Advocacy of change and professional action aimed at the development and improvement of practice;
• Development of professional values and knowledge through reflective and evidence based practice;
• Working with others to bring about change and improvement to practice;
• Bridging theory and practice and critically applying and challenging research findings.

Programme Structure

The Programme consists of 6 courses (modules)

• Professional Enquiry and Development (30 credits SCQF level 11)
• Engaging and Working with Communities (15 credits SCQF Level 11)
• Empowering Relationships in Community Learning and Development (15 credits SCQF level 11)
• Stages and Settings of  Lifelong Learning Practice (15 credits SCQF level 11)
• Designing and Managing in a Community Setting (15 credits SCQF Level 11)
• Negotiated Extended Study (30 credits at SCQF level 11)

SCQF refers to the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and Level 11 within this framework describes study at taught postgraduate masters level.

The Professional Enquiry and Development academic course runs in parallel with the following 4 practice courses ensuring there is a strong link between theory and practice.

The Negotiated Extended Study course provides an opportunity to deepen study into specialist areas of interest or professional relevance.

A portfolio process is used to demonstrate how professional competences have been overtaken.

The Programme lasts for approximately 18 months and begins with a new intake each January.  It is expected that approximately 15 hours per week will  be devoted to the programme.

Opportunities exist to extend study post-diploma to achieve an MSc in Extended Professional Studies (Community Learning and Development) through a 60 credit dissertation linked to an area of professional practice.

Teaching and Assessment

Participants are encouraged to be active and reflective practitioners and great emphasis is placed on professional action in the workplace setting.  We seek to encourage participants to achieve new standards of enhanced professionalism and academic excellence.

Each course has summative assessment tasks.  These are very varied to ensure that assessment is not solely based on written work.  They include, for example, presentations and the development of multi-media models.

In addition to academic assessment there are 4 assessments of practice.  These 4 assessments consist of 2 observations of practice undertaken  by the Practice Tutor and 2 reports on completion of competencies provided by the line manager.

For further information contact:

Email: pgcld@abdn.ac.uk

School of Education · University of Aberdeen · MacRobert Building · King's College · Aberdeen · AB24 5UA · UK
Telephone: (+44) 1224 274776 · Fax: (+44)1224 274900 · E-mail: education@abdn.ac.uk

Page last modified: Monday, 21-May-2012 15:50:48 BST

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