UNIVERSITY OF KENT
Programme Specification
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she passes the programme. More detailed information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each module can be found either by following the links provided or in the programme handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this specification is reviewed by the University and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.PGCert/PGDip/MSc/MA in Professional Practice
1. Awarding Institution/Body / University of Kent
2. Teaching Institution / University of Kent/CPP
3. Teaching Site / Medway, Canterbury & Tonbridge (PG Cert Only) Campuses
4. Programme accredited by: / University of Kent
5. Final Award / PG Cert/PG Diploma/ MSc/MA in Professional Practice (General)
PG Cert/PG Diploma/MSc in Professional Practice (Teaching and Learning)
6. Programmes / MSc/MA in Professional Practice
7. UCAS Code (or other code) / n/a
8. Relevant QAA subject benchmarking group(s)
9. Date of production/revision / July 2012/Revised July 2013/Revision - March 2014
10. Applicable cohort(s) / From September 2015
11. Educational Aims of the Programme
The programme aims to:
1. Foster the intellectual and professional development of experienced practitioners to extend and deepen their analytical and critical reasoning capabilities underpinning practice-based learning.
2. Develop experienced practitioners competence in applying theoretical and practice skills to advance change and leadership in organisations.
3. Equip experienced practitioners with the knowledge and understanding to enhance and extend their professional practice experience through work-based learning.
4. Enable practitioners to develop skills in higher level reflection in relation to work-based practice.
5. Provide experienced practitioners with opportunities to gain interdisciplinary perspectives on professional practice through collaborative inter/multidisciplinary exchange.
6. Develop the critical and analytical capabilities of experienced practitioners in relation to project management, data analysis and interpretation of data.
7. Provide supervision for advanced practitioner centred research that builds a culture of critical evaluation and enquiry in the practice environment.
8. Equip experienced practitioners for their role in challenging, questioning and realigning strategies for work-based practice.
9. Develop practitioners who will actively participate in shaping strategic organisational interests.
10. Develop opportunity for self-directed learning and reflection.
11. Enable experienced practitioners from a diverse range of educational backgrounds to access and participate in learning which seeks to capture reflection on experience gained in every day organisational practice.
12. Enhance the experienced practitioner’s programme of personal development.
12. Programme Outcomes
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas. The programme outcomes have references to the subject benchmarking statement for (SB).
Knowledge and Understanding / Teaching/learning and assessment methods and strategies used to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated
A. Knowledge and Understanding of:
1. Experiential learning - Theory, concepts and how they apply to practice. / Teaching and Learning:
Each module will be supported by:
· Lectures
· Seminars.
· Blended learning approaches
· Interactive problem-based scenarios
· Role play
· Leadership inventories
· Online activities through the University’s Virtual Learning Environment
· Experiential learning in groups and organisations.
Assessment:
· Oral presentations
· Coursework assignments
· Seminar contribution
· Online discussion
· Reflective learning logs
· Written assignments
· Dissertation
2. Reflection on learning and leadership styles and approaches gained through practice.
3. Principles of strategic decisions making in organisations.
4. Principles and practice involved in collaborative working.
5. Reflective evaluation in relation to theoretical methodological frameworks.
6. Multi-agency working.
7. Practice-based research and enquiry.
8. Principles of theory testing in practice in relation to enhancing and developing practice.
9. Demonstrate project management skills.
10. Develop professional knowledge in special area of practice.
11. Develop professional profile in relation to current practice that informs into personal career plans.
Skills and Other Attributes
B. Intellectual Skills:
1. Present critical, analytical reasoning and experiential learning in organised written and oral formats. / Teaching and Learning:
Students are encouraged to engage through both line learning material and during seminar discussions.
Assessment:
Portfolio, presentations, written assignments and portfolios are designed to emphasise and test out concepts and methodologies learnt during individual modules.
2. Critical analysis of case studies.
3. Engage in experiential learning that demonstrably enhances practice.
4. Ability to develop a reflective professional portfolio.
5. Design and implement a programme of practice-based enquiry.
6. Collect and analyse qualitative or quantitative data from experiential learning to inform evidence- based enquiry.
7. Design, implement, analyse and present a substantial research project (Dissertation).
C. Subject-specific Skills:
1. Engaging with members of multi-disciplinary teams. / Teaching and Learning:
Module specific skills are taught through:
· Practical and analytical exercises
· Seminars
· Written assignments.
· Workshops
· On-line
Assessment
· Oral presentations
· Coursework assignments
· Seminar contribution
· Online discussion
· Reflective learning logs
· Written assignments
· Dissertation.
2. Lead on strategic operational planning for organisations.
3. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of change management.
4. Project management skills
5. Present evidence-based practice.
6. Methodologies for evaluating analysing and appraising organisational practice.
D. Transferable Skills:
1. Evaluation skills. / Teaching & Learning:
IT and Library training
Study skills will be delivered by Unit for Enhancement of Learning and Teaching.
Assessment:
· Oral presentations
· Coursework assignments
· Seminar contribution
· Online discussion
· Reflective learning logs
· Written assignments
· Dissertation.
2. IT: Word, statistical modelling programmes.
3. Report writing.
4. Reflection on experiential learning.
5. Effective use of work-based practice experiential learning to establish a future personal plan within the context of professional development.
6. Independent learning skills required for continuing professional development.
13. Programme Structures and Requirements, Levels, Modules, Credits and Awards
The PGCert/PGDipMA/MSc in Professional Practice programmes is part-time over three academic years. There are two pathways each comprising three compulsory modules and a set of compulsory or optional modules specific to each pathway.
The two pathways are as follows:
· PGCert/PGDip/MA/MSc in Professional Practice (General)
· PGCert/PGDip/MSc in Professional Practice (Teaching and Learning)
Students will initially register for PGCert on both pathways (General and Teaching and Learning) with successful completion enabling them to register to continue with the programme at PGDip (at participating campus locations). Students who register to continue with the programme at PGDip will either register on the General pathway or, if eligible, on the Teaching and Learning pathway. Successful completion of PGDip enables the student to register to complete the full MA/MSc
The programme is divided into three stages.
Stage 1: In Stage 1 students undertake the core modules plus compulsory modules specific to each programme pathway totalling 60M level credits.
Students who successfully complete Stage 1 of the programme and meet the credit framework requirements, but exit after Stage 1 or do not successfully complete Stage 2 will be eligible for the award of the PG Certificate.
Stage 1: The Compulsory Modules common to all programmes pathways are as follows:
Code / Title / Level / Credits/ECTS / Term
WL814*
WL813* / Collaborative Working
Evidence Based Practice / 7 (M)
7 (M) / 15
15 / Spring/Summer
Stage 1: The Compulsory Module for the ‘general’ and ‘teaching and learning’ programme pathway is as follows:
PGCert Professional Practice (General Pathway and Teaching & Learning Pathway)
Code / Title / Level / Credits/ECTS / Term
WL815* / Learning and Development / 7 (M) / 30 / Autumn
*NB. Cannot be compensated or condoned in all pathways.
Stage 2: In Stage 2 students undertake the compulsory module plus compulsory or optional modules, depending on the programme pathway, totalling 60M level credits.
In the case of the MA/MSc Professional Practice (General) students must complete the compulsory modules in Stage 1. All of the compulsory modules in Stage 1 offer grounding in the critical analysis of professional practice, life-long learning and research skills. NB: Stage 1 module learning and development prepares students for Stage 2 of the programme. The WL815 Learning and Development module is sustained by ongoing professional development, career planning, identifying, and writing up a learning contract which includes a Stage 2 ‘programme learning outcomes and module mapping exercise’. Having followed a structured programme in Stage 1, students then move into Stage 2 which offers a more flexible approach to academic learning in so much as each student can access their modules from across the University (Subject to agreement) or select optional modules from those available within CPP . This part of the programme is student directed, however modules are chosen with guidance and support from the Programme Director and is subject to agreement from the relevant school. Academic integrity of the programme will be monitored by the School Graduate Studies Committee.
Stage 2 of the programme takes into account the students’ professional interests and contexts, by offering students the opportunity to choose their pathway modules from across the university. This is a generic award which will enable students to gain a broader learning experience linked to the students own professional interests.
The emphasis is not so much on the teaching of professional practice but more about planning for and reflection on the application of practice. Specific choice of modules will show how the student intends to develop their individual learning objectives within the remit of programme learning outcomes (references to their chosen subject modules) in relation to their professional practice. Both the Programme Director and CPP Education, Guidance Offer will ensure that students are following an academically robust learning pathway.
The procedure for module choices is that students will explore their module choices with the Programme Director and the CPP Student Support Officer (where appropriate), during the WL815 Learning and Development module sequence set out in the Autumn term. Following on from these students will then submit their module choices in the form of a Personal Learning and Development Plan.
The Programme Director and CPP Student Support Officer will offer a workshop at the request of schools and partners who might wish to offer optional modules or pathways to professional practice students. The workshop will ensure that reflective practice is continually promoted by encouraging awareness and understanding of the nature of critical reflection on professional within a workplace environment.
Once a firm written agreement is reached the Programme Director will convene a panel as a Sub-committee of the School Learning and Teaching Committee to approve the choices by way of presenting explicit written approval from the respective school. Representatives from the respective schools will also be invited to attend the Sub-committee meeting.
The Director of the MSc/MA in Professional Practice will convene, and chair, the CPP Joint Learning and Teaching and Graduate Studies Sub Committee, see appendix 1 for process, roles and responsibilities of the Module Choice Sub Committee.
Stage 2: The Compulsory Module common to each programme is as follows:
Code / Title / Level / Credits/ECTS / Term
WL817 / Research Skills / 7 (M) / 15 / Summer/ Autumn
Stage 2: The CPP Optional Modules for the general programmes pathway are as follows:
PGDip Professional Practice (General)
Students choose their remaining modules adding to 45 M level credits from those negotiated from across the University Module Catalogue or by choosing the optional modules from within CPP
CPP Stage 2 Optional Modules
Code / Title / Level / Credits/ECTS / Term
.
WL825 / Special Area of Study / M / 30 / Autumn/Spring
WL856 / Power Dynamics within Professional Practice / M / 30 / Autumn/Spring
WL855 / Qualitative Research Methods Applied to Professional Practice / M / 15 / Spring
WL857 / Quantitative Research Methods Applied to Professional Practice / M / 15 / Spring
Optional Wild Modules from Across the University Catalogue
45 Credits To be completed within the Autumn and Spring Terms
Stage 2: Students remaining modules adding to 45 M level credits are detailed below for the PGDip in Professional Practice (Teaching and Learning) programmes pathway:
This is validated pathway specifically designed for the professional development of teachers and is delivered by Rochester Grammar School and Brompton Academy Partnership.
Code / Title / Level / Credits/ECTS / Term
WL867 / A Thinking School: Transforming Learning / M / 30 Credits / Autumn/Spring
WL868 / Addressing Barriers to Learning / M / 15 Credits / Spring
Students who successfully complete Stage 2 of the programme, meet the required credit framework, but exit after Stage 2 or do not successfully complete Stage 3 will be eligible for the award of the PG Diploma.
Stage 3: In Stage 3 students under-take a compulsory module of 60M level credits. Students who successfully complete Stage 3 of the programme, meet the required credit framework, will be eligible for the award of a Master’s degree:
· MA or MSc in Professional Practice (General)
· MSc in Professional Practice (Teaching and Learning)
Stage 3: Compulsory Module
Code / Title / Level / Credits/ECTS / Term
WL816 / Dissertation / 7 (M) / 60 / .Autumn
Example of PGCert, PGDip, MA/MSc in Professional Practice
Code / Title / Level / Credits / Term(s)
Stage 1
Compulsory Modules
WL814
Compulsory / Collaborative Working / M / 15 / Spring/Summer
WL813
Compulsory / Evidence Based Practice / M / 15 / Spring/Summer
Compulsory Module:
WL815 / Learning and Development / M / 30 / Autumn
Exit Point
PG Certificate in Professional Practice (General) / 60
Stage 2
Compulsory Module
WL817 / Research Skills / M / 15 / Autumn
Plus Optional Modules or Wild Modules from across the University catalogue
CPP Elective Modules:
WL825 / Special Area of Study / M / 30 / Autumn/Spring
Wild Modules
CB933 / Marketing / M / 15 / Spring/Summer
Exit Point
PG Diploma in Professional Practice (General) / M / 60
Stage 3
Compulsory Module
WL816 / Dissertation / M / 60 / .Autumn
Exit Point
MSc in Professional Practice (General) / 180
Example of PGCert, PGDip, MSc in Professional Practice (Teaching and Learning)
Code / Title / Level / Credits / Term(s)
Stage 1
Compulsory Modules
WL814
Compulsory / Collaborative Working / M / 15 / Spring