Postgraduate Module Descriptor

EFPM910: Education Policy

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The principal aim of this module is to facilitate critical examination of education policy in global, national and local contexts. It will seek to develop the following:

  • Knowledge and understanding of education policy and its relationship to wider changes at  local, national and international levels 
  • Knowledge and understanding of key ideas underpinning education policy changes, policy processes and developments
  • A more developed knowledge and understanding of educational practices and institutional arrangements as they have developed in the context of policy change
  • Critical thinking in relation to theoretical perspectives on education policy as a field of contest
  • The capacity to effectively contribute to debates about education policy development and change
  • The capacity to examine the implications of policy frameworks and discourses for educational institutions and teaching and learning practices

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of education policy in different settings
2. Critically evaluate different theoretical perspectives on education policy
3. Demonstrate a critical understanding of key global, national and local issues in education policy
Discipline-Specific Skills4. Critically reflect upon and evaluate your own understanding of education policy and its application to contexts with which you are familiar
5. Critically examine theoretical perspectives on education policy as a field of contest
Personal and Key Skills6. Synthesise and organise ideas to present a convincing argument
7. Engage in critical, reflective debate
8. Undertake both directed and independent study to recognise, justify and analyse key ideas in education policy literature and relate these to research, theory, policy and practice