Program Overview

Education plays a variety of often contradictory roles in public debates, policy discourses, and academic research related to globalisation and international development. Education may be seen as the silver bullet, the solution to global inequalities and the vehicle for economic and social development. Alternatively, education is blamed for not delivering its promise, or even for reproducing or exacerbating the very problems it was supposed to solve. Education systems and institutions are themselves sites which are affected by patterns of globalisation and policy changes regarding development and aid.

Increasingly we are moving into a ‘post-development’ era, where it is no longer possible to separate the globe into clear-cut regions that are designated as ‘developed’ and ‘developing’: local, regional and international connections and transitions demand that we re-focus attempts to understand and theorise the role of education in contemporary society. Education policy and practice faces the imperative of adapting to enhanced mobility and immobility, changing political regimes, and the ever-shifting relationship between education and social change.

MA Global Education and International Development addresses a complex array of interconnected challenges and issues in relation to education, understood in its broadest sense. The programme brings together theoretical and conceptual challenges with applied considerations for education practitioners and development interventions. The MA includes an option to take a placement module which enhances your professional skills and employability.

Please note that if you wish to study on a part time basis you should be aware that most core modules are taught during the normal working day and there is no out of hours provision. If this is a consideration for you please contact us prior to applying so that we can advise you further.

Skills from this degree

• Critically appraise ideas and engage with academic debate on issues related to globalisation, international development and education
• Develop your capacity for advancing evidence-based arguments and drawing conclusions that are supported by in-depth data analysis
• Expand your intellectual worldview with regard to the role of education in, and the connections between, globalisation and international development
• Develop the critical skills and intellectual rigour required to review diverse bodies of research and analyse/ synthesise their findings. Learn to choose appropriate methodologies and engage in academic writing at a dissertation level
• Understand past, current and future academic and policy discourses around ‘what works’ in education and development, with particular reference to the Sustainable Development Goals
• Enhance your breadth of knowledge of education systems and contexts