Sponsored by UCL Institute of Education
From educational neuroscience to engineering education, the masters’ degrees offered by leading education faculties are exceptionally varied. In a changing world, how can an education master’s degree help you adapt and respond to future challenges, and what career options does it open, both for teachers and those in other professions?
We spoke to UCL Institute of Education who are currently ranked world number one for the sixth consecutive year in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019 for Education to find out more.
Learning as a way of life
The most important skills teachers learn as they qualify are those of deep critical reflection. For example, why did a certain tactic work with 14-year-olds but not with 16-year-olds? What happened just before that child finally understood? These are the skills teachers use every day in the classroom which can also transfer to every other aspect of their career development.
Some teachers choose to study the latest innovations in teaching their subject, while others specialize in the educational needs of a particular age group. Many explore the principles of leadership, the role of technology in education, or any of the other complex demands a teacher will face over the course of a career. By immersing themselves in the latest research and refreshing their own learning, teachers future-proof not only their own skills but also those of their students, as each generation grows up to meet its own challenges and opportunities.
Education as a tool for leading change
Change within any industry must be matched by the education of its practitioners. In many cases, it’s education that leads the way, creating the space for new ideas to be explored and developing the skills needed to implement them. Some institutions now offer master’s degrees in specific branches of professional education, designed to enable scientists, engineers and other professionals to equip their organisations for the future.
Entrepreneurs are also increasingly developing educational products that support the industry’s need to adapt to new circumstances, including those pioneering new forms of artificial intelligence in education. For these people, a specialist education master’s can be the first step towards a rewarding new career, and for the companies that employ them or use their products, education equips them to stay at the forefront of global markets.
Education is at the forefront of global development
The role of education in international development, gender relations, health promotion, conflict resolution and social justice make it a vital tool for governments and third sector organisations in improving the lives of the communities they serve. Master’s programs that combine education with each of these disciplines have established the careers of top policy-makers and charity leaders worldwide.
Education as a means to improve lives
At the level of the individual, a range of disciplines that combine education with psychology are breaking new ground in supporting individuals to achieve their full potential, including child development, educational psychology, educational neuroscience and special and inclusive education. Drawing on the latest research, a master’s degree in any of these fields can open up an exceptionally fulfilling new career.
Education for all
Who should consider a master’s degree in education? Everyone and anyone! The field attracts students from wide range of backgrounds, including recent undergraduate students, teachers, psychologists, computer scientists, non-governmental organization workers and others who have gained experience from a variety of different sectors. The breadth of content and continual innovation is what makes studying a master’s in education exciting, challenging and rewarding.
