Home Page > Our Courses > Postgraduate Courses > MEd in Adult Education- Course Test Drive

My Career, Sydney Morning Herald
By Julie-Anne O'Hagan

Overview

This course is designed for adult education practitioners and offers a flexible structure and a variety of study modes to cater to students' needs and interests.

It develops students' skills in understanding and managing adult learning; designing, implementing and evaluating educational programs; and analysing the social, political and economic context of adult education.

Students undertake one core subject, understanding adult education and training, and seven electives in areas such as organisational learning, equity and social justice in schools, education and training, flexible and e-learning, cultural and curriculum studies, creative arts, special education, health education, experience-based learning, career education and educational leadership.

Applicants come from human resources, community adult education, TAFE, teaching English as a second language, international development, informal education, higher education and adult religious studies.

Prerequisites

Applicants should have a bachelor's degree and evidence of involvement in education in either a professional or voluntary capacity.

Cost

Australian students: Commonwealth Support Places or Fee paying options.

When

The course is offered in three modes: weekly on-campus lectures (afternoons and evenings), intensive weekend block lectures with distance study, and full distance study.

Where

Classes are held at UTS's City campus or via distance learning.

Duration

The course can be completed in a year full-time over two semesters or two years part-time over four semesters. A mid-year intake is available.

Books and equipment

Readings are provided for most subjects and first-year students should budget about $200 for textbooks.

Success rate

Graduates work in organisational, school and community settings, assuming educational and training leadership roles in policy-making, research, consulting, planning, curriculum development and management in teaching and learning organisations.

What graduates/students say

Inez Brewer, 31, writing program manager, Varuna The Writer's House, Katoomba. Graduated 2001."I had been teaching for a number of years and was looking for a way to expand my skills and employment opportunities. I had a bachelor of arts in Australian literature and writing was always where my interest lay.

"I enrolled in the masters while teaching at TAFE and in the meantime got a job at Varuna as an administration assistant. I quickly realised that the course content would easily apply to Varuna's writing development program.

"My job changed partly because of what I'd been doing in the masters. One of the main things it focused on was designing, developing and running programs.

"I have now got the only position of its kind in the country. Varuna offers a manuscript development program, editorial programs and writing retreats and acts as a viable alternative to the university system for people interested in taking their writing to a professional level.

"The flexibility of the course was of greatest benefit to me because it meant I could create my own degree and the independent project study units meant I was able to do the majority of the coursework by designing my own projects under supervision and carrying them out. And even in the more structured subjects, the assignments were flexible in that I could design my assignment based on my workplace.

"I did most of my study by distance and the flexibility [of the course structure] allowed me to get a lot out of the course and I also took electives from the creative writing department."

Annette Bonnici, 41, head teacher information technology, Meadowbank TAFE, Meadowbank. Graduating 2003.

"In my job, I am required to have a graduate diploma in education and, as far as jobs are concerned, I don't need a masters. However, it gives me more grounding in the managerial aspects of education and that's the angle I'm hoping to take with my career.

"The course has given me ideas about managing people in an educational setting. I understand staff needs and my staff's responsibility to keep up to date in the changing world of vocational education.

"Vocational education's focus has changed because we are now in competition with lots of private providers and the Australian National Training Authority has certain requirements as well. We also need to respond to industry need when developing courses.

"Most of the lecturers are on top of what's going on in education and are really supportive and inspiring, though one of the problems is that there is not much face-to-face learning. However, for some people that is an advantage of the course."

What employers say

Peter Bishop, executive director, Varuna The Writer's House, Katoomba.

"The course was useful because Inez was able to establish a program in partnership with the university. The program she established meant we were able to have a very secure academic foundation underpinning our writing programs.

"What we were originally set up to do is have fellowships to have writers work at Varuna and in about 1998 we decided it would be a good idea to have a program where writers are mentored. We were among the first to establish this sort of program but did so without much understanding of the process.

"Inez was able to articulate the program far better and the structure is very impressive. Because it is so well structured we are able to deliver a far better service. I'm thrilled with it."

Carly Marshall, director of Meadowbank TAFE, Meadowbank.

"We encourage professional development for all staff, especially in new learning techniques and how to improve the learning environment for students.

"Annette's course will help her identify different learning styles and classroom techniques and has given her exposure to a wide range of other people working in the education sector.

"She has really come along in her management of people and her people skills. The course has benefited not only her, but also the college and our students."