Master in Adult Learning and Global Change

Governments all over the world are urging citizens to train and educate themselves in order to stay competitive in a connected world. Critical discourses on globalization require the ability to learn in situations that span vast cultural and geographic divides. Our programme is for those who wish to understand adult learning in the framework of global change within a unique digital learning format that has won international acclaim.

Online learning and master thesis

This master’s programme enhances students’ ability to work in a globalising world and to challenge the traditional perspectives on globalisation. Our programme is an equal cooperation with the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and the University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa. All course activities will be done within a digital learning platform, where you will learn together with students from the participating universities in a global class, making the programme truly international. The courses contain topics such as locating oneself in global learning, adult learning: contexts and perspectives, global/local learning, and understanding research.

Our graduates are able to learn and teach globally, use global connective technologies, understand knowledge-based societies and their implications for learning, understand globalisation discourses, develop cultural sensibilities and sensitivities and develop an equality perspective for learning and reframing their own professional practices. They may also continue their academic careers in further projects.

The programme won the 2005 Curriculum Innovation Award, awarded by the Commission of Professors of Adult Education of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education and also The e-Learning Excellence Award(2015) at the 14th European Conference on E learning, held at Hertfordshire University, UK.

Selection will be based on academic grades and Letter of Intent. The applicant should submit a Letter of Intent written in English, explaining why they want to study this programme (about 1000 words). The letter should include a summary of the bachelor essay/project, and a description of academic studies and work experience relevant to adult learning.

The programme comprises eight course modules, each comprising 7,5 credit points. The introductory module deals with integration of the course and leads up to the development of a capability envelope, which continues over the two years. Four of the modules focus on different content themes or ‘perspectives’, designed to be applicable to students with interest or background in any context. One module focuses on research methods and is followed by a research project in those universities where this is required for a Master's degree. If this is not applicable, the research project is replaced by local optional courses, relevant to the programme.

The name and sequence of course modules over the programme is shown below:

• Locating oneself in Global Learning, part 1, 4,5 ECTS
• Adult Learning: Perspectives and Contexts, 7, 5 ECTS
• Work and Learning, 7,5 ECTS
• Fostering Learning in Practice, 7, 5 ECTS
• Understanding Research, 7,5 ECTS
• Global/Local Learning, 7, 5 ECTS
• Locating oneself in Global Learning, Part II, 3 ECTS
• Researching Adult Learning: Project work, 15 ECTS

Content, modes of presentation, learning objectives, and examination for each course module are described in more detail in separate course outlines.

The aim is to provide a high quality Master’s degree in Adult Learning, which in both content and process gives students an insight into globalisation and cross-cultural collaboration. The programme should also enhance the understanding of different contexts and provide experience of working in a variety of study modes.

Aim

Knowledge and understanding

• to encourage understanding of commonalities and differences across different contexts for adult learning
• to understand knowledge based societies and the implications for learning
• to develop understanding of the globalisation discourses
• to appreciate the historical context of present developments and link these to one’s own sites of practice
• to challenge orthodoxies in adult learning theory and practice

Skills and abilities

• to learn to use teaching and learning technologies globally
• to learn how to learn and work globally

Values and attitudes

• to develop cultural sensibilities and sensitivities
• to adopt a multifaceted equity perspective on all issues of learning
• to engage in reframing of one’s own professional practice
• to create networks of relationships across countries and help establish a global community of adult learning practitioners

Following the final examination, you will have theoretical knowledge of globalisation and its impacts in different locations. This knowledge that is needed when you work in different formal and informal adult learning organizations.

Graduates of the programme will be able to: learn and teach globally, use global connective technologies, understand knowledge-based societies and their implications for learning, understand globalisation discourses, develop cultural sensibilities and sensitivities and develop an equality perspective for learning and re-framing their own professional practices.

Students may also continue their academic career in further projects.