Manchester Metropolitan University
The Institute of Education at Manchester Metropolitan University is the major provider of education, continuing professional development and multi-professional childhood studies in the North West. It aims to be one of the major UK-based Institutes of Education, taking a leading role in regional, national and international developments in education and in educational research.
The Institute is one of the largest faculties in the University and is based on two major sites at Didsbury and Crewe. Its academic staff base is equivalent to 115 full-time employees and it has 50 administrative staff who work collaboratively across both sites. It is very well supported by site-based technical staff and has full library, computing and audio-visual facilities as well as other student amenities.
Initial Courses
Childhood Studies Programme
This programme seeks to offer appropriate education and training to students who either already work in the childhood field but lack a qualification at degree level or to those who are interested in studying and working in the field. Students are provided with an understanding of multidisciplinary approaches to studying children and childhood and of the significance of the multi-professional nature of childhood provision. Close links are developed between health, social care and education. All students follow a common core of units but option choices lead to the following awards:
- BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies
- BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies (with Practitioner Options)
- BA (Hons) Childhood Studies
- FdA Early Years Practice
Initial Teacher Training Programmes
Over 2,400 full time students are training to become teachers in primary and secondary schools from a range of initial teacher education courses which includes one of the largest PGCE Secondary teaching courses in the country. All courses are undertaken in partnership with schools. The principal full-time routes are:
- BA (Hons): 4 year course for primary teaching
- PGCE: 1 year course for primary teaching
- PGCE: 1/2/3 year courses for secondary teaching
In addition, there are specialised 2/3 year full-time courses for intending teachers of Design & Technology, Business and ICT Education, Mathematics and Music, as well as a course which specialises in retraining already qualified teachers to work in primary schools.
CPD
The Institute offers an extensive programme of continuing professional development opportunities for qualified teachers and other professionals working in education. Over 2,800 teachers attend a range of courses from short modules to those leading to certificate, diploma, degree, postgraduate diploma and masters awards. Some of these courses follow a linear, prescribed curriculum but most of the in-service provision is organised within a flexible, modular Professional Development Programme, which permits course members to select modules which are particularly relevant to them and allows them to study at their own pace. Courses are available across all age groups in the full range of curricular subjects.
There are particular specialisms in Education Management, Special Education Needs and Early Years Education. Additionally, there is growing provision for teachers in the early phase of their development in the form of an M.A.in teaching. Most of these courses run on a part-time basis, in the evening, but a small number of students attend on a full-time basis; these are usually from overseas.
Other Courses
Other courses offered within the Institute include:
- Joint and Combined Honours provision in Education Studies
- A degree in Design and Technology for Industry
- Cert Ed/PGCE qualifications in Further & Higher Education
External Links
The Institute has a number of external associations and many courses are delivered by its staff in ‘outreach’ mode in different schools and LEAs in the North West. The Professional Development Centre provides support for a further programme of short courses and conferences run as commercial ventures and also assists with the provision of commissioned in-service work on clients’ premises. Support is provided for the accreditation of school-based work and the Centre takes part in the inspection of schools and the training of school inspectors in both this country and overseas.
Research
The Institute of Education has recently been awarded a ‘4’ grade in the national HEFCE Research Assessment Exercise. Its Research Centre serves as the base for senior researchers, contract researchers and full-time research students and for a large number of national and regional/local research projects. It also has its own dedicated support staff. It is possible to study for M.Phil/PhD as well as the newly created practitioner Doctorate in Education.
The Institute of Education enjoys a growing international research reputation. Staff engage in higher degree supervision and research across a wide range of educational areas including literacy, science and environmental education, post-compulsory education and training, educational management, social justice, learning styles, early years education and vocational education, as well as ICT and pedagogical issues. There is a central interest in professionally focused research, which is pursued in all of the above areas, as well as a major interest in professional issues, especially teacher education.