EDM039-Comparative Educational Administration

Module Provider: Institute of Education
Number of credits: 20 [10ECTS credits]
Level: M
Terms in which taught: Autumn
Module Convenor:
Pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2008/9

Email:

Aims:
The purpose of this module is to broaden and deepen course members' knowledge and understanding of comparative education, particularly the main administrative issues facing different educational systems. The module aims to focus participants on the need to develop an ability to compare two or more countries in terms of their educational systems.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of this module, course members should be able to:
1. Identify the main approaches to comparative education.
2. Compare their own educational systems with those of one or more other countries.
3. Assess educational policy and subject it to critical scrutiny.
4. Synthesise literature on comparative education and discriminate between sources on the basis of evidence.
5. Plan and carry out a literature review on one aspect of comparative educational administration.

Additional outcomes:
1. Bibliographic and literature search skills.
2. Enhanced writing skills.

Outline content:
1. Levels of administration in education.
2. Centralisation and decentralisation.
3. National and organisational culture.
4. Autonomy and self management.
5. Bureaucracy.
6. Democracy.
7. Quality: concepts and practice.
8. Accountability.
9. Capacity building and human resource management.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The module will be taught over one university term through nine three hour sessions and one three hour tutorial. The approach will feature an introductory exposition supported by a paper. The paper will also give full references and suggested reading. There will also be individual and group exercises and class discussion. Participants will be encouraged to relate course concepts to practice in their own educational systems.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	15
Tutorials/seminars	15
Practicals
Other contact (eg study visits)
Total hours	30
Number of essays or assignments	1
Other (eg major seminar paper)

Assessment:
Coursework
Students will be required to produce one assignment of 4,000 words. This will take the form of a literature review on one or more of the nine main topics explored through the module.
Percentage weight within the total assessment of the module: 100%
Requirements for a pass
Students must achieve a mark of 50% or better to pass the module. A merit grade is achieved for marks between 60 and 69% while marks of 70 plus are equivalent to a distinction.
Examination
None
Reassessment arrangements:
resubmission within one calendar month of the notification of failure