The MA/PDip in Child, Youth and Community is designed for professionals already working in or for those who have a strong interest to work in the community, voluntary or public sector. It was developed by the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at the School of Political Science and Sociology. This programme emerges from the Centre’s core disciplinary orientation, Applied Social Science, and its dynamic research programme focused on ‘what works’ in the real world of policy and practice when working with and for children, youth and their communities.
Professionals involved in the delivery of services to children, young people and communities are increasingly required by funders and central government to provide scientific, robust evidence, measuring the social impact of their interventions. With an emphasis on community and rights based approaches, this one year full-time / two-year part-time blended learning MA Programme, will enable students to be proficient in programme planning, monitoring and evaluation methodologies in the context of child, youth and community services. The programme will allow students space to critically engage with the discourses and debates on ‘evidence’ and explore new lines of research and evidence to accommodate both in the real world of practice.
The objectives of the programme are to:
- Equip students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills in programme planning, implementation, monitoring and research evaluation;
- Develop students’ capacity to design and deliver human rights based and culturally sensitive programmes and services;
- Support students to critically explore new lines of research and the use of research evidence in practice;
- Enable students to develop their capacity as leaders in this field;
- Enhance students’ skills in communication and innovative thinking;
- Provide professional experience and networking opportunities for students.