Programme summary for BA Honours Professional Development
About the programme
- a strong emphasis on recognising your existing skills and experience, and experiential learning.
- an opportunity to negotiate your learning outcomes
- the freedom to continue working while pursuing your studies
- an opportunity to research your own workplace
- academic support from tutors
- help and guidance from our student advisors.
Programme structure
Integrating Work-based Learning (WBL)
The BA Professional Development is offered as a full time or part time programme of study that may be started in September or February. This flexibility of delivery allows a student to follow a programme which is aligned to their professional and personal development, improved career opportunities and varied educational interests and goals.
There are three components that make up the programme: (1) professional development and work-based learning; (2) graduate skills development; and (3) an individually chosen subject module.
The BA has a total of five modules. The professional development and work-based learning component provides the ‘backbone’ of the programme and consists of three core modules which focus on active and reflective engagement with work activities:
ED3XXX – The Future of Work: delivered through workshops and tutorials on campus.
ED3020 – Negotiated work-based learning module (work place project): delivered through workshops and tutorials on campus.
ED3033 – E-Learning; communication, cooperation and collaboration online: delivered partly on campus and partly via distance learning (online).
The graduate skills development component consists of a core research module which is double weighted and enables the student to create their work-based dissertation:
ED3000 – Independent Research Project: delivered largely through seminars and tutorials on campus with some online aspects.
These four modules provide the essential context and backbone to the programme and are therefore deemed as core and compulsory. The remaining module is optional. This means that a student can select a module to study from across the entire university. All Schools in UEL have what are referred to as ‘university wide’ options which are available to any student. As well as these on-campus modules which are delivered by the various schools in UEL, BA Professional Development students will also be able to select from a range of distance learning modules.
The first module which is studied by students (ED3XXX) - The Future of Work focuses on the changing nature of work in a global, local and individual context, and is where students consider their future work and are supported in the process of considering their work-based outcomes.
BA Professional Development Negotiated Programme
Module | Core/Option | Credit |
The Future of Work | Core | 20 |
Independent Research Project | Core | 40 |
Negotiated Work-based Learning | Core | 20 |
E-Learning; Communication, Cooperation and collaboration online | Core | 20 |
University Wide Option module or Distance Learning module | Option | 20 |
TOTAL Level 3 (level 6 FHEQ) Credits | These credits added to 240 credits achieved at an appropriate higher education level from previous and relevant studies create the full BA Honours Degree. | 120 |
All core modules will need to be approached with the workplace in mind. | ||
Career opportunities
Students who study the BA (Honours) Professional Development will have varied careers. Successful completion of this programme opens the door to all relevant postgraduate courses including, if appropriate, Primary PGCE training courses. As well as strengthening your confidence in your current professional role and context, by providing a broader professional context it will open doors to a variety of graduate employment opportunities including new areas of employment.
Support
During your studies, you will be supported by our team of student advisors in UELconnect. These advisors act as a first point of contact for you, addressing the majority of student queries and referring only those that relate to academic matters to the module tutor. The student advisors will also contact students who seem to be falling behind and will offer advice and encouragement to them.
You will be allocated a module tutor for each module that you study. Your module tutor is the person who will help you and will work with you to plan your learning and ensure that you are making progress. Your module tutor will also help you with any academic difficulties you may be having. Tutorials may be held with other students or individually.
In addition to the core teaching and support staff on the Foundation Degree in Professional Development you will also be supported by Fieldwork tutors from the Cass School of Education who have tutorial responsibility for the support of students whilst on field work, including work-based learning.
We will all work together with you to enhance your learning experience. All staff attempt to help students identify any additional learning needs at the earliest opportunity so that appropriate help and guidance can be sought. You will also be encouraged to identify a critical friend / employer representative. You will have access to all the support available to students at the university, including guidance on fees, loans, time management and study skills.
UEL is committed to promoting full participation for disabled students in all aspects of the academic and social life here and our disability policy is based on the QAA Code of Practice for the Assurance of Academic Quality and Standards. As part of this policy we want to ensure that no student who has a disability is disadvantaged. The Cass School of Education has a disability coordinator and administrator. Either of them can advise students and offer technological, practical or financial support; advice and guidance, and liaison with tutors and other staff.
Admission
Students will be admitted if they have either:
- passed the FdA Professional Development or
- passed an equivalent Foundation Degree or HE credits and achieved ED2000 via the pre-entry short course
- plus: satisfactorily completed an interview.
For students wishing to gain access to the programme via an equivalent foundation degree it is essential that they possess the requisite knowledge and understanding required to undertake a substantial piece of individual research. To ensure this, students will need to provide evidence that their programme maps directly to the learning outcomes for the FdA Professional Development’s Research Method and Design Module (ED2000). This will be achieved via UEL’s Accreditation of Certificated Learning process.
With credits from another institution, it may be necessary to take additional modules to ensure a satisfactory transition.
Learners will require sufficient work-based experience and opportunity to undertake work-based projects. This will be established via a guidance interview with a programme advisor.
A letter from the employer should accompany any application. The letter must support the application by confirming the applicant’s role in the organisation and state that every effort will be made to support the learner in undertaking the work-based activities required by the programme.
Due to the emphasis on work and employment international students on a student visa will not be able to undertake this programme. International Students on other types of visas may be considered for this programme if the visa expressly permits work without restrictions while in the UK.
Consideration of eligibility will include:
- suitable employment - the place of work will provide a context for the study. Whilst the type of organisation or job description does not define the study the student must have employment which permits a context within which they can organise their study and develop professionally. The employer will need to provide a named person who will act as mentor on this programme. If self-employed, the same requirements will hold.
- recommendation of the employer
- commitment to completing programme requirements
- evidence of a desire for professional development
- access to relevant professional contexts
- ability to succeed and likelihood to benefit.
If employment should cease during the programme then participants may carry on as long as they resume employment (paid or voluntary) in an appropriate capacity. Students should contact UEL immediately, to advise of any change in employment status and to consider options. It is essential that both the work-based learning module and research modules are completed within a work setting.
In order to be able to complete this programme, a good level of English is required. The IELTS requirements are a minimum of 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in both reading and writing (and a minimum of 5.0 in listening and speaking). Where English is not your first language, you may be required to provide a written example of your work in order to ensure your suitability for the programme.
Students that apply to enter the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.
To participate in the programme you need:
- Regular access to a PC or Mac, capable of running standard MS Office software (or equivalent) for producing word-processed documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
- Reliable Internet access; at least a 56K modem connection, but broadband is highly recommended.
- An Internet browser capable of running UEL Plus (based on Blackboard Learning System Vista 4.0), the platform used by UEL in delivering this programme. For further information, see UEL Plus’s tune-up page at: http://www.webct.com/tuneup/viewpage?name=tuneup_browser_tuneup_information
- Access to reliable email. (Email facilities are provided by UEL Plus, but additional email is recommended in case of any technical problems with UEL Plus.)
Access to a printer is recommended.
Key facts
You can start many programmes in either September or February and applications are simple to make. Click below to:
Apply online Professional Development (BA Honours)
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