Youth Work Leadership and Practice MA

Program Overview

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Introduction:

If you have a degree, and ideally experience of working with young people, then this is the course for you. You may want to become a (JNC) Professionally Recognised Youth Worker or gain a Masters level postgraduate qualification, or both! This course will provide you with an opportunity to both study and work in Children and Young People Services across differing settings and contexts giving you the freedom to guide your career the way you want to.

This course is approved and endorsed by the National Youth Agency.

Program Outline

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What you’ll study

There are two routes within the Masters degree:

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Work-Based Practice (non-endorsed pathway)

This pathway will enable the critical reflection of practice incorporating the related module themes. It will enable you to apply sociological thinking to real world issues and problems in relation to the practice context.

Students who successfully complete 180 Credits on this pathway will graduate with the

MA Leadership and Practice with Young People

.

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Supervised Practice (JNC-endorsed pathway)

Your practice will be observed and assessed against the Youth Work National Occupational Standards or ‘NOS’ (2019) and will require a minimum of 400hrs professional practice placement. On completion of the endorsed route, you will be eligible to apply for Youth Work roles nationally with JNC professionally qualified status.

Students who successfully complete 180 Credits on this pathway will graduate with the

MA Youth Work Leadership and Practice (JNC).

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Why choose this course?

This course explores a number of social, educational, and informal education perspectives, and is mapped against the National Occupational Standards for Youth Work (2019). This makes the course ideal for those interested in the study of Young People, but specifically those who are keen to pursue a career within the Youth Work /Working with Young People sector. We work closely with employers in the statutory and independent sectors to ensure our course content retains a focus of supporting young people. It also helps to ensure that you are ready for professional practice when you qualify.

Possible candidates for this course:

Graduates with a relevant Undergraduate Degree who wish to gain a postgraduate qualification;

Graduates with a relevant Undergraduate Degree who wish to gain a postgraduate qualification and the (JNC) Professionally Recognised Youth Work qualification;

Practitioners with a relevant Undergraduate Degree who wish to gain the (JNC) Professionally Recognised Youth Work qualification;

Experienced practitioners (with JNC qualification) who want to gain a deeper insight into the contemporary world in which young people encounter;

Practitioners from similar social education/informal education or social sciences disciplines wishing to explore contextual approaches in working with young people.

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What you’ll study

Drawing on the research traditions of Youth, this course has wide application within the field of social/informal education,  education, sociology, criminology, politics and psychology.

You will be joining a course that explores the most significant social, cultural and economic changes that affect the lives of young people today, and engages with contemporary debates that explain and theorise young people’s lives.

Key themes include the notion of ‘self and identity’ within ‘communities of practice’; historical and emergent ‘critical issues’ within contemporary society; required ‘work-based learning’ concepts underpinned by pedagogy; and the ever-changing pedagogy and practice understanding of ‘leadership and management’ within contemporary society.

Core modules

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Stage one

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Self, Identities within Communities of Practice (30 credits)

This module provides you with an opportunity to synthesise the concept of ‘self’ and ‘identities’, of oneself and others, from a psychological and sociological perspective. It will enable you to critically evaluate the notion of ‘communities of practice’ and how these interlink with the ‘self’ and ‘identities’ in contemporary environments with young people and/or communities. Using a critically reflective approach, you will explore current research on the socio-economic and political environment in which these concepts exist.

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Critical Issues in Contemporary Society (30 credits)

Within this module, you will undertake a systematic evaluation to explore how contemporary key policy directives and the impact of socio-political ideologies inform practice. You will acquire a critical awareness of perceived and pertinent issues for young people within modern society, and thus pose solutions, recommendations and available ‘possibilities for change’ within society and practice. You will gain an insight into and reflection on the contemporary approach of practice, and offer critique where relevant.

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Stage two

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Work-Based Learning Pedagogy (30 credits)

This focus of this module is the application of learning in practice and the theoretical concepts of the ‘pedagogy’ of work-based learning. This will enable the application of theory to practice to be achieved. You will undertake a critical analysis of the rationale for professional roles and boundaries; the role of a critically reflective and autonomous practitioner; and the ability to work in the contemporary socio-economic and political environment. You will develop skills to critically assess your personal and professional skills, knowledge and experience and will pro-actively acquire the needed aspects via continuing professional development opportunities, to be able to be an effective practitioner.

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Leadership and Management in Practice (30 credits)

In this module you will critically explore the contemporary socio-economic and political environment and what impact this has upon leading and managing.  It will enable you to critically analyse a rationale for ‘best practice’ and provides you with an opportunity to synthesise the learning in aspects of leading and managing in practice, including people and organisations. Through a critically reflective approach you will assess your personal leadership and management skills in being able to solve complex problems in offering strategies that are both effective and achievable.

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Stage three

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Research Project/Dissertation (60 credits)

This module provides you with an opportunity to synthesise the learning in aspects of youth/youth work, and understanding of research, that you have developed throughout previous degree studies. It provides you with an opportunity to undertake a substantial piece of self-directed work, with individual academic supervision, in an area of youth studies or youth work that particularly interests you. The research project/dissertation will be a piece of empirical work using primary research. The research project/dissertation provides an opportunity to develop transferable skills and specialised knowledge which will positively contribute towards employability.

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How you’re taught

An enthusiastic and supportive teaching team, who are highly accomplished and experienced in the Youth Work/Working with Young People sector, will teach and guide you. Their expertise in the subject informs the course and ensures you have an up-to-date and relevant learning experience.

Experienced Youth Practitioners are involved in various teaching sessions to share their specialist knowledge and experiences of working with young people. To provide you with a first-class learning experience and to guarantee you have an opportunity to make the most of your time at university, you'll receive contact time through a diverse range of delivery methods.

Structured teaching is delivered through a combination of traditional lectures and seminars. The smaller group seminars provide opportunities to develop skills in problem-solving, group working, analysis, debating and presentation, and to discuss a wide range of views.

This course links academic theory to contemporary practice through placements, visits and guest speakers. You will also learn from audio-visual presentations, information technology-based exercises, and practical experience.

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Tutorials with staff

As the relationship between students and tutors is an important one, you can expect to have lots of direct contact and support through seminars and one-to-one tutorials. At these sessions you'll have the opportunity to:

discuss and gain feedback about your work

ask questions about the projects you're working on

raise any difficulties you are experiencing relating to your work, personal circumstances, or your university experience.

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Independent study

A key element of postgraduate courses is independent study. From the outset, you are expected to engage weekly reading and independent or group-based activities outside of lecture time. Contact hours with lecturers vary across modules and gradually decrease throughout the programme. However, you will be allocated personal tutors; placement-based support and dissertation supervisors.

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Learning from experts

You'll be taught by enthusiastic and expert staff who are highly accomplished and experienced in the youth sector locally, nationally and internationally, as both practitioners and researchers.  Staff work with partner agencies to support student placements; formally evaluate practice-based projects and offer CPD, training or knowledge exchange based events.

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How will I be assessed?

The course's assessment methods are varied. We use a wide range of approaches that acknowledge that different students have varied learning styles, capabilities and preferences. The assessment methods used replicate the work environment as far as possible, and you'll therefore be required to carry out your own investigation case study work, analysis and appraisal.

The majority of your work will be assessed through coursework-based essays, reflective journals, worksheets, critical reviews, case studies, and a final module research-based independent study or dissertation.

In response to student feedback, the University have introduced a policy ensuring marked work is returned to you electronically within three weeks of submission.

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Careers and employability

Enhancing employability prospects are a key factor of this course.

This course equips students with the knowledge, skills and understanding to become effective practitioners and leaders within the youth work field and associated sectors that work with young people. An MA is a recommended qualification for workers who want to hold more senior positions.

This course is approved and endorsed by the National Youth Agency and mapped to the National Occupational Standards for Youth Work (2019). Successful achievement of the Supervised Practice (JNC-endorsed pathway) confers professionally qualified status for Youth Workers in England.

Graduates will have acquired transferable skills for employment, which are highly valued by employers in a range of occupational sectors. Examples of these include:

Leadership and teamwork skills;

Problem solving skills, adaptability and creativity;

Analytical reasoning  and critical thinking;

Relationship building and effective communication skills.

Graduates may go on to lead projects and work with young people in a variety of roles, where they could offer generic or specialised support (e.g. knife crime, unemployment, health and wellbeing). In addition to Youth Services, organisations which may employ graduates from this course include Education providers; Charities; These could be local, national or international organisations.