M Ed in Education for Human Rights and Equality

Programme Aims

On successful completion of this programme, it is expected that students will be able to:

• Access the concept of diversity as the essence of humanity in key educational philosophies and legislation
• Critically analyse key issues that impact on the achievement of human rights and equality at a personal, organisational, local and global level in the field of education
• Interrogate the ethical, moral, and social issues related to the grounds of discrimination, namely gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, membership of the Traveller/ minority community, marital, family and social status
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the weight of history on human experience and that memories survive which impact on current understanding and attitudes in both positive and challenging ways
• Apply professional skills of communication and collaboration in a reflexive manner to affirm the uniqueness of each persons’ identity and promote human rights and equality in a variety of educational settings
• Develop the skills, tools, and techniques to lead change and transformation in an educational organisation and facilitate the peaceful ending of conflict, discrimination and retribution
• Engage in practitioner-based research and contribute to the growth of research in education for human rights and equality

Career Progression

This programme is aimed at all who have an interest in human rights and equality and particularly those working in the field of education. The flexible design makes it attractive to national and international participants.

This programme has also been designed in line with the Teaching Council’s subject registration requirements to teach Leaving Certificate Politics & Society. Registered post-primary teachers with the Teaching Council who graduate from the M Ed in Education for Human Rights and Equality can apply to the Teaching Council to add the subject of Politics and Society to their registration, providing that all subject registration requirements have been met.
Please note: Applications must be made on an individual basis to the Council and completion of the M Ed in Education for Human Rights and Equality at MIC does not automatically result in additional subject registration.

Programme Background

This programme recognises education's fundamental role in advancing social justice, human rights and equality in an ever-evolving world. The general assembly when proclaiming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, mandated all peoples and all nations to strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms. Moreover, Article 26 of the (UDHR) states that education shall be directed towards “the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms” (United Nations, 1948, Art 26.2).

Addressing the needs of a changing world and an increasingly diverse population is complex and multi-faceted with education playing a fundamental role. Quality education on human rights and equality can foster the development of values of peace, co-operation, tolerance, and mutual understanding as well as capacities for non-violent resolution of conflicts, alongside finding solutions to humanities greatest challenges (Williams 2006).