2021-22 MA Peace and Conflict Studies Programme Design Document

	A	C	F	I	J	N	R	T	AA	AB	AH	AI	AK	AR	AT	AX
1	1. Admissions/ Management Information
2	Title of the new programme – including any lower awards Please provide the titles used for all awards relating to this programme. Note: all programmes are required to have at least a Postgraduate Certificate exit award. See guidance on programme titles in:
3	https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DQPWuKaK3J0LgM7SXyUCMemJ3PfysXPc/view
4	Masters			MA Peace and Conflict Studies
5	Postgraduate Diploma			PG Dip Peace and Conflict Studies							Please indicate if the Postgraduate Diploma is available as an entry point, ie. is a programme on which a student can register or as an exit award, ie. that are only available to students exiting the masters programme early, or both.					Exit
6	Postgraduate Certificate			PG Cert Peace and Conflict Studies							Please indicate if the Postgraduate Certificate is available as an entry points, ie. is a programme on which a student can register, or as an exit award, ie. that are only available to students exiting the masters programme early, or both.					Exit
7	Postgraduate Certificate - alternative award title NB the Taught Postgraduate Framework (section F) allows for more than one PGCert title. Consult your AQ Team contact for advice and see sec 5.d			PG Cert Politics							Please indicate if the Postgraduate Certificate is available as an entry points, ie. is a programme on which a student can register, or as an exit award, ie. that are only available to students exiting the masters programme early, or both.					Exit
8	Level of qualification			Level 7
9	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:							2021/22
10	Awarding institution									Teaching institution
11	University of York									University of York
12	Department(s): Where more than one department is involved, indicate the lead department									Board of Studies
13	Lead Department		Politics							Politics
14	Other contributing Departments:									Politics
15	Route code (existing programmes only)
16	Admissions criteria
17	This course is open to all UK and overseas applicants with a good first degree and/or significant relevant practical experience. For applicants whose first language is not English, IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6 in each component (or equivalent) is normally required.
18	Length and status of the programme(s) and mode(s) of study
19	Programme				Length (years/ months)	Status (full-time/ part-time) Please select	Start dates/months (if applicable – for programmes that have multiple intakes or start dates that differ from the usual academic year)			Mode
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21										Face-to-face, campus-based			Distance learning		Other
22	MA Peace and Conflict Studies				1	Full-time				Please select Y/N		Yes	Please select Y/N	No
23					2	Part-time				Please select Y/N		Yes	Please select Y/N	No
24										Please select Y/N			Please select Y/N
25	Language(s) of study
26	English
27	Language(s) of assessment
28	English
29	2. Programme accreditation by Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Bodies (PSRB)
30	2.a. Is the programme recognised or accredited by a PSRB
31	Please Select Y/N:		No	if No move to section 3 if Yes complete the following questions
32	2.b. Name of PSRB
33
34	2.c. Please provide details of any approval / accreditation event needed, including: timescales, the nature of the event, central support / information required: Please also specify whether any accreditation agreement will require renewal during the expected peroid of study of the cohort of students covered by this document and, if such an event will be required, what the implications are for students who are already enrolled should accreditation not be renewed
35	(max 200 words)
36	2.d Does/ will approval or recognition require exceptions to University rules/practices? Please select Y/N								if Yes, provide details
37	(max 200 words)
38	2.e. Any additional information (e.g. student attainment required to achieve accreditation) that are required by the PSRB should be recorded here
39	(max 200 words)
40	3. Additional Professional or Vocational Standards
41	Are there any additional requirements of accrediting bodies or PSRB or pre-requisite professional experience needed to study this programme?
42	Please Select Y/N:		No	if Yes, provide details
43	(max 200 words)
44	4. Programme leadership and programme team
45	4.a. Please name the programme leader for the year to which the programme design applies and any key members of staff responsible for designing, maintaining and overseeing the programme. NB: If the proposal is for a combined programme the name of the Programme Leader (based in the lead Department) and the Associate Programme Leader(s) from the Partner Department(s) should be provided
46	Key staff: Dr Gyda Sindre, Dr Claire Smith. Dr Jacob Eriksson, Dr Kaisa Hinkkainen Elliott, Prof Nina Caspersen
47	4.b. How are wider stakeholders such as students/ alumni, professional bodies and employers involved in the design of the programme and in ongoing reflection on its effectiveness?
48	A working group of key staff members in the field [Sindre, Smith, Hinkkainen Elliott, Eriksson, Caspersen], the Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes [Alejandro Pena], the Graduate School Coordinator [Liz O'Brien] and the Department's Placements Coordinator [Charlie King] have been meeting regularly to work on the revision of the MA in Post-War Recovery Studies (PRS). The MA has been renamed MA in Peace and Conflict studies. Staff members have attended regular meetings about Programme design and will continue to be involved in ongoing meetings/reflection on effectiveness. To make sure that input from professional bodies/employers is taken into consideration as well, regular discussions about programme design and its effectiveness will continue to take place within this group. The Chair of the working group [Gyda Sindre] has represented the working group in the Postgraduate Teaching Committee. The working group has also consulted with and had two meetings with the key staff within the Centre for Applied Human Rights. The proposed changes to the MA in PRS has been presented to and approved by the department PGTC and Board of Studies. Academic Support Office [Adrian Lee] has also been consulted in the process. The proposed changes to the MA PRS (new name MA PCS) was appoved by Associate Dean for Teaching, Learning and Students [Jill Webb].
49	5. Purpose and learning outcomes of the programme
50	5.a. Statement of purpose for applicants to the masters programme Please express succinctly the overall aims of the programme as an applicant facing statement for a prospectus or website. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
51	The overall aim of the programme is to provide training and expertise within the field of peace and conflict studies and related fields. The programme seeks to provide an in-depth understanding of the nature of contemporary armed conflicts, transitions from war to peace, and challenges of post-war peacebuilding. Through the core modules, students will gain understanding of the nature of contemporary armed conflict and war with attention to contextual variation, and subsequently how peace is being forged at the local and national levels, all the time taking into account the interplay between domestic and international actors. The programme offers students insights into the complexities of contemporary armed conflicts and peace-making with access to wide range of optional modules in areas such as security, international politics, and development. Students can opt to expand on their practical skills by taking part in the module Practice of Fieldwork. By taking Practice of Fieldwork, further opportunities for practical skill development will become available through the option to take an Autumn Term Project Placement or/and a Summer Term Policy Report Placement. The Practice of Fieldwork provides practical training in relation to undertaking research in a challenging environment, and the Project Placement and Policy Report Placement offer a unique opportunity to gain first-hand, ground level, understanding of conflict resolution and peacebuilding in war-affected contexts. The programme offers graduates both an academic understanding of conflict and post-war development, but also clearer appreciation of the difficulties confronted by practioners and policy makers.
52	5.a.i Statement of purpose for applicants registering for the postgraduate diploma programme Please express succinctly the overall aims of the programme as an applicant facing statement for a prospectus or website. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
53	N/A
54	5.a.ii Statement of purpose for applicants registering for the postgraduate certificate programme Please express succinctly the overall aims of the programme as an applicant facing statement for a prospectus or website. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
55	N/A
56	5.b.i. Programme Learning Outcomes - Masters Please provide six to eight statements of what a graduate of the Masters programme can be expected to do. If the document only covers a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma please specify four to six PLO statements for the PG Certificate and four-eight for the PG Diploma in the sections 5.b.ii and 5.b.iii as appropriate. Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme. They should also be outcomes for which progressive achievement through the course of the programme can be articulated, and which will therefore be reflected in the design of the whole programme.
57	PLO	On successful completion of the programme, graduates will be able to:
58	1	Identify and understand the relationship between peace and conflict, specifically the complex political, economic, and social challenges of post-war recovery at a local, national, and international level. (Substantive knowledge)
59	2	Critically engage with the theory of post-war recovery, including concepts like conflict, peace, peacebuilding, statebuilding, and humanitarianism, and how these are applied in practice in order to identify gaps and improve existing practice. (Analytical skills and critical thinking)
60	3	Design and undertake advanced research which addresses and rises to the significant political, ethical, logistical, and methodological challenges of research in, or relating to, conflict-affected environments. (Research skills)
61	4	Effectively communicate analytical and reasoned arguments that show awareness of multiple narratives and understandings of conflict, and engage with both theoretical and empirical material in verbal and written forms. (Communication skills)
62	5	Research and work safely, ethically, and effectively in relation to complex and unpredictable conflict-affected environments. (Professional skills)
63	6	Demonstrate the inter-cultural awareness, mindfulness, patience, and sensitivity to opinions different to their own required when working on contentious conflict issues. (Interpersonal skills)
64	5.b.ii. Programme Learning Outcomes - Postgraduate Diploma Please provide four to eight statements of what a graduate of the Postgraduate Diploma programme can be expected to do. Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme. They should also be outcomes for which progressive achievement through the course of the programme can be articulated, and which will therefore be reflected in the design of the whole programme.
65	PLO	On successful completion of the programme, graduates will be able to:
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74	5.b.iii. Programme Learning Outcomes - Postgraduate Certificate Please provide four to six statements of what a graduate of the Postgraduate Certificate programme can be expected to do. Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme. They should also be outcomes for which progressive achievement through the course of the programme can be articulated, and which will therefore be reflected in the design of the whole programme.
75	PLO	On successful completion of the programme, graduates will be able to:
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82	5.c. Explanation of the choice of Programme Learning Outcomes Please explain your rationale for choosing these PLOs in a statement that can be used for students (such as in a student handbook). Please include brief reference to:
83	i) Why the PLOs are considered ambitious or stretching?
84	The set of skills embodied in these PLOs will allow students to develop specialist knowledge in the complexities of contemporary armed conflicts and peacebuilding and gain a mix of theoretical and empirical knowledge. Students will also have the option of an academic and an applied route. Students will have the option to join the project placement trip and a work placement during the summer in preparation for their dissertation (ISM). As the course progresses, students apply their knowledge and skills to understanding the complexities of armed conflicts and the politics of peacebuilding, while developing a range of analytical and methodological skills.
85	ii) The ways in which these outcomes are distinctive or particularly advantageous to the student:
86	Our emphasis on bridging theory and empirical knowledge with diverse methodological modules on offer helps students develop excellent critical analytical skills. The programme is unique in that it offers students flexibility that other academic programmes in offering the option of an applied or an academic route and methods training specific for the field of peace and conflict studies. Students have the option of structured fieldwork training with a work placement trip to South Africa (in collaboration with MA in Applied Human Rights) in the autumn term and an optional work placement in the summer term with an organization working in the peace and conflict field. This also gives students an advanced and nuanced understanding of the contextual and theoretical insights, which is so often lacking in other academic programmes. Together, these make our graduates attractive in the eyes of employers. In addition, key staff in the programme have extensive experience working in the field of policy or with policy makers thus ensuring that students enhance their learning experience and better understand how theoretical constructs are applied in practice. This contact will further expand students' professional network and add value to their perceptions of the programme.
87	iii) Please detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme? For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity
88	The MA programme in Peace and Conflict Studies offers an extensive induction activity to provide students with an overview of the programme learning objectives and programme structure. This orientation enables students to better assess their learning and studying requirements to successfully engage with the course materials and to navigate the theoretical, empirical and methodological components of the programme. In addition, throughout the autumn term the department run regular Study Skills sessions for PGT students. Sessions focus on: Reading and taking effective notes, Participating in seminars, and Developing academic writing skills. These study skills sessions are supplemented by sessions run by the Writing and Language Skills Centre. All students participate in department-run Turnitin workshops and complete the University's academic integrity tutorial.
89	iv) Please explain how the design of the programme enables students to progress through to the end of the award? For example, in terms of the development of research skills, enabling students to complete an independent study module, developing competence and confidence in practical skills/ professional skills, (See: QAA Mater's degree characteristics http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/information-and-guidance/publication?PubID=2977#.WS1JOevyu70).
90	Teaching is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, one-to-one supervision and independent study. Students' academic and personal development is supported and monitored closely through continual supervision and feedback. They will be trained how to think, act, engage, reflect and communicate as a researcher in Peace and Conflict Studies. Students will develop academic and writing skills through written assignments, build their capacity for reflexivity about the foundations and strengths and weaknesses within the discipline of peace and conflict studies, and learn how to conduct sustained independent academic research though their dissertation.
91	v) How the programme learning outcomes develop students’ digital literacy and use technology-enhanced learning to achieve the discipline and pedagogic goals which support active student learning through peer/tutor interaction, collaboration and formative (self) assessment opportunities (reference could be made to such as blogging, flipped classrooms, response 'clickers' in lectures, simulations, etc).
92	For several years it has been departmental policy that all modules are supported by a VLE site on Yorkshare. A module template is used to ensure a minimum standard across the department. This includes: the course announcements tool; module information; seminars; assessments (formative and summative); links to EARL software; and contacts. All summative coursework is submitted via the VLE so the departmental administration team are responsible for ensuring that generic material regarding instructions for submission, marking criteria etc are uniform and in the correct place across all VLE platforms. In addition to module sites the Department provides further support via the 'MA Study Skills’ VLE site. Programme learning outcomes 3, 4, and 5 are directly related to the students' digital skills, in that students will be able to use multiple online sources and research databases effectively, use digital tools like online storage facilities and software to securely store, organise, and analyse data, and use programmes like Word, Powerpoint, or Prezi to present their work.
93	vi) How the PLOs support and enhance the students’ employability (for example, opportunities for students to apply their learning in a real world setting)? The programme's employability objectives should be informed by the University's Employability Strategy:
94	http://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/support-and-admin/careers/staff/
95	Students can gain practical skills though optional work placement field trip module and/or a work placement. They will also enhance their employability skills through methodological training as well as through modules tailored to encourage critical and analytical thinking. Students will be trained how to think, act, engage, reflect and communicate as a researcher in the field of peace and conflict studies. They will gain the skills and knowledge to play their part in solving some of the world’s most pressing problems and be prepared for a variety of different careers, ranging from government, the civil service, research and policy-making, international organisations and NGOs, business and the financial sector.
96	vii) Consultation with Careers The programme proposal should be discussed with Careers. Please contact your Faculty Employability Manager. Please provide details of Careers' comments and your response.
97	viii) How is teaching informed and led by research in the department/ centre/ University?
98	Students will benefit from our research-led approach to teaching. Our academics are internationally recognised in their respective fields and all are active researchers reflecting diverse regional and methodological expertise within peace and conflict studies. Students will gain knowledge from top academics at the forefront of current debates and policy making. The MA in Peace and Conflict Studies degree fits perfectly with our research priorities, set out in the Research Strategy, LTP and in the Strategic Plan, to expand our capacity in international politics. The MA programme in Peace and Conflict Studies will be firmly anchored in a new research centre, York Centre for Conflict and Security, which has been approved and will be launched before the start of the programme.
99	5.d. Progression For masters programmes where students do not incrementally 'progress' on the completion of a discrete Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma, please summarise students’ progressive development towards the achievement of PLOs, in terms of the characteristics that you expect students to demonstrate at the end of the set of modules or part thereof, and provide appropriate detail of the module diet students will need to complete. This summary may be particularly helpful to students and the programme team where there is a high proportion of option modules and in circumstances where students registered on a higher award will exit early with a lower one. Note: it is not expected that a position statement is written for each masters PLO, but this can be done if preferred.
100	i) If the Postgraduate Certificate is an exit award only please: