MSc Environmental Sustainability Education and Communication Programme Specification 2024-25

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2024-25
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5	Programme Title			MSc Environmental Sustainability Education and Communication.
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7	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2024		Award type			MSc
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9	What level is this qualification?			7		Length of programme			1 year
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11	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			Full-time
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13	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Yes		For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			N/A
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15	Awarding institution			University of York		Board of Studies for the programme			Education
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17	Lead department			Education		Other contributing departments			Environment and Geography
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19	Language of study and assessment			English		Language(s) of assessment			English
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21	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			Campus
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23	Partner organisations
24	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
25	We will involve partner organisations in some of the teaching, but UoY will be fully responsible. For example, external organisations might contribute as guest speakers to set challenges or provide formative comments from a practice perspective, but will not be involved in assessment.
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28	Reference points
29	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
30	Taught Postgraduate Programme Design Policy Statement. QAA Characteristics Statement Master’s Degree.
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33	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
34	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
35	No
36	No
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38	Exceptions to Regulations
39	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
40	No
41	No
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43	Internal Transfers
44	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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46		Transfers in:	NA			Transfers out:	NA
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49	Statement of Purpose
50	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. 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	Education and communication have a key role to play in addressing contemporary environmental challenges including the climate crisis and loss of biodiversity. This programme exists to launch the next generation of leaders in environmental sustainability education and communication. Working within an exciting collaboration between our Departments of Education and Environment and Geography you'll gain a fascinating insight into how to educate and communicate for environmentally sustainable futures and apply your own research to address questions you are interested in. This programme is an offer from the Environmental Sustainability Academy at York, a collaboration between research, teaching, policy, and our campus operations; spanning disciplines across the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences – and involving partners locally, nationally and globally. This programme will prepare you for a career in environmental sustainability education and communication. You will lead change through participatory, inclusive and creative approaches to formal and non-formal education. You will critically reflect on how different approaches can contribute to social and environmental justice and to environmental care and repair. You will develop knowledge, skills and capabilities about highly complex and sensitive problems from different disciplinary perspectives and examine how values and worldviews influence education and communication for environmental sustainability. The programme will empower you to take action, lead change and negotiate difference and disagreement in constructive ways drawing on a range of approaches from philosophical dialogue to problem based and solutions focused learning and futures thinking. Note: this programme does not confer qualified teacher status (QTS).
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62	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
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64	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?			Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
65	PG Certificate in Environmental Sustainability Education and Communication.			Entry route as well as exit route	Demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of the role of education and communication in addressing environmental problems, and a global and multi-disciplinary view of solutions and actions. Critically reflect on the use of education and communication to interrogate values, include stakeholders, elicit different perspectives, and work across difference on environmental issues. Work independently and in teams to educate and communicate in formal and non-formal settings, using reliable and trustworthy sources of information and evidence to inform thinking. Take a whole systems approach to environmental sustainability education and imagine alternative educational futures.			Education & Communication for Political Participation. Education, Communication & Action . Education & Communication for Alternative Futures.
66	PG Diploma in Environmental Sustainability Education and Communication.			Entry route as well as exit route	Demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of the role of education and communication in addressing environmental problems, and a global and multi-disciplinary view of solutions and actions. Critically reflect on the use of education and communication to interrogate values, include stakeholders, elicit different perspectives, and work across difference on environmental issues. Work independently and in teams to educate and communicate in formal and non-formal settings, using reliable and trustworthy sources of information and evidence to inform thinking. Take a whole systems approach to environmental sustainability education and imagine alternative educational futures. Ask questions and use a comprehensive understanding of research techniques in environmental education and communication.			As above, plus two core Education research methods modules and one optional module (Climate Education is being proposed).
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68	Programme Learning Outcomes
69	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
70	1	Demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of the role of education and communication in addressing environmental problems, and a global and multi-disciplinary view of solutions and actions.
71	2	Critically reflect on the use of education and communication to interrogate values, include stakeholders, elicit different perspectives, and work across difference on environmental issues.
72	3	Ask questions and use a comprehensive understanding of research techniques in environmental education and communication.
73	4	Create and communicate meaningful and equitable solutions to complex, real-world educational scenarios to promote environmental sustainability - using a variety of means - in a highly credible, independent and trusted way.
74	5	Work independently and in teams to educate and communicate in formal and non-formal settings, using reliable and trustworthy sources of information and evidence to inform thinking.
75	6	Take a whole systems approach to environmental sustainability education and imagine alternative educational futures.
76	7	Use initiative and imagination to make decisions and take responsibility for informed individual, social and political action.
77	8	Make a positive contribution by assessing the environmental impact of education and communication actions, set targets for improvement and understand the implications of change.
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79	Diverse entry routes
80	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.
81	The programme assumes that students will enter from both Education and Environment disciplinary backgrounds, and the teaching approaches have been designed to enable students to learn from each other. This means that English language standards will need to be high, because students will need to participate and work beyond disciplinary boundaries.
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90	Inclusion
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92	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.									TRUE
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94	Employability
95	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
96	The programme will help develop students' employability through the development of module based skills (e.g. design, facilitation, negotiation, communication, problem-solving, teamwork) and the programme of activities outside the module, for example service learning opportunities through the Environmental Sustainability Academy at York, design and participation in events for one planet week and the organisation of a student-led conference.
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