Education (Knowledge, Power and Politics) (Taught)

Knowledge, power and politics rest at the heart of education. Recognising that education takes a wide variety of forms and is subject to different, often competing agendas across the globe, this MPhil in Knowledge, Power and Politics explores fundamental questions relating to: the roles of education in societies; transnational debates about the nature of knowledge formation and its circulation; and the consequences for social justice.

Students joining this course will:

• benefit from teaching by internationally renowned Faculty staff who are actively involved in cutting-edge research and policy advice in the area of knowledge production in the contemporary global world of education, its political nature, diverse settings and issues of social justice;

• closely engage with the work of the Faculty’s Education, Knowledge, Power and Politics research cluster;

• join a select group of no more than 25 to 30 students per year;

• experience a teaching approach that promotes active, participatory, inclusive and research-oriented pedagogy;

• enjoy personalised support and mentoring through one-on-one supervision;

• connect with a friendly and vibrant community from across the world;

• benefit from access to research groups and networks across the University of Cambridge; and

• develop skills for employability across a range of organisations concerned with research, policy and practice.

The MPhil is offered by the Faculty of Education as a full-time course and introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. Its main aims are:

• to examine the theoretical frameworks used in the study of education and its constituent disciplines;

• provide training in research methods appropriate to education;

• advance students’ capacity for professional reflection and judgment;

• cater for a range of specialists interested within the field of education or one of its constituent disciplines.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, students will have:

• a comprehensive understanding of research techniques, and a thorough knowledge of the literature applicable to their specific educational domain;

• demonstrated originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their field;

• shown abilities in the critical evaluation of current research and research techniques and methodologies;

• demonstrated self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and implementation of research.