Master of Science in STEM Education and Engagement

MQF Level: 7

ECTS Value: 90 ECTS

Start Date: September

Duration: 3 Years (Part-time)

Programme Description

Educational institutions, entities and organisations have a growing demand for people to communicate and engage with audiences in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This programme will provide course participants with a range of tools and strategies relevant to the area of STEM education and engagement. This programme is offered through a combination of online learning and weekend workshops in collaboration with Malta Council for Science & Technology.

Entry Requirements

Interested applicants are required to be in possession of a minimum of:

An MQF Level 3 (Grade 1-5, or equivalent) or higher in English;

AND

A Bachelor Degree at MQF Level 6 (minimum of 180 ECTS or equivalent), or higher in the areas of Science or Technology or Engineering or Mathematics, or a cognate area deemed relevant by the Institute for Education.

Course Outline

First Year Compulsory

Code	Description	Credits
MSTM101	Introduction to STEM Education and Engagement	5 ECTS
MSTM102	Identifying Types of Enquiry in STEM	5 ECTS
MSTM103	Creative Approaches towards Addressing Controversial Issues in STEM	5 ECTS
MSTM104	Communication and Problem-Solving Skills	5 ECTS
MSTM105	Evidence-based Practices in STEM Engagement	5 ECTS

Electives (5 ECTS to be chosen)

Code	Description	Credits
MSTM106	Managing Practical STEM in liaison with Industry	5 ECTS
MSTM107	Applied Everyday Mathematics	5 ECTS

Second Year Compulsory

Code	Description	Credits
MSTM208	Methods of Research	6 ECTS
MSTM209	Developing 21st Century Skills through STEM	6 ECTS
MSTM210	Science and Active Citizenship	6 ECTS

Electives (12 ECTS to be chosen)

Code	Description	Credits
MSTM211	Applied Engineering	6 ECTS
MSTM212	Informal and Non-formal STEM engagement	6 ECTS
MSTM213	From STEM to STEAM	6 ECTS
MSTM214	Emerging Technologies	6 ECTS

First Year

Third Year Compulsory

Overall Objectives and Outcomes

Code	Description	Credits
MSTM300	Dissertation	30 ECTS

By the end of this programme, participants will be able to:

Competences

Develop knowledge and ability to conduct further research in relation to the history and rich applications of STEM;
Engage in a high level of reflection when assessing and evaluating STEM education/engagement related issues;
Critically analyse and discuss the role of government STEM-related interventions in modern societies including its motivation, targeting and consequences;
Develop an awareness of how STEM disciplines shape our material, intellectual, and cultural environments;
Engage in STEM-related issues with the ideas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as a constructive, concerned and reflective citizen;
Promote an unprejudiced, open minded and appreciative attitude towards STEM movements through social justice frameworks;
Actively participate in existing citizen science endeavours in the community;
Develop an understanding of the political and ideological drivers of the current STEM agenda;
Critically assess innovative technologies and effectively determine their potential for STEM education;
Develop a coherent vision or strategy on using emergent digital technologies effectively and responsibly;
Demonstrate an understanding of how STEM professionals work in relation to the scientific method such as testing hypotheses by predicting outcomes and looking for evidence to either support their predictions or render the prediction invalid;
Develop an understanding of the experimental skills required to perform a scientific investigation that will impact their working practice;
Identify STEM education and engagement good practices and implement them with different target audiences;
Develop creative approaches to engage citizens and other stakeholders with topics that they find challenging to discuss.

Knowledge

Demonstrate an understanding of relevance of STEM to everyday life;
Explain the natural and designed world, and draw evidence-based conclusions about STEM related issues;
Demonstrate understanding of the characteristic features of STEM disciplines as forms of human knowledge, inquiry, and design;
Appreciate the relationship between science and society;
Outline and understand the variety of STEM careers related to different fields of study;
Develop an awareness of the key current issues in STEM;
Apply elements of STEM enquiry to how it might affect their practice working within the field;
Outline methods and processes used by the media, science communicators and anti-science groups to engage their audiences;
Develop understanding of the importance of STEM professionals to be effective communicators;
Outline methods and processes available for the integration of arts in STEM through theory and practice;
Creative tools, various art forms and approaches to engage different target audiences in terms of gender, age, interests in society.

Skills

Construct explanations and design solutions to obtain, evaluate, and communicate information;
Critically assess the issues confronted in STEM policy design;
Critically analyse STEM debates conducted in the media through the lens of science impartiality;
Comprehensively identify and explore the drivers which influence the practice of science communication and public engagement worldwide;
Apply elements of STEM enquiry to how it might affect their practice working within the field;
Identify and recommend emerging technologies that best support specific STEM learning outcomes;
Reflect through conversation and dialogue as key tools to facilitate learning;
Apply creative tools and different art forms to communicate about research or explain a subject of interest;
Recognise different art forms that can be used to engage various audiences;
Critically apply citizen science methodologies to instil curiosity, engage citizens with science and facilitate active citizenship and democracy;
Critically identify suitable local and global contexts in relation to STEM engagement.

Mode of Delivery

This programme adopts a blended approach to teaching and learning consisting of online learning and periodical study weekends. Information related to the structure and delivery of the module may be accessed through the specific programme outline available above. For further details, kindly refer to the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Policy and Procedures. The language of instruction and assessment is English with the exception of Maltese used in modules specific to the Maltese language or as otherwise prescribed.

Lectures are held either online or at the Institute for Education and/or workshops at Esplora.

Assessment Methods

This programme adopts continuous and summative methods of assessment including assignments, online tasks, reflective journals, projects and video presentations. For further details regarding assessment policies, procedures and grading systems, kindly refer to the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Policy and Procedures .

Certification

Upon successful completion of this programme, participants will be conferred a Master of Science in STEM Education and Engagement accredited and recognised by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority.

Participants are also offered the opportunity to exit the programme with a Postgraduate Certificate in STEM Education and Engagement (30 ECTS) or a Postgraduate Diploma in STEM Education and Engagement (60 ECTS) following successful completion of the required minimum credits.

Career and Further Learning Opportunities

This course prepares participants to work within educational institutions and organisations with a focus on educating and engaging audiences and the general public in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. It may also provide access to further studies at MQF Level 8.

Applications

Applications for the Master of Science in STEM Education and Engagement programme open mid-May of each year with programmes commencing the following September

When open, interested applicants may apply through the Institute for Education’s online portal: https://ife.portal.gov.mt/programme/apply

Non-EU/EEA course participants who intend to move to Malta for study reasons, for the duration of the programme, require an authorisation from Identity Malta in order to be able to study locally.

For any queries related to the Admissions process kindly contact ife.admissions@ilearn.edu.mt