Early Childhood Education and Care (IMEC) Scholarships

International Master in Early Childhood Education and Care (IMEC) is a two-year international Master Programme (120 ECTS) in Early Childhood Education and Care. All students will follow a given structure, spending at least one semester at all three partner institutions.

IMEC is offered in cooperation between Oslo University College (Norway), University of Malta (Malta), and Dublin Institute of Technology (Ireland).

The target groups are teachers, educators, counselors, leaders or other groups who work with education and development issues in preschool and primary school, within central or local government or in private enterprises.

Learning objectives

The aim of the programme is to integrate research, professional development and wareness and knowledge of key policy issues at an advanced level by increasing mobility, shared learning and thinking, thus contributing to achieve the goal of a unified teaching, learning and research environment, strengthening the Bologna process.

* To integrate research, professional development and policy at an advanced level within the field of early childhood education and care.

* To gain knowledge of the tension between general policy targets, the increasing diversity of family structures and the need to strengthen children's right as citizens.

* To bridge the gap between quality provision and the lack of higher education and research within the field of early childhood education and care.

* To explore the increasing pressure on early education and care systems arising from socio-economic and socio-cultural transformations, to focus not only on educational institutions but on children's early learning in a broad variety of formal and informal learning contexts.

* To foster critical awareness of cultural and individual diversity from a political and professional perspective.

What does the course qualify for?

On successful completion of International Master in Early Childhood Education and Care, the students will be awarded a joint Master degree in Early Childhood Education and Care. (120 ECTS credits) signed and recognized by all three partners: Oslo University College (Norway), Dublin Institute of Technology (Ireland) and University of Malta (Malta).

The course qualifies for teaching, research and leadership within the educational sector and for work involving early childhood educational issues in public or private institutions. Potential professional or academic careers are decision-making and policy making functions in public administration bodies such as ministries and municipalities, leading positions within child care and primary school systems, social service, develop bachelor programmes in early childhood education and care (ECEC) in target countries, teach bachelor programmes in ECEC, work with children’s rights organizations, carry out research consulting assignments (mostly for NGOs).

Admission

* Bachelor degree or equivalent in or with significant relevance to early childhood education

* Sufficient command of written and oral English

* Computer knowledge and skills

The applications are evaluated by a combination of different factors. The factors and their weight are:

* Relevance and excellence of academic background (weight: 50%)

* Relevant experience and professional training (weight: 25%)

* The submitted statement of purpose (weight: 15%)

* Letters of reference (weight: 10%)

The final selection of students to IMEC is made by the IMEC Selection Committee, which consists of representatives from all three partner institutions. No more than 2 of the successful applicants should have the same nationality.

The selected students are proposed for Erasmus Mundus scholarships, subject to the decision by the European Commission's Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency.

Please note: the maximum number of Erasmus Mundus Master Courses for which students can apply is three. The commission will verify if students have been selected on more than one course.

Quotes

A maximum of 20 students are admitted to IMEC each year, 10 from so-called third countries, 8 from EU/EEA-EFTA countries and 2 from the area of Western Balkans and Turkey.

The selected students are proposed for Erasmus Mundus scholarships, subject to the decision by the European Commission's Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency.It is not possible to apply for a scholarship without a place on IMEC. Once you have been accepted to as a student on IMEC, the IMEC consortia will apply for a scholarship on your behalf.

Application to International Master in Early Childhood Education and Care

Contact detail: imec@hio.no

Moreinfo: http://www.imec.hio.no