Taught Core Courses

Contemporary Issues in Education

This course confronts the dynamic and often contentious issues shaping 21st-century education. It will critically investigate the forces of technological disruption, globalization, and social change, examining their direct impact on policy and classroom practice. Core topics include the ethical and pedagogical challenges of integrating artificial intelligence, developing curricula for global citizenship, championing equity and inclusive learning environments, and promoting sustainable well-being for both students and educators. By the end of this course, students will be equipped not only to analyze complex educational problems but also to design and advocate for innovative, evidence-based solutions in diverse educational contexts.

Education in the Age of AI and Digital Transformation

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a focus on the rapidly evolving field of Generative AI (GenAI), in transforming teaching and learning as a core component of education’s ongoing digital transformation. Building upon foundational concepts of AI in education, the course delves into the unique capabilities, applications, and implications of GenAI for educators and learners across all levels, from kindergarteners to older adults and self-learners. Students in this course will critically analyze the intersection of AI and established learning theories, investigate innovative pedagogical approaches facilitated by GenAI, and evaluate the associated ethical, social, and practical challenges. Through research, hands-on exploration of recent GenAI tools, and a substantive group project / individual assignment, students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to critically assess, propose, and design the effective and responsible integration of AI and GenAI in diverse educational contexts. This exploration will equip them to be leaders in shaping the future of learning in an increasingly digital world.

Leading for Educational Change and Innovation

The role of educational leaders has become more challenging than ever in the era of global educational reform and increasing accountability. To enact the changing roles of educational leaders in turbulent times, this course provides an opportunity for students to develop a critical and reflective understanding of educational change and innovation in the international, regional and local contexts. It is designed to prepare current and future educational leaders for today’s and tomorrow’s organizations across all educational sectors. This course comprises three major themes, namely, leadership theories for change and innovation; leadership competences for educational change and innovation; and contextualizing theories/models in practice. Students will be encouraged to examine leadership and management theories and theoretical models for change and innovation, identify major contextual and ethical issues on leadership implementation, and explore educational leaders’ competences for leading change and innovation. Students will have an opportunity to explore an area of interest and contextualize leadership through undertaking a small-scale practitioner research inquiry, leading to evidence-based innovation and scholarly knowledge enhancement.

Educational Research: Theory and Practice^#

This course provides EdD students with a rigorous foundation in educational research, integrating both quantitative and qualitative paradigms. Students will explore key epistemological traditions, research ethics, and methodological frameworks that underpin empirical inquiry in education. Through seminars, workshops, and guided practice, students will develop skills in research design, literature analysis, sampling, instrument design, and basic data analysis across research traditions. The course emphasises critical engagement with published studies, methodological coherence, and scholarly reflexivity. By the end of the course, students will be able to conceptualise and justify research questions and methodologies appropriate to real-world educational issues.

Advanced Educational Research^#

Building on “Educational Research: Theory and Practice,” this course deepens students’ understanding of advanced research methodologies in education, with an emphasis on sophisticated research design, analytic strategies, and theoretical reasoning. Students will explore advanced quantitative methods (e.g., regression, SEM, moderation/mediation, longitudinal models), advanced qualitative approaches (e.g., grounded theory, narrative inquiry, discourse analysis, ethnography), mixed-methods designs, and cutting-edge techniques from the learning sciences (e.g., learning analytics, multimodal learning data, experimental and design-based research, protocol and log-data analysis).

Students will critically evaluate methodological alignment, validity, reliability, trustworthiness, interpretation rigor, and ethical issues. They will refine a focused research agenda and generate a high-quality research plan suitable for an EdD thesis proposal, integrating methodological sophistication with practical relevance.

^# Choose one from two; or select the second research methodology-related course as one of the electives.

Any aspect of the courses and course offerings (including, without limitation, the contents of the course and the manner in which the course is taught) may be subject to change at any time at the sole discretion of the University if necessary. Without limiting the generality of the University’s discretion to revise the courses and course offerings, it is envisaged that changes may be required due to factors including staffing, enrolment levels, logistical arrangements, curriculum changes, and other factors caused by change of circumstances. Tuition fees, once paid, are non-refundable.

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