MIED4220 ¨C Higher Education Research Traditions and Developments

Course content

In this course, we focus on two different, but interrelated research traditions in the field of higher education studies. The first concern is the primary processes of teaching and learning, knowledge production and services in higher education, the second is the governance, organization and funding of higher education. We will discuss essential theoretical perspectives, concepts and ideas in each of the two traditions, and will provide the students with advanced understanding of how the two traditions are related. You will work in groups and individually on various assignments addressing issues such as:

• The state¡¯s role in curriculum management and innovation

• How does performance based funding affect the organization of study programmes?

• How ¡®quality in higher education¡¯ conceptualized in the academic literature??

Learning outcome

By the end of the course you are expected to:

Knowledge

• have advanced understanding of central issues and perspectives in the field of Higher Education Studies.
• have thorough knowledge of the relevance of higher education studies for contemporary academic, public policy and socio-economic debates.
• have a good understanding of ongoing theoretical and methodological debates in higher education sciences and related fields

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Skills

• be able to understand and reflect on a variety of intellectual positions in the field of Higher Education Studies and to use this understanding for contributing to the further development of a research agenda for the field?
• be able to construct an academic argument
• be able to write and present academic texts
• have improved oral presentation skills

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General competencies

• have enhanced team-work capabilities and experience through group discussions and group presentations
• have strengthened their ability to express arguments in solid academic writing

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.

This course is primarily for students enrolled in the specialisation track Higher Education Studies of the Master in Education programme.?

Other Master students at UiO, as well as eligible exchange students, who are interested in taking this course can be admitted if there are available places.

Only students who have been admitted to this course may attend the lectures, seminars and examinations.

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Ranking:?

All students enrolled in this specialisation have equal access to the course.

Other applicants may be considered based on capacity. If there are available places, exchange students will be prioritized before master students on other programmes. ?? ? ?

Capacity: maximum 30 students

Teaching

The course consists of lectures and seminars.

• There is a mandatory 80% attendance requirement for this course.

If you do not fulfil the mandatory attendance requirement, you must complete an additional assignment prior to passing the course. The requirement for the additional assignment is at the discretion of the lecturer.

All the coursework and related activities are taking place at the University of Oslo Blindern campus.

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Access to teaching

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Examination

The final exam will be a written home-assignment (3500-5500) that will be provided to you by the end of the last lecture. ??

You must have completed the attendance requirements for this course prior to taking the final examination.?

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.

The grade of the home-assignment will count as the entire portion of the course grade.

Resit an examination

• If you fail the exam you have the opportunity to re-sit the exam during the same semester.
• If you are ill?during the exam period?or have valid absence from the assignment you are allowed to re-sit the exam within the same semester.
• If you wish to retake the exam in order to improve the grade, you may do so during the next offering of the course. You have the opportunity to retake the exam without retaking the compulsory components unless there are changes to the requirements in the course in the semester that you register for retake.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.