MA in Euro-Mediterranean Comparative Education Studies The Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Educational Research (EMCER) will again be offering the MA course in comparative education studies. The two year course, which will kick off in October 2007, will be offered on a part-time basis, and will consist of taught study units, units offered at a distance and through self-study, as well as a dissertation. The aim of the course is to engage students in comparative analyses of education systems, focusing in particular on the EU member states as well as on countries in Mediterranean region.

Taught components include an introduction to comparative education, research methods, as well as a focus on education in the EU, on globalisation, on development, as well as on policy-making. The course draws on local expertise as well as on input by foreign guest lecturers. Students who have just completed the first course were addressed by local education and social science specialists, as well as by invited professors such as Andreas Kazamias (University of Athens), Zelia Gregoriou (University of Cyprus), Aaron Benavot (Unesco EFA specialist), Xavier Bonal (University of Barcelona), and Roger Murphy (University of Nottingham). Students also met ex-Ministers of education as well as key people involved in the policy-making process to better understand the issues that are central in the shaping of education systems.

This year, a select number of students enrolling in the second course will also have an opportunity to follow courses at the London Institute of Education and at the University of Tampere, Finland, particularly if they choose to focus their dissertation on Vocational Education and Training (VET) issues.

The MA-EMCES course aims to attract a maximum of 10 high achieving, highly motivated and self-directed candidates with strong degrees in education and in related areas, particularly in the social sciences. Interested candidates are encouraged to arrange a meeting with the course leader, Professor Ronald Sultana, before enrolling in order to ensure that this challenging course corresponds to their professional needs. Regulations, course outlines and reading lists can be obtained from ronald.sultana@um.edu.mt .