Education Studies - Intercultural Learning & Leadership

Master in Education Studies

Intercultural Learning and Leadership

This is an innovative and unique course for educators who want to examine the complexities of teaching in a diverse and globalised world. Participants will be prepared to take on leadership roles in their schools and workplaces, bringing the skills of a critical intercultural educator to support learners in achieving their potential. This programme has been endorsed by the Centre for School Leadership and is recognised as being suitable for aspiring leaders, new senior leaders, established school leaders and system leaders in Irish education.



Who is the course for?

Educators who want to engage with the opportunities and challenges of teaching in a diverse and globalised world. The course aims to equip participants with the threshold academic knowledge to undertake educational leadership, while engaging in a critical examination of race, language diversity, and religious diversity in educational settings.



What will I study?

Participants will study four discrete modules in first year: schools and diversity, inclusion and intercultural education; school leadership in diverse settings; teaching English as an additional language; and religious diversity and intercultural education. In year 2, students have the opportunity to focus on one of these areas in greater depth, develop research skills and prepare a dissertation on a topic relevant to intercultural education.

Year 1

Module 1 – Schools and Diversity, Inclusion and Intercultural Education

› Aspects of culture and individual cultural backgrounds

› Approaches to understanding diversity in society and education

› Policy, legislation and literature impacting on culture and education

› Effective teaching and learning strategies for the diverse classroom

› The inclusive school: building a shared sense of community



Module 2 – School Leadership in Diverse Settings

› School leadership: Concepts and paradigms

› Learning-centred leadership

› Ethical leadership

› Distributed leadership

› School leadership: Practitioner perspectives



Module 3 – Teaching English as an Additional Language: An Intercultural Approach

› Linguistic diversity in the context of intercultural education

› The role of oral language in the development of English language proficiency

› Literacy: supporting the development of English language proficiency

› Developing a whole-school and community approach to teaching English as an additional language.

› Assessment & Evaluation



Module 4 – Religious Diversity and Intercultural Education

› Religious Diversity in the context of intercultural education

› Key pedagogical principles underpinning the religious dimensions of intercultural education

› Encounters with the ‘other’; entering into interreligious dialogue

› Learning from the experience of others

› Developing a whole-class and whole-school approach to religious diversity and intercultural education



Year 2

Dissertation Module

› Research methodologies and research ethics

› The research design process

› Research proposal

› Dissertation

Minimum entry requirements

› An honours degree (level 8) with second class honours or higher and at least three years’ teaching

experience or equivalent professional experience



› In exceptional cases students who meet the honours degree requirement but do not have the

necessary experience or who meet the professional experience, but have only a level 7 degree may

be considered for the course. Candidates may be shortlisted and invited to attend an interview and

complete a written assignment as appropriate.



› English Language Requirement: please check www.mie.ie/englishlanguage

Applications for the September 2025 intake will open in late January/ early February 2025.

How is the course assessed?

Assessment is linked to the modular nature of the course. Types of assignment include essays, case studies, and a discussion forum, and a literature review in year 1, followed by a research proposal and dissertation in Year 2.

ECTS Credits: 90

2 years part-time.

Intake: September 2025.

What are my career options?

Graduates of the course will be well prepared for many leadership and management roles in schools, including principalships. Graduates will be well placed to offer professional development for teachers or to work with pre-service educators on the topic of intercultural education. Furthermore, graduates could contribute to the field of intercultural education by presenting conference papers and writing journal articles.