The Doctor of Education (EdD) programme is a professional doctorate and research degree for experienced professionals from education and related fields (e.g. health education, speech and language therapy, psychology). It attracts students nationally and internationally from a variety of sectors including Early Childhood, Primary Education, Secondary Education, Further Education, Higher Education, Support Services, Management Services, System level leadership, and Industry. As such students stand to benefit from the cross-sectoral interdisciplinary nature of the programme. 

 

The Professional Doctorate is designed for those who would like to extend their professional learning through research with a view to transformation of practice, a contribution to the field and enhanced understanding of the discipline, whilst meeting the requirements of rigour and originality expected of a doctorate. It aims to enhance students’ professional learning through supporting students to use research and scholarship to address identified gaps, issues, problems of practice, policy and /or context and to become leaders in their field and discipline.

 

The programme situated within Ireland’s only full Faculty of Education, DCU Institute of Education, draws upon two decades of professional doctorate studies.  Students will get to work alongside senior researchers and leading experts in their fields and sectors. They will work with  supervisors with expertise in their area of interest to generate new and original research. 

 

The Professional Doctorate in the Institute of Education prides itself on being a member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) which is an network of 135+ education institutions focused on professional doctorates in education. DCU Institute of Education is the only member institution outside of the USA.  CPED is a professional development network which provides support for students and faculty alike in terms of programme design, annual conferences, weekly and monthly events and opportunities for collaboration and publication. CPED “envision a future where equity-minded educational professionals lead lasting and positive change for the learning and benefit of everyone”.  

 

Within the DCU Institute of Education, students have the opportunity to collaborate with other EdD students and PhD students through the Research in Progress Seminars held fortnightly each semester and the annual Postgraduate Research Unconference held annually. These afford students opportunities to talk about their research as it unfolds and to learn from others who are on a similar journey.  Other supports include the DCU writing centre, library support and graduate training opportunities by the Graduate Studies Office in DCU.  

 

In addition to being cross sectoral and inter-disciplinary the Professional Doctorate students also focus their studies in one of the following broad Areas of Professional Focus:

• Digital Learning
• Education for Sustainable Futures
• Inclusive and Special Education
• Leadership and Evaluation
• Professional Learning and Teacher Education

 

This allows students to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding in an Area of Professional Focus while at the same time help them to situate their emerging perspectives within national and international discourses with a view to shaping and giving direction to existing and emerging policy and practice agendas. During the first two years, students engage in two modules focusing on their Area of Professional Focus, and five core modules which all students attend together.