Luxembourg: new M.A. program in Multilingual and Multicultural Contexts

[Harold F. Schiffman]

New Academic Master in Education - Learning and Development in
Multilingual and Multicultural Contexts

MA multi-LEARN

starting at the University of Luxembourg in September 2007

Aims and outcomes

Challenging multilingual and multicultural contexts within modern
societies as induced by migration, mobility and globalization call for new
expertise and leadership in all areas dealing with relevant educational
issues such as research in learning and teaching, educational policies,
management of human resources as well as social and cultural development.
Taking the Luxembourg context as an example, the MA programme mediates an
advanced understanding of socio-cultural issues of learning and
development in situations of linguistic and cultural diversity.

The programme encourages students to develop a scientifically grounded,
contextually valid and problem-oriented working attitude preparing them
for careers within two strands:

- The successful completion of the trilingual multi-LEARN MA programme
	prepares for doctoral programmes in the area of education and
	(inter-)disciplinary fields related to the study of linguistic and
	cultural diversity.
- It also provides a valuable asset for existing and prospective careers
	beyond the academic world in domains that call for ever more experts with
	a socio-cultural research background in education and culture, such as
	teaching-for-learning practices, vocational training and learning,
	journalism in multimedia and publishing, group-oriented marketing and
	advertising as well as linguistic management in public and private areas.

General course description

The programme follows a challenging concept of teaching-for-learning
within higher education based on the theoretical framework of Activity
Theory, the socio-cultural and socio-historical paradigm of learning and
development as well as the socio-cognitive study of learning and teaching
in interaction.  In this way, it provides excellent grounds for extending
existing theoretical frameworks, professional skills and mediational tools
for the study of multilingual and multicultural contexts on behalf of the
MA candidate's individual profile and development throughout the MA
courses.

The multi-LEARN MA programme takes a learners-as-researchers approach
combining case studies with a cross-disciplinary exploration of the
following four domains of interest:

- the nature of learning, especially with regard to language and literacy,
- the dialectic systematics of human activity and development,
- the role of media (e.g., Information Communication Technology) and
	mediation in processes of learning and development,
- the interplay of identity, discourse and the politics of language.

Pedagogical principles and teaching methods

According to each domain, students will work within a case-based
analytical framework integrating qualitative research methodologies in
order to explore such issues as:

- new ways of reasoning and modelling when dealing with the dynamics of
	multilingualism and multiculturalism,
- the possibilities of fostering diversity-bound resources for learning
	and development in general and across the lifespan,
- the (individual, collective, societal) construction and negotiation of
	identity through and within discourse and interaction,
- the importance, nature and dynamic impact of semiotic systems, cultural
	artefacts and social mediations.

The multi-LEARN MA programme puts to action a case-based, problem-oriented
working scheme, using seminar teaching as well as peer collaboration,
individual tutoring, guided internships and 'blended learning'. Students
will not only focus on learning and development within multilingual and
multicultural contexts but, importantly, they will also experience
activity-driven learning and analytical development throughout their
studies at the University of Luxembourg.

A multilingual programme scheme

The MA programme promotes a specific concept of functional multilingualism
and is taught in three languages: English, French and German. Students
need active knowledge of and fluency in English and additionally either
French or German. Comprehension and reading skills in the three languages
are considered as an advantage.

ECTS credits

The MA programme consists of 120 ECTS credits.

Entry requirements

Candidates are expected to have an excellent BA degree in educational
studies, social sciences, psychology or a disciplinary field related to
education, learning, language studies and socio-cultural issues. The
multi-LEARN MA programme aims to bring together graduates from local,
regional and international contexts, thus allowing for personal and
professional development in terms of learning in peer-settings,
case-driven group configurations as well as problem-oriented counselling.

Conditions of admission: To be announced by April 2007
Starting date: September 2007

For further details concerning the programme:  Asst.-Prof. Dr. Gudrun
Ziegler Tel.: +352 46 66 44 93 63 gudrun.ziegler at uni.lu

More information coming up at:  http:/www.uni.lu/formations/master__1

http://linguistlist.org/issues/18/18-955.html
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