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Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title Education Policy
Module Code EDU1132 (ITS: PR9010)
Faculty Policy & Professional Practice School DCU Institute of Education
NFQ level 9 Credit Rating 10
Description

This module focuses on the implementation and enactment of educational policy, introducing students to the theoretical, conceptual underpinnings and application of a range of educational policy frameworks together with their applicability across a variety of educational situations, contexts, and settings. The module provides an in-depth understanding of the practical and ethical dimensions of educational policy formation, implementation, and enactment as it relates to social, economic transformation and educational change. The module also explores the hindering and facilitating F(A)ctors of educational policy with reference to the various levels of implementation and enactment that exist. The module also critiques the policy tools available together with considerations to the design, indicators of impact and dissemination of educational policy reports and findings.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the conceptual, theoretical underpinnings and applicability of a range of educational policy frameworks across a variety of national and transnational contexts and settings
2. Describe the practical and ethical dimensions of educational policy as it relates to social, economic transformation and educational change
3. Analyse policy trends and alignments in educational policy across the continuum of education
4. Analyse the hindering and facilitating F(A)ctors that influence educational policy implementation and enactment
5. Select and apply appropriate policy Framework to analyse and discuss theories, concepts and critiques of educational policy
6. Articulate the key issues to be addressed in the dissemination of educational policy reports and findings.


WorkloadFull time hours per semester
TypeHoursDescription
Lecture20active engagement in class and group-based discussion and critique of course content
Laboratory20Sessions using NVivo (or equivalent)
Online activity40Participation in synchronous and/or asynchronous online classes. Discussion and/or critical review of relevant research recommended by the tutor(s).
Independent Study120Reading and critical review of literature relevant to the module
Assignment Completion50Research paper, oral presentation, and defence of analysis to peer group
Lecture20Active engagement in class and group-based discussion and critique of course content.
Online activity60Participation in synchronous and/or asynchronous online classes. Discussion and/or critical review of relevant research recommended by the tutor(s).
Independent Study120Reading and critical review of literature relevant to the module.
Assignment Completion50Action Plan, Oral presentation and defence of action plan
Total Workload: 500
Section Breakdown
CRN20375Part of TermSemester 2
Coursework0%Examination Weight0%
Grade Scale40PASSPass Both ElementsY
Resit CategoryRC1Best MarkN
Module Co-ordinatorAnne LooneyModule Teacher
Assessment Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
PresentationOral Presentation and defence of action plan20%n/a
AssignmentIdentify a national or transnational policy relevant to education. Using a justified policy analysis framework critically analyse the policy by exploring: the conceptual, theoretical, and empirical underpinnings for its development; the hindering and facilitating (F)actors for its implementation and enactment; indicators of impact at the various macro, meso and micro levels of enactment. Based on the analysis devise an action plan to for the enactment of the policy.80%n/a
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
RC1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module.
RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element.

* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Content and Learning Activities
Identify theories and concepts, in the formation of educational policy. Identify the practical and ethical dimensions of educational policy as it relates to social, economic transformation and educational change. Critique, and evaluate the applicability of a range of frameworks to analyse educational policies across a variety of national, transnational educational contexts and settings. Explore the hindering and facilitating F(A)ctors relating to educational policy implementation and enactment. Explore the key dimensions for the development and implementation of a Policy implementation plan.

Indicative Reading List

Books:
  • Brown, C., & Malin, J. R. (Eds.): 2022, The Emerald Handbook of Evidence-Informed Practice in Education: Learning from International Contexts., Emerald Group Publishing.,
  • Chitpin, S., & Portelli, J. P.: 2019, Confronting educational policy in neoliberal times., Routledge,
  • Henry, M., Lingard, B., Rizvi, F., & Taylor, S: 2013, Educational policy and the politics of change, Routledge,
  • Hood, C.: 1983, The tools of governments, Macmillan,
  • Kogan, M.: 2018, Educational policymaking: A study of interest groups and parliament., Routledge,
  • Kyriakides, L., Creemers, B., & Charalambous, E.: 2018, Equity and Quality Dimensions in Educational Effectiveness. Dordrecht: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-72066-1,
  • Mundy, K., Green, A., Lingard, B., & Verger, A. (Eds.).: 2016, Handbook of global education policy, John Wiley & Sons.,
  • Phillips, D., & Ochs, K. (Eds.).: 2004, Educational policy borrowing: Historical perspectives., Symposium Books Ltd.,
  • Rizvi, F., & Lingard, B.: 2009, Globalizing Education Policy, Routledge,
  • UNESCO: 2020, A primer for engaging education stakeholders in policy reviews, UNESCO,
  • Verger, A., Altinyelken, H. K., & Novelli, M. (Eds.).: 2018, Global education policy and international development: New agendas, issues and policies., Bloomsbury Publishing,


Articles:
  • Anyon, J.: 2005, What" counts" as educational policy? Notes toward a new paradigm. Harvard Educational Review, 75(1), 65-88., 48792
  • 1998: Big Policies/Small World: an introduction to international perspectives in education policy. Comparative Education, 34(2): 119-130., 48793, 1
  • Transversing the vertical case study: A methodological approach to studies of educational policy as practice. Anthropology & Education Quarterly, 45(2), 131-147.: 48794, 1, Brown, M., McNamara, G., O’Hara, J., & Shevlin, P.
  • 48795: 1, Brown, M., McNamara, G. & O’Hara, J., 2016, Quality and the rise of value-added in education: The case of Ireland. Policy Futures in Education, 14, 810-829.,
  • 1: Burdett, N., & O’Donnell, S., 2016, Lost in translation? The challenges of educational policy borrowing. Educational Research, 58(2), 113-120.,
  • Capano, G., & Howlett, M.: 2020, The Knowns and Unknowns of Policy Instrument Analysis: Policy Tools and the Current Research Agenda on Policy Mixes. SAGE Open. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244019900568, 48798
  • 2019: What is meant by “rigour” in evidence-based educational policy and what’s so good about it?. Educational Research and Evaluation, 25(1-2), 63-80., 48799, 1
  • The construction and deconstruction of educational policy documents. Education, Globalisation and New Times: 21 Years of the Journal of Education Policy, 3(3), 167.: 48800, 1, Davies, P
  • 48801: 1, Diem, S., Young, M. D., & Sampson, C., 2019, Where critical policy meets the politics of education: An introduction. Educational Policy, 33(1), 3-15.,
  • 1: Dyer, C., 1999, Researching the implementation of educational policy: A backward mapping approach. Comparative education, 35(1), 45-61.,
  • Firestone, W. A.: 1989, Educational policy as an ecology of games. Educational researcher, 18(7), 18-24, 48804
  • 2002: The welfare state and education: a comparison of social and educational policy in advanced industrial societies. German Policy Studies, 2(1), 143-173., 48805, 1
  • For whom this reform?: outlining educational policy as a social field. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 15(3), 341-363.: 48806, 1, Nguyen, H. C.
  • 48807: 1, Maroulis, S., Guimerà, R., Petry, H., Stringer, M. J., Gomez, L. M., Amaral, L. A. N., & Wilensky, U., 2010, Complex Systems View of Educational Policy Research. Science, 330(6000), 38–39. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40802954,
  • 1: Meltzer, R., & Schwartz, A., 2018, Policy analysis as Problem Solving: A flexible and evidence-based framework., Routledge,
  • Phillips, D., & Ochs, K.: 2004, Researching policy borrowing: Some methodological challenges in comparative education. British Educational Research Journal, 30(6), 773-784., 48810
  • 2018: The rhetoric of the ‘digital leap’in Finnish educational policy documents. European Educational Research Journal, 17(3), 442-457., 48811, 1
  • Performativity and pedagogising knowledge: Globalising educational policy formation, dissemination and enactment. Journal of Education Policy, 30(3), 363-384.: 48812, 1, Spillane, J. P., Diamond, J. B., Burch, P., Hallett, T., Jita, L., & Zoltners, J.
  • 48813: 1, Taylor, S., 1997, Critical policy analysis: Exploring contexts, texts and consequences, Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 18(1), 23-35,
  • 1: Taylor, S., 2004, Researching educational policy and change in ‘new times’: using critical discourse analysis. Journal of Educational Policy, 19(4), p. 433-451,
  • Verger, A., & Skedsmo, G.: 2021, Enacting accountabilities in education: exploring new policy contexts and theoretical elaborations. Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability, 33(3), 391-401., 48816
  • 2015: Educational policy implementation revisited. Educational Policy, 29(1), 3-17,
Other Resources

  • 0: Asynchronous online content,

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