Regeneration and Sustainable Communities

Mode of attendance: Full-time: by work and inquiry-based learning

Duration: 15 months (MA/MSc)

Start dates: September & January

Location: You will combine your work with full-time learning through activity in your workplace, through individual study at home and by involvement with other students online. You will be expected to learn online with fellow students and in their workplace.

Course overview

The masters degree in Regeneration and Sustainable Communities is a unique course designed for regeneration practitioners working in a wide range of contexts for developing sustainable communities. These include paid employees and community volunteers. ‘Work’ and the ‘workplace’ are broadly defined here to include voluntary and unpaid activity.

The course has a high degree of flexibility, making it perfectly suited to the lifestyle of the working practitioner or busy volunteer. The focus of study will be on actions to improve working practices using a fully online programme of inquiry-led learning delivered through online communities. Study on this course will enable improvements to the development of sustainable communities, and support your career development.

This tried-and-tested method has no examinations, but you will be encouraged to create reports in the way you find most comfortable. You will be supported and guided to recognise your working practice, think about its effectiveness and consider options to improve it. Progression through the programme should improve competency and build confidence. What you already know will count and provide a basis for what you learn.

You will join a community of other people involved in regeneration and sustainable communities and share knowledge and practice throughout the programme, helping each other to complete the course. The University will bring in experts on regeneration and sustainable communities for you to question and learn from their expertise.

You may also take classroom-based options as part of this degree. For more information about this please contact the programme leader.

About the course

The focus of your study will be individually negotiated based on your work and agreed with your learning facilitator ensuring that it is relevant to the course requirements. You will reflect on your work practice and identify opportunities for improvement in regeneration and sustaining communities, supported by a workplace advocate.

You will become part of a community of learners who support each other through the online learning environment. This 'community of inquiry' offers a rich experience of challenge and debate, support, sharing findings, critical feedback and conversations with invited experts. Tutors support you through the course online.

There are no traditional examinations. Instead, you will be encouraged to use creative approaches to document your projects, building up a portfolio of work that will then be assessed. Your portfolio will provide a critical commentary that demonstrates your learning journey and shows how you have achieved the learning outcomes for the course. The final assessed task is to exhibit to an audience of your stakeholders the outcomes of your work. You will be expected to evaluate how your exhibition is received, to show that you can communicate and review your learning.

What you will learn

During the course you will develop intellectual tools and techniques to help you inquire into your professional practice within the wider context of your organisation and regeneration. It will also enhance your understanding of the inter-disciplinary knowledge and practices in regeneration that are relevant to your work role.

You will develop your capability to use technology effectively and critically evaluate its use in your work. You will also learn to plan, implement and evaluate change strategies for your workplace and develop high-level communication and persuasion skills that will be used to present and support these changes.

You will examine the history, current practices and possible future developments in the field of regeneration and sustainable communities; and learn to apply research and rigour in approaching problems and opportunities in your workplace. You will become a reflective practitioner, able to develop your practice based on evidence and analysis.

What you will study

Study on the course consists of five modules totalling 180 credits. There are some core and some optional modules. Each module will enable you to examine aspects of your work practice.

• Analysing the Professional Context (30 credits);
• Organisational Improvement (30 credits);
• Action for Improvement (30 credits);
• Communications for Regeneration Professionals (30 credits);
• Research Preparation (30 credits);
• Action, Exhibition, Validation and Defence (60 credits).

Successful completion of each phase of study leads to a postgraduate qualification. These include the postgraduate certificate (PgCert) in Regeneration and Sustainable Communities (60 credits), the postgraduate diploma (PgDip) in Regeneration and Sustainable Communities (120 credits), and the master of arts/master of science (MA/MSc) in Regeneration and Sustainable Communities (180 credits).

Special features

As the course is inquiry-led and work-based, it is designed to be relevant both to your needs and those of your employer or organisation. Your studies will be based on real work issues and opportunities for change, which makes the course a highly personalised model that has immediate and tangible benefits for you and your employer or organisation.

The course may be studied full-time or part-time but, as your study is part of work, you will be able to study and work at the same time.

To help you with your inquiries in the workplace, you will need the support of a workplace professional advocate who will help you to access resources or people and provide you with critical feedback. Nurturing this relationship will be your responsibility and you will be given advice on how to do this. The work you put into the development of this relationship will be credited towards your study on the programme.

The course enables blended learning whereby relevant credits earned on other modular courses can be mapped onto the framework thus reducing the time it will take to finish the programme.

The course is delivered by the School of the Built Environment and Engineering but will involve tutors from other parts of the University and experienced practitioners from the regeneration and sustainable community context. You will be able to quiz the experts through an online ‘hotseat’ on their field of expertise and how it relates to your work.

Careers and professional development

From the outset, you will be able to demonstrate to your employer or organisation the increased impact you can have in your workplace through the projects you undertake. The knowledge, skills and abilities you gain will be of direct relevance to your work and will equip you to become an effective lifelong learner.

Studying this course will also help you to develop a number of career-enhancing skills in addition to your subject specific knowledge and understanding. These include interpersonal skills, research skills, oral and written presentation skills, independent working, and time and project management.

On graduation you will automatically become a member of the University’s alumni association, gaining access to a wide range of the University's facilities, including the library, journals and periodicals, as well as professional and employment advice throughout your career.

The masters degree in Regeneration and Sustainable Communities will also enable progression to a professional doctorate or doctor of philosophy (PhD) at Bolton and other universities.

Professional recognition

This degree is intended to support practitioners and professionals in regeneration and sustainable communities at a strategic level. It is not intended for learners looking to study accredited degrees which give exemptions from professional examinations.

Additional costs

You will be responsible for payment of all membership and other fees in relation to your achieving professional membership of institutions. You may also have to buy relevant books and journals relevant to your practice. You will also be expected to have access to a computer.

Entry requirements

Normally, you should have one of the following: an honours degree in a relevant subject and significant work experience; professional status with a relevant professional institution; alternative qualifications and/or experience (i.e. you will also be considered if you have extensive appropriate experience in this field).

In addition, you must currently be active in a role where you have the opportunity to undertake actions to improve your practice.

You must attend an interview. This may be by telephone, online or at the University.

We welcome applications from international students. For applicants who have not studied their previous qualifications in English a TOEFL score of at least 575 (written) / 230 (computer-based) / 89 (internet-based) or an academic IELTS score of at least 6.5 will be required.

You should also have a readiness for online study, and you need to be able to use computers and internet technology. You will also need reliable internet access. There is no requirement to attend face-to-face sessions at the University, although you will be welcome to use the University's facilities, including the library. Electronic access is also provided for library facilities.

How to apply

Please visit our 'how to apply for a taught postgraduate course' web page for details.

Further Information

For an informal discussion and further details about the course please contact:

Dr Margaret Nelson (Programme Leader)
Tel: +44 (0)1204 903431
E-mail:M.Nelson@bolton.ac.uk

Lisa Hughes (Programme Administrator)
Tel: +44 (0)1204 903657
Email: L.Hughes@bolton.ac.uk

Roz Fox or Ebun Akinsete (Regeneration Enquiries)
Tel: +44 (0)1204 903537
Email:regen-enquiries@bolton.ac.uk

For general information about the University and how to apply please contact:

Enquiry Team (Student Services)
Tel: +44 (0)1204 903903
Email:enquiries@bolton.ac.uk