MA in Social Justice and Public Policy graduate Susanne was drawn to the programme because she wanted to learn about policy and making change happen
My motivation for doing the MA in Social Justice and Public Policy programme was:
I was delighted to see the course available from SETU and knew that it exactly what I wanted. Working in an NGO, I wanted to learn about policy but most importantly, I wanted to learn practical skills that I could use in policy work. I could see in my daily work how policy effects people's daily lives and wanted to learn more about how I could work on making change happen. This course covers diverse topics such as media skills, economics, strategic planning and advocacy which all work together to deliver a really well rounded thought out Masters. The course was part time which was important to be able to work around work and family commitments.
The MA in Social Justice and Public Policy programme has impacted my career in the following way:
The Masters opened up a new way of thinking about the world around me and also set me on the path to a brand new career. A few months after completing the course, I began a new job as a research and policy analyst. I know that I would never have done that if I had not completed this course. It gave me the language, the skill set, the confidence and also knowledge of my own boundaries and limitations (or to put a positive spin on that, areas for growth!). Education is transformative.
My advice for adult learners considering this programme at the moment is:
I think part of the joy of learning as an adult is that you are there because you choose to be. The downside is that there may well be numerous other demands on time and making sure that reading and writing gets done and deadlines met can be a real challenge! The supports are there, both from the college and classmates so make sure to build those connections. As an adult learner, the responsibility lies with you so make sure you are ready to make the commitment to yourself. And get those around you on board too.
Why I would recommend studying in WIT:
This staff and lecturers that we encountered were always helpful and interested. As this course was delivered off campus, it meant dealing with the college in a different way, so the staff were always working to ensure that we had access to whatever we needed.