Dissertation

Module Description

Overview:The dissertation is a mandatory component designed to engage students in producing original research on a defined topic, enhancing their depth of knowledge and skills within the Early Childhood Education field. This comprehensive project aims to cultivate advanced research capabilities and foster a nuanced understanding of the subject matter aligned with the program’s objectives.

Competences:

• Establishing a Research Territory: Students will demonstrate the importance of their research area, review existing research, and uphold ethical research standards.
• Creating a Niche: They will identify gaps in existing research or extend the knowledge base, contributing to ongoing research and development in the field.
• Occupying the Niche: Students will clarify their research purpose, formulate questions or hypotheses, present findings, and articulate the value of their research.

Knowledge Goals:Students will gain insights into both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, including mixed methods, and develop critical thinking about topic selection, ethical considerations, data access, and the structuring of their research paper.

Skills Development:

• Application of Knowledge: Students will identify and define a research problem related to Early Childhood Education, connect it to theoretical frameworks from the program, and detail the significance of the issue.
• Literature Compilation: They will gather and synthesize relevant historical and contemporary literature to support their research.

Upon completing this module, students will be equipped to autonomously conduct significant research, contributing to the field of Early Childhood Education with professionalism and academic integrity.

Entry Requirements

Candidates who apply for this course will possess:

• A full qualification at MQF level 4 in Early Childhood Education and SEC/Ordinary Level passes in Mathematics, English and Maltese.

OR

• 2 Advanced Level passes and 2 Intermediate Level passes including 2 subjects from Mathematics, English, Maltese.
  A pass at SEC/Ordinary Level in the subject that is not presented at advanced/intermediate level from the 3 specified above.
• In the case of students who do not possess all the formal required academic qualifications, then the RPL process could be applied such that if evidence of equivalent learning, related to the area of study of this programme, is found then the applicant could still be accepted in the course. Such RPL process will subject applicants to an interview held with a board of experts within the field, chosen specifically by IDEA College, so as to verify their experiences and prior learning.

IDEA College’s RPL policy can be accessed through this link

Furthermore, it will be advised to students at entry point that before going on placements, they will need to be in possession of:

• The POMA (Protection of Minors Application) certificate.
• A first-aid certificate prior to commening placement practice.
• A valid police conduct certificate.

Target Audience

This programme has the following target groups:

• Individuals who are approaching the field of Early Childhood Education.
• Individuals who have been working in the field as a means of capacity building.
• Individuals looking to advance to Kindergarten Educator III role.

Module / Unit Instruction

The student is to produce an original piece of research on a clearly defined topic. It is the most substantial piece of independent research work done by the student and may not be shorter than 12,000 words and not to exceed 15,000 words.

The student will receive the support of the assigned Dissertation Supervisor during that period.

Dissertation Supervisors will be industry professionals and practitioners with related experience.

Role of Dissertation Supervisor: 

• Help decide the topic of the dissertation and advise about primary and secondary reading.
• Help with formulating ideas and hypotheses.
• Discuss the progress of work with students
• Offer guidance on the proposed structure.
• Require students to produce drafts of sections or chapters of the dissertation.
• Offer feedback on some of the student drafts, which you can then revise.
• Advise about the organisation of dissertation into sections or chapters.
• Advise about matters of presentation, such as the title page, contents page, pagination, footnoting and bibliography.

Additionally, the student will be provided with a manual/guideline for the submission of the research proposal and dissertation to be presented during Research Methods module and one more time at the beginning of this component.

Recommneded Research Methodologies are:

• Literature Review
• Quantitative Research
• Qualitative Research
• Mixed Methods.

How you’ll be assessed

This module shall be assessed through a dissertation not shorter than 12,000 words and no longer than 15,000 words to be submitted via an online portal.

Dissertation Grading Structure:

• Between 86 and over – Pass with Distinction.
• Between 71-85 – Pass with Credit.
• Between 56 to 70 – Pass with Merit.
• Between 41 and 55 – Pass.
• 40 and less– Fail.

Final, MSc Artificial Intelligence qualification grade is a weighted score of:

• Final Modular Grades – 90%
• Final Dissertation Grade – 10%