Would you like to learn about the assessment, provisioning, ongoing support, and review of Assistive Technology?

The MSc in Educational Assistive Technology (https://www.dundee.ac.uk/postgraduate/educational-assistive-technology-part-time) (EduAT) is a globally unique course that equips students with the skills and knowledge to work as an Assistive Technologist. We are now recruiting for students wishing to start in January 2025!

This course is distance learning offer – all teaching sessions and tutorials take place online. The course includes an annual on-campus teaching and conference week: whilst this is optional for international students, attendance is encouraged.

To undertake the programme students must be working in a context where AT is in regular use, in order to complete coursework assignments. If you would like to explore how your current working context might enable you to address EduAT coursework, please contact a member of the programme team.

We have included a brief overview of the course below, if you have any questions, please email MScEduAT@Dundee.ac.uk and we will be happy to answer these for you.

What is MSc EduAT and what will students learn?
The MSc in Educational Assistive Technology is being taught from the University of Dundee. The course is the only Assistive Technology (AT) focussed MSc offered from the UK. We are training students to assess for, implement and support the use of a wide range of AT. The course is designed to improve the skills of those working in education and beyond, who are working with AT users with a broad range of learning difficulties, physical disabilities and sensory impairments to increase their access to the curriculum, their independence and their participation.

The curriculum has been aligned with the ESCO occupational definition of an Assistive Technologist (https://esco.ec.europa.eu/en/classification/occupation?uri=http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/4e82464b-e9d7-4d51-9116-294ab40c5169). Across six core modules, students will learn more about the roles and responsibilities of the Assistive Technologist, as well as studying the principles of assessment, adaptation of mainstream and specialist technologies, incorporating AT in practice and supporting AT users. The course also offers students a theoretical grounding in models of disability, inclusive pedagogy and how AT is framed in legislative and regulatory frameworks. Students will gain practical research skills including qualitative and quantitative methodologies, academic writing and critical appraisal, which provide the basis for future learning or research opportunities.

Who is the course for?
The course is for anyone wishing to enhance their skills in electronic assistive technology, or for those who wish to gain recognition and accreditation for their current work.

The MSc has a focus on the assessment and support of electronic assistive technology within education, social care, health, or other contexts that embed lifelong learning. Taught content is ideal for teachers, therapists, technologists and other professionals who are seeking to develop and enhance their ability to support those who require Assistive Technology (AT). We welcome applications from those who have experience of working to support disabled people in a variety of contexts. The entry requirements for the course have been designed to be as inclusive as possible: holding a higher degree is not necessarily required should applicants demonstrate relevant experience. Prospective students are invited to contact the team to discuss their individual circumstances.

The course suits those students who are motivated, self-directed and keen to become part of the growing community of Assistive Technologists active worldwide in research and practice.

How is the programme structured?
Programme delivery is via distance learning, and teaching sessions take place online. This delivery method has been optimised for students who are already employed in education, health, third sector, social care and other organisations that provide services to disabled people. Teaching is highly interactive, and students are encouraged to bring their knowledge and experience to the learning community.

Assessment is undertaken through written assignments that have been designed to be completed within student’s current working contexts. We emphasise reflective practice and encourage students to directly apply their learning across the course and beyond.

You will be part of a diverse and motivated student cohort and will have the opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas and good practice with your peers, alongside the taught material. An on-campus week in Dundee takes place once a year, when you will be able to meet other learners, staff and AT users in person. Students will also interact with expert users of AT within the University’s unique User Centre – an invaluable group for those interested in participatory research and co-design. Attendance at the on-campus week is optional for international students and whilst attendance is encouraged, important elements will be offered hybrid or recorded for reference purposes.

Programme staff will work to support students and their home organisations to integrate the EduAT role successfully, which we see as a vital part of the success of the AT role.

Who teaches the programme?
The MSc is taught by Mr Rohan Slaughter (https://www.dundee.ac.uk/people/rohan-slaughter) (who is the programme lead), Professor Annalu Waller OBE (https://www.dundee.ac.uk/people/annalu-waller) and Dr Tom Griffiths (https://www.dundee.ac.uk/people/tom-griffiths). The core programme team between them have over 80 years of clinical, educational and research experience in AT. In addition to the core modules, students can supplement their learning by taking elective modules from the Schools of Computing, Education and Social Work and Health Sciences. All members of the teaching team are highly active in AT research, and students are encouraged to undertake and participate in research, and to share their work in academic and professional forums.

Useful links to find out more
•       If you want to know more about the MSc in Educational Assistive Technology (MSc EduAT) the course pages (https://www.dundee.ac.uk/postgraduate/educational-assistive-technology-part-time) on the University website is the place to start.
•       You can watch the 5 minute AT short on MSc EduAT (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIQVzXn2nLA) that Rohan recorded for the Natspec TechAbility 2021 conference.
•       A recording is available (https://dmail-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/rslaughter001_dundee_ac_uk/EfRlBxA4Gr5AlZxAeyCzNRUB4DlgemAB4756gGn11R6-Pg) of our 2024 open afternoon, current students and graduates give their views on the course at 1:03 in the recording.
•       There is also a recording available of our 2021 open afternoon, the most interesting / useful part is our students giving their views at around 1:07 in this recording: MSc Educational Assistive Technology Open Day – YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGW5y1VbOUk) There is a recording of Rohan going through the core modules towards the start of the video.
•       There is a presentation that Rohan gave on the course, see MSc EduAT recording on the Call Scotland website (https://www.callscotland.org.uk/training/webinars/WEB184/).
•       The ESCO database entry for the assistive technologist role: assistive technologist | Esco (europa.eu) (https://esco.ec.europa.eu/en/classification/occupation?uri=http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/4e82464b-e9d7-4d51-9116-294ab40c5169)
•       You can read about our first cohort who graduated in 2023 in this press release: https://www.dundee.ac.uk/stories/wandaful-celebration-graduate-and-retiring-guide-dog. Our second cohort graduated in June 2024.

A full-time version of the course is also available, and this would require placement opportunities to be arranged, please contact a member of the programme team if you are interested in this route. Please note that we cannot organise work placements in countries other than the UK, as we cannot quality assure such placements.

To apply for the programme, visit the postgraduate programme websites for part-time (https://www.dundee.ac.uk/postgraduate/educational-assistive-technology-part-time) / full-time (https://www.dundee.ac.uk/postgraduate/educational-assistive-technology) study.

You can also contact us directly by email: MScEduAT@dundee.ac.uk