Institute for Education, Community and Society (IECS)

We use interdisciplinary approaches to inform the understanding of education, teaching and learning across a wide range of formal and informal settings. Our work is underpinned by a commitment to a values-led understanding of education.

Study

We provide specialist expertise in a range of programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Our flagship MSc Education includes a General pathway and four specialist pathways, reflecting the expertise across the School.

We also have two online programmes: The internationally innovative MSc in Digital Education and the MSc in Social Justice and Community Action, as well as two well-established, professionally accredited professional undergraduate programmes: BA Childhood Practice and MA Learning in Communities. 

Undergraduate programmes

Childhood Practice (BA)

Learning in Communities (MA Hons)

Postgraduate programmes

Comparative Education and International Development (MSc)

Digital Education - Online Learning (MSc/PgDip/PgCert)

Education (MSc) with the following pathways:

• General
• Child and Adolescent Psychology
• Early Childhood Practice and Froebel
• Philosophy of Education
• Research

Social Justice and Community Action - Online Learning (MSc/PgDip/PgCert)

Research

Our Institute has an established record of education and critical inter-disciplinary social science research in:

• education studies
• education policy
• community education
• childhood studies
• digital education
• developmental psychology in education

Offering a vibrant scholarly community that applies critical inter-disciplinary social science research to the broad field of education, the Institute is home to research groups in Childhood and Youth Studies, Community Education, Developmental Psychology in Education (DPiE), Higher Education and the Philosophy of Education. It also hosts the Centre for Research in Digital Education; the Centre for Research in Education, Inclusion and Diversity (CREID); and the Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland (CERES).

Our staff are heavily involved in the interdisciplinary research and education work of the new Edinburgh Futures Institute.

Research centres

Centre for Research in Digital Education

Centre for Research in Education Inclusion & Diversity (CREID)

Research groups

CES, formerly the Centre for Educational Sociology

Childhood and Youth Studies Research Group

Community Education Research Group (CERG)

Comparative Education and International Development (CEID) Research Group

Developmental Psychology in Education Research Group

Early Years Research, Policy and Practice Group

Higher Education Research Group (HERG)

Philosophy of Education Research Group (PERG)

Research inter-disciplinary networks

Race and Inclusivity in Global Education Network (RIGEN)

Research-led Teacher Education Network (RTEN)

Cross-College centres/networks

Edinburgh Centre for Data, Culture & Society (CDCS)

Staff

Our staff reflect the School's long history of education and critical inter-disciplinary social science research in:

• education studies and policy
• equity
• inclusion and diversity
• community education
• childhood studies
• psychology and professions allied to children's education, development, welfare and wellbeing

Head of Institute Team

Events

Details of research seminars, conferences and other events held by our Institute for Education, Community and Society.

Visit our events page