The ANC Education is about to introduce a MSc in Psychology in collaboration with the University of West London (UK).
ANC Education having identified the vacuum in the Sri Lankan education market for a well-recognised Masters qualification in Psychology is planning to launch the MSc in Psychology in September 2013 in collaboration with the University of West London, UK. Whilst the quality assurance of the programme as well as student evaluation will be supervised by the School of Psychology, of University of West London, the programme content has also been adapted to make it suitable for the Sri Lankan requirement.
“We have tailored the Health Psychology modules taught in the MSc offered at the University of West London to areas in which local students are interested in, such as Counseling Psychology and Development Psychology,” explained Dr Julia Townshend, Principal Lecturer, Field Leader in Psychology and Human Sciences and Interim Head of School of Psychology, Social Work and Human Sciences at the University of West London.
The modifications for the course structures were brought about after an in depth student survey as well as by assessing the range of vocations and occupations where graduates can apply their skills after completing studies at ANC. In addition to offering students modules in Development Psychology, Health Psychology and Counseling Psychology, a strong emphasis is also given to theoretical modules and on research methods.
“Running alongside these modules we also have the dissertation module where students will carry out an original piece of research. Given our experience with students in the UK, the research is practically helpful for students in terms of their careers and developments. Some students find opportunities to present their research at conferences, which give them excellent opportunities to acquire professionals skills and also expose them to possibilities of networking with other psychologists,” said Pauline Fox, Principal Lecturer, School of Psychology, Social Work and Human Sciences.
The MSc in Psychology at the ANC will be offered as a full time programme on a part time schedule to be completed in one year. “We find this model is challenging yet highly rewarding to our students undergoing the other Master’s programmes we are offering in Business (MBA/MSc/MA) and Law (LLM). Majority of the students tend to work and finance their studies and manage their lives. So it is part of their learning. Payment plan options and student loan facilities offered by ANC education is indeed useful for students”, elaborated Erandi Dodamwala, Manager, Enrollment – ANC, on the format of the MSc Psychology programme.
Students who complete the MSc Psychology programme through ANC will be awarded an internal degree from the University of West London. Options for graduates of the MSc programme will not be limited to social work or mental health professions only. According to Dr Mojgan Shadbash, Academic Head of the Psychology Degree Programme at ANC, the range of options, available for graduates is vast, extending to service and manufacturing industries, health care and to educational areas of employment. She stressed on opportunities for graduates to pursue careers as lecturers, researchers or in organisational psychology, where practitioners will be able to work in various industries to improve the effectiveness of employees and process systems as well as improve the work environment. She said, “as we are hoping to commence offering the MSc Psychology Programme to students in September 2013, applicants with Bachelors in Psychology are eligible to apply for the programme”.
