Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong

Programme Overview

The Doctor of Education programme is offered for experienced professionals who are leaders, or aspire to be leaders, in education-related institutions and services.

Programme features:

• a professional doctorate consisting of well-structured and integrated coursework and research components that can be used to support high levels of understanding and investigation of issues relevant to the practice of education
• a wide variety of courses for equipping candidates with research skills and knowledge in their particular specialism. EdD candidates will be given a high degree of flexibility to select the courses that are most appropriate for their research studies
• quality supervision is provided throughout the whole period of candidature
• a series of research seminars and workshops given by in-house specialists and international scholars will run throughout the study period to inform and support candidates’ studies
• an Office of Research supports and coordinates the administration of all matters relating to research postgraduate studies and a coherent programme of research methodology support and research seminars / workshops

Our EdD programme is distinctive with its strong research focus and coursework component tailored to the needs and interests of participants and their work places. The coursework component is fully articulated with the research component.

It aims:

• to develop participants' capacity for inquiry and evidence-led decision-making and their ability to translate research findings into usable knowledge and
• to enhance the capacity of educational practitioners to model and transmit to others best professional practices.

Programme Structure

The programme is on a part-time basis commencing on 1 September. The curriculum shall normally extend over a period of not less than 36 months and not more than 72 months for part-time study. Because of the strong articulation between the coursework and thesis components, the estimated completion time is about 4 - 6 years.

Candidates are required to satisfactorily complete a total of 7 courses described below:

1. Research Methods I;
2. Research Methods II;
3. Thesis Writing Workshop;
4. Issues in Education;

1. completed the 4 core courses;
2. completed the first three chapters (i.e. Introduction, Literature Review, and Research Methods) of the doctoral thesis to the satisfaction of the Supervisory/Advisory Panel; and
3. presented a confirmation seminar.

Areas of Study

The Faculty has more than 100 full-time academic staff members drawn from various parts of the world. In addition to performing teaching duties, academic staff are engaged in an extensive range of research which provides a focus for supervision of research degrees. Members of the Faculty lead both local and international projects. Many of them sit on different advisory committees contributing to the formulation of policies related to education in Hong Kong.

The major research areas in the Faculty are listed in the following seven Division groupings:

Division of Chinese Language and Literature

Division of English Language Education

Division of Information and Technology Studies

Division of Learning, Development and Diversity

Division of Policy, Administration and Social Sciences Education

Division of Science, Mathematics and Computing

Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences

Syllabuses

Candidates shall be required to satisfactorily complete a total of 7 courses, comprising 4 core courses and 3 elective courses, as described below. The core courses must be completed by the end of the probationary period. The elective courses should be completed before the submission of thesis, and at least 2 should be chosen from among the Faculty’s "Courses on Primary Disciplines" offered especially to Research Higher Degrees Students (including Division-based Primary Discipline Courses and primary-discipline courses offered by individual colleagues), while the remaining courses may be chosen from the Faculty’s Taught Master’s Degree programmes.

CORE COURSES

EEDD6701 Research Methods I

This course provides an overview of research methods. Topics include locating and reviewing research literature, the role of theory, formulating research questions, measurement, selecting methods, and an overview of general approaches such as experimental research, case study, correlational research, and action research.

EEDD6702 Research Methods II

This is a continuation of Research Methods I and focuses on doing research in education, including interviewing, observations, transcription, coding, and other procedures, as well as issues of ethics, research integrity, and validity, and generalizability. This course will culminate in the development of a research proposal.

EEDD6800 Thesis Writing Workshop

The aim of this course is to help students to become more aware of important aspects of writing that contribute to overall communicative success of their thesis, so that they can approach the writing of their theses more systematically and confidently. Topics to be covered include: the structure of different types of theses; the discourse features and language used in reviewing research literature, making explicit the research gap, stating hypotheses or research questions, reporting and discussing results as well as findings; the writing of abstracts, introductions and conclusions; the use of verbal signposts and verb tenses across the thesis; and issues of academic language and delicacy.

EEDD6900 Issues in Education

This course is structured as a forum consisting of multiple sessions for students to explore various generic educational issues. Each session will be a combination of a guest lecture, discussions, group/individual work, presentations, and debate.

Note: Classes are normally scheduled in evenings during weekdays, and/or Saturday mornings or afternoons.

Regulations

Ed256   Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission to the programme leading to the degree of Doctor of Education, candidates shall

1. comply with the General Regulations;
2. hold either
   1. a Bachelor’s degree at second class honours and a taught Master’s degree or other qualifications of equivalent standard from this University or from another University or comparable institution accepted for this purpose; or
   2. a Bachelor’s degree with first class honours from this University or another qualification of equivalent standard from this University or from another University or comparable institution accepted for this purpose;
3. demonstrate a record of at least 4 years of professional experience in an educational institution or services in the education sector or services in other relevant sectors as judged appropriate by the Faculty; and
4. satisfy the examiners in a qualifying examination, if required.

Ed257   Qualifying examination

1. A qualifying examination may be set to test candidates’ ability to pursue the research project proposed. A qualifying examination shall consist of one or more invigilated written examination papers; additionally, the invigilated written paper(s) may be supplemented by other forms of examinations.
2. Candidates who are required to sit a qualifying examination shall not be permitted to register until all examination requirements are satisfied.

Ed258   Registration

Successful candidates shall in the first instance be granted provisional registration for the EdD degree, with such registration to be confirmed only when the requirements set out in regulation Ed265 below are satisfied.

Ed259   Award of degree

To be eligible for the award of the degree of Doctor of Education, candidates shall

1. comply with the General Regulations; and
2. complete the curriculum and satisfy the examiners in accordance with the regulations set out below.

Ed260   Period of study

The programme shall begin in September. The curriculum shall normally extend over a period of not less than 36 months and not more than 72 months for part-time study, or not less than 24 months and not more than 48 months for full-time study.

Ed261   Leave of absence

A candidate who wishes to be absent from Hong Kong and/or the approved course of study and research shall be required to submit a written application for leave of absence. Study leave may be granted for the purposes of study or research outside Hong Kong and non-study leave may be granted when a candidate is best advised for personal, health, or other reasons to have time completely away from his/her academic responsibilities. Unless special circumstances warrant an exception, leave of absence under both categories shall not normally be granted for a cumulative period of more than twelve months for the entire period of study. Any period of study leave granted shall be counted towards the period of study and any period of non-study leave granted shall result in the extension of the period of study by the period of absence.

Ed262   Completion of curriculum

To complete the curriculum, candidates shall

1. follow instructions on the syllabuses prescribed and complete all specified work as required;
2. satisfy the examiners in the coursework requirements for the degree as set out in the syllabuses;
3. complete, to the satisfaction of the examiners, a thesis as specified in regulation Ed267 below; and
4. satisfy the examiners at the oral examination.

Ed263   Coursework requirements

Candidates shall be required to take courses and satisfy the coursework requirements as prescribed by the examiners. The objective of the coursework component is to aid research work and to prepare candidates for thesis writing.

Ed264   Supervision and progress

1. Candidates shall be required to submit a progress report at six-month intervals, and may be required to give one or more seminars on any part of their course of study and research.
2. A candidature may be discontinued if satisfactory progress is not being made.

Ed265   Probation and confirmation of candidature

1. Candidature whose applications are accepted shall be subject to a probationary period, which shall not normally exceed 24 months for part-time candidates and 12 months for full-time candidates. By the end of the probationary period, candidates must have
   1. satisfactorily completed the 4 core courses;
   2. completed the first three chapters of the thesis to the satisfaction of the Advisory Panel; and
   3. presented a confirmation seminar.
2. At the end of the probationary period, a decision shall be made on whether the candidature shall be confirmed or terminated.

Ed266   Discontinuation

A candidature may be discontinued

1. if academic progress is not satisfactory; or
2. if the student has failed to meet the requirements as stipulated in this set of Regulations.

Ed267   The thesis

1. The thesis should be between 50,000 and 60,000 words long (exclusive of tables, bibliographies, and appendices). The thesis must represent an original contribution to knowledge and/or the understanding of educational practice, and contain material worthy of publication.
2. Candidates shall serve written notice of intention to submit a thesis for examination at least 3 months prior to the expected date of submission. The notice shall be accompanied by a provisional thesis title.
3. Candidates shall not be permitted to submit a thesis until all coursework requirements have been satisfied.
4. Candidates shall be examined by examiners appointed for this purpose both on the thesis itself, and at an oral examination on the subject of the thesis and/or the approved course of study and research. Candidates may also be examined by other means.

Ed268   Thesis examination results

1. Candidates who have satisfied the examiners shall be recommended for conferment of the degree of Doctor of Education.
2. Candidates who have not satisfied the examiners in the thesis component:
   1. may be required to resubmit the thesis after making corrections and amendments as required by the Board of Examiners, without a new examination; or
   2. may be required to revise and resubmit the thesis for a new examination within a specified period, and may also be required to satisfy the examiners at a new oral examination, or any other examination as appropriate, on the subject of the revised thesis and/or the approved course of study and research; or
   3. may be required to attend a new oral examination, or any other examination as appropriate; or
   4. may be deemed to have failed, without the option of resubmission.

Ed269   Coursework examinations results

1. Coursework shall be assessed on a pass/fail basis.
2. Candidates who have not satisfied the examiners in respect of the coursework requirements at the first attempt shall normally be permitted to present themselves for re-examination in the same course. Candidates who do not satisfy the examiners in such re-examination may be required to discontinue their studies.

Ed270   Publication based on thesis

Any publication based on work approved for a higher degree should contain a reference to the effect that the work was submitted to The University of Hong Kong for the award of the degree.

Teaching Staff

The programme will be taught by the academic staff in the Faculty and will also invite local and overseas scholars to offer research seminars and teach EdD courses.

Composition Fees

Composition fee per student for 2013-2014 intake:

Note: Expected completion time for the whole programme is about 4-6 years.
^ Subject to approval

Admissions Requirements

The EdD is for experienced professionals who are, or aspire to be, educational leaders.

Applicants should normally hold a recognized Bachelor's degree and a taught Master's degree, and demonstrate a record of at least 4 years of professional experience in an educational institution or services in the education sector.

Application

Application Deadline: TBA (normally in February)

Applications should be submitted in electronic format via the online application system at http://www.asa.hku.hk/admissions/tpg by the application deadline.

In addition, a "Statement of Proposed Area of Professional Inquiry" regarding the applicant's initial research interest and other supporting documents should be submitted by the deadline to the Office of Research, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.

Please refer to the suggested framework provided on the "Statement of Proposed Area of Professional Inquiry" proforma which is downloadable from “Supporting Document” via the above online application system.

Information Session

Date: TBA (normally in December)