The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is a modern and vibrant institution located in Scotland. It was formed in 2007 through the merger of the University of Paisley and Bell College. With a history dating back to 1897, UWS has a rich heritage of providing education and training to students from across Scotland and around the world. Today, UWS is one of Scotland's largest universities, with four main campuses located in Paisley, Hamilton, Ayr, and Dumfries. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in areas such as business, engineering, health, education, and the arts, and is known for its innovative and student-centered approach to learning.

The BA (Hons) in Community Education provides a range of social and psychological theories and practices that help students take a critical stance in contemporary policy, social economics and in the transformative capabilities of communities.

It prepares you to work in Community Education (CEd) and Community Learning and Development (CLD) at local, national and international levels.

The values and principles of CLD: self-determination, inclusion, empowerment, working collaboratively and promotion of learning as a lifelong activity, underpin the overall ethos of this course.

There are three themes running through the course:

The dynamic nature of theory and practice and the importance of critical reflection and research in relation to community education, formal and informal practices and educational perspectives.
The development of anti-discriminatory professional practice in the context of changing cultural, social, political and economic conditions
The concept of ‘community’ and how this links to processes of globalisation and new communication practices and social relationships
Year 1
You will be introduced to key theories in education, sociology and psychology. You are also introduced to the CLD competences as a foundation for Personal and Professional Development Planning (PDP).

You will develop an understanding of social theory in relation to power and community contexts and will be introduced to critical pedagogy. You will explore ideas that can be used to enhance competence in group work and communication skills. Academic practice is embedded in all modules and students will learn one language and also take a practice learning module that is focused on building and maintaining relationships.

Year 2
You will research the core domains of practice and strategies for participation and inclusion at local and international levels. You will examine and consider how these can be applied in a range of contexts. You will also undertake a practice learning module focussing on project and community leadership.

Year 3
You will continue your studies of critical pedagogy and its purpose in creating emancipatory practice for equality and social justice. You will develop an understanding of the tensions in managing people and resources and will learn about practice-based research.

In trimester two, you will further develop your CLD competences by completing a capstone project within a practice learning placement.

Completion of the capstone project will involve developing and evaluating a specific piece of practice. You will evaluate your capstone project and present an artefact (such as a film, training pack or weblog) that can be used to show how the capstone project impacted on (a) your development of competences and (b) the CEd/CLD context of the practice project.

Year 4
In the final year, you will develop your emerging professional identity further by studying the implications of social policy on CLD practice. You will develop a more nuanced and critical understanding of your professional roles and practices.

You will also carry out a research dissertation through professional enquiry linked to practice learning.

Teaching and Assessment
Our learning and teaching approaches model CLD values and practices by applying an ethical and emancipatory purpose to a range of contemporary, historical and theoretical perspectives and teaching methods. Our use of alternative, visual and participatory methods engages students in the kind of informal and critical practices that students will use to engage learners in their own practice situations. Over 50% of our assessments involve practical or practice based tasks and there are no exams in this programme.

Learn a Language (optional)
This course also gives you the option of taking a language module, which can count towards your degree. These modules cover multiple languages and range from absolute beginner to near-native speaker level. The cost of your language module is included in the tuition fees. Find out more

Course Structure
Find out more about the structure, learning outcomes, compulsory and optional modules in this course.

BA (Hons) Community Education Course Structure.

• The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is a vibrant and dynamic institution located in Scotland. Founded in 2007, UWS was formed through the merger of the University of Paisley and Bell College. With a history dating back to 1897, the university has a rich heritage of providing education and training to students from across Scotland and around the world.
• UWS is one of Scotland's largest universities, with four main campuses located in Paisley, Hamilton, Ayr, and Dumfries. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in areas such as business, engineering, health, education, and the arts. UWS is also known for its innovative and student-centered approach to learning, which includes a focus on practical, real-world experiences and hands-on learning opportunities.
• UWS is officially ranked by Times Higher Education in the top 150 of universities worldwide under 50 years old (2022 Young University Rankings). In the recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 90 percent of research at University of the West of Scotland was classed as world-leading, internationally excellent, or recognised internationally. UWS was also crowned Higher Educational Institution of the Year 2022 (The Herald Higher Education Awards).
• One of the standout features of UWS is its commitment to providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today's rapidly changing job market. The university offers a wide range of programs that are designed to meet the needs of students from all backgrounds, and its experienced faculty is dedicated to helping students reach their full potential.
• In addition to its strong academic programs, UWS also offers a wealth of extracurricular activities and student services. The university has a vibrant student life, with numerous clubs and organizations, as well as sports teams, volunteer opportunities, and cultural events. There is also a well-established student support network that provides guidance and assistance to students on a wide range of topics, from academic support to personal and financial advice.
• Another key aspect of UWS is its strong commitment to research. The university has a growing reputation as a center of research excellence, and its faculty and students are working on a wide range of cutting-edge projects in areas such as engineering, health, education, and the arts. This research is not only helping to advance knowledge in these fields, but it is also helping to create new opportunities for students and improve the lives of people around the world.
• In conclusion, the University of the West of Scotland is a dynamic and forward-thinking institution that is dedicated to providing its students with the education, skills, and experiences they need to succeed in today's rapidly changing world. With its strong academic programs, vibrant student life, and commitment to research, UWS is the perfect place for students who want to get the most out of their college experience.

You will need to book the accommodation after you have been accepted.

You can choose to live on campus or off campus in private accommodation.

• Make a booking online after you have been accepted (in this case please let us know your choice when you apply).
• Register when you arrive - its not possible to reserve a room before arriving. You can arrive a few days before and book it