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Master in Boundary-Crossing Learning and Leadership

Master's Degree Programme
(Postgraduate)

To accelerate the capacities of Training and Adult Education (TAE) sector professionals and leaders to cope with, strategise within and lead in a highly disruptive world.

Master in Boundary-Crossing Learning and Leadership


Overview

The Master in Boundary-Crossing Learning and Leadership (MBX) is a novel, transdisciplinary-focused, cutting-edge and innovative programme which was created to accelerate the capacities of Training and Adult Education (TAE) sector professionals and leaders, and those who function as organisational change-makers, to cope with, strategise within and lead in a highly disruptive world. The focus on leadership, learning, cross-boundary change and innovation is based on the understanding of the dynamic and rapidly evolving external environment where the constant and disruptive shifts in the global environment and the changing nature of work demand an equally rapid and in-depth up-skilling to handle such a context.

Unique Features of the Programme

The following features demonstrate the unique characteristics of the MBX programme, including the:

  • flexible nature of the programme, with four independent Graduate Certificates making up the programme, emphasis on practice and application and multiple entry and exit points to enable working adults to more easily take on the programme;
  • introduction of Industry Mentors to enhance practice applicability of all that is explored in the programme and extend industry links and networks to all learners;
  • modelling of learning and pedagogical innovation as developed by Institute for Adult Learning (IAL); and
  • opportunity to hone and specialise in either the learning or leadership tracks, with both tracks benefitting from the unique boundary-crossing feature of the programme.

Admission Requirements

Refer to general admission criteria for graduate programmes.

In addition, applicants should have at least 2 years of work experience so that they can relate well to the programme content and experience the application of what they learned from the programme.

This programme is currently unable to take in international students, i.e., you must be a Singapore citizen, permanent resident or a resident in Singapore (e.g., Employment Pass holder) in order to apply for admission.

Applicants will be required to provide a full CV detailing their work experience.

Financial Assistance

The University offers course fee concession for selected graduate programmes. Please click here for more details.

Programme Structure

The Master in Boundary-Crossing Learning and Leadership is a 60-credit unit (cu) programme undertaken through the stacking of two core compulsory Graduate Certificates (15 cu each) with two elective Graduate Certificates (15 cu each) from one of two tracks.

The two core Graduate Certificates are in Leading Learning, Innovation and Change Across Boundaries and Implementing and Evaluating Innovation, Change and Learning. Learners may then select from the Learning, Innovation and Enterprise Leadership Track or the Adult Learning Track, both of which are made up of two Graduate Certificates each, to complete the Master’s programme.

Master in Boundary-Crossing Learning and Leadership

The curriculum is thus designed to effectively build the capacities of aspiring and present leaders of the Training and Adult Education (TAE) sector and/or organisational change-makers to be able to lead boundary-crossing situations in learning and work to collectively spearhead and catalyse organisational learning and change, and seize opportunities for innovation in the new economy.

To achieve this, IAL has designed the teaching and learning strategy through the 6 Principles of Learning Design and Dialogic Inquiry, both pioneering pedagogies developed by and used in IAL, and incorporated an assessment strategy that encapsulates formative, diagnostic, summative and sustainable assessment.

This Master's programme targets the following:

  • Training and Adult Education sector professionals, especially the middle management tier of leaders;
  • Adult Educators;
  • Learning and Development professionals in enterprises, in particular those who are also organisational change-makers; and
  • Faculty and leaders of Institutes of Higher Learning.

The programme is likely to enable strong industry links through deep engagement with industry mentors and peer networking during the learning sessions. This will set a firm foundation for the rapidly changing work contexts which will call for TAE professionals and leaders, as well as organisational change-makers, to partner stakeholders in government, businesses, unions, human resource and organisation development departments to anticipate further changes, assess their implications and co-create learning and performance interventions to help organisations innovate to stay relevant and competitive, whilst ensuring sustained adaptability and employability of the workforce.

The MBX is thus anticipated to give learners the relevant tools, means and practice opportunities to take on this challenging backdrop, hence preparing them for growth and development in their careers and job roles.

1. What is the duration to complete the programme?
The minimum and maximum candidature for the MBX programme is 2 years and 4 years respectively.

2. How many courses can students take in each semester?
The MBX is offered on a Graduate Certificate basis, and students will embark on one Graduate Certificate per semester, comprising 2 or 3 courses forming a total of 15 cu per Graduate Certificate.

3. How many intake(s) are there in a year for MBX?
There are 2 intakes a year; every January and July.

4. When are the lessons scheduled?
Lessons are scheduled on Saturdays.

5. Where will the lessons be held?
Lessons will be held at the Institute for Adult Learning, located at the Lifelong Learning Institute at Paya Lebar.

6. What are the assessment components in each course?
The assessment components are participation and an individual assignment during the course, and an end-of-course assignment.

7. What happens if I do not complete the graduate programmes (e.g. Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master) within the candidature period? Can I apply to take the remaining courses via CET pathway?

Students who do not complete the graduate programmes within the stipulated candidature period will not be eligible for the award of the qualification. You may apply to take the remaining courses as part of your personal learning and development via CET pathway. Your application will be subjected to the CET admission requirement. However, as the candidature period has been exceeded, you will not be awarded the qualification even after taking the courses via CET pathway.

I enrolled in this programme because it provides the "how" to get the job done. The curriculum design and delivery have allowed me to harness my strengths and recognize my weaknesses. This, coupled with interactive, fun, and knowledgeable lecturers, ensures a seamless transition for me from theory to practice.
- Dileep, Jul 2022 cohort

I joined the MBX without having much expectations other than trying to attain a Master’s but the programme has exceeded my expectations. The robust discussions with classmates have enriched my learning. This has turned out to be a highly relevant programme which is helping me better navigate tensions that might come out at work and to reflect deeply on my leadership skills.
- Huishan, Jul 2022 cohort

The MBX has expanded my thinking about learning, innovation and change, and what happens when we take the boundaries seriously. Although boundary crossing is a new concept, I realise it’s what many of us have been doing all these years as practitioners. Now we can relate our practice to theory and theory to practice.
-
Adrian, Jul 2022 cohort

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