What attracted you to the programme?
I was keen to complete an MA but was also waiting for the right subject to present itself knowing that this would be something that I would need to invest a lot of time into. I also wanted my MA to enhance my current role and after attending an in-depth child protection course, I was inspired to investigate opportunities to really deepen my understanding in this regard. I was delighted to find that Kent offered exactly the MA I was looking for.
Which areas of study did you find particularly inspiring?
I enjoyed all aspects of the course but really enjoyed the opportunity to look deeper into cases that I had some baseline knowledge of in the UK and consider how we might respond to similar situations in my setting which is an international school in Hong Kong. I found it particularly inspiring to consider the role and importance of multi-agency working and to develop a really good understanding of theory which I now regularly apply to my own practice which has certainly enhanced my role.
What sort of support is there for postgraduate students?
I found the course tutors extremely supportive, especially when I was struggling to get started with my dissertation. The support was excellent throughout the course and the tutors were always on hand to provide advice and guidance, especially in the depths of assignments. I found the support of tutors to be empowering and helped build my confidence throughout the course.
How do you find work-life balance with part-time study?
It was definitely a big decision to juggle full-time work, family life and part-time study. With the support of my family, I found that I was able to find a good balance, however, the commitment required is not something to consider lightly and there were definitely times that I had to make sacrifices in order to give the course the attention I needed to. I definitely don’t regret the decision and despite the stressful times, really loved studying. I was also pleased that the course was completed in 2 years rather than 3 as this kept the momentum going and didn’t allow the MA to slide, it was a big part of my life for 2 years but did not take over!
How is your course helping you in shaping your career?
Since completing the course, I have become the executive safeguarding lead in my school and helped to shape policies and practice which affect all students and staff in a large international school setting with students from age 3 – 18. The learning I have taken from the MA has been invaluable in supporting me to complete my role successfully and has definitely shaped the way I have responded to different cases and supported multi agency working in the pursuit of the best outcomes for all children and families. I am also Head of Primary in the school so juggling the responsibilities can be challenging, however one that I embrace knowing that I have the professional qualifications and expertise to positively shape practice within my school. I have continued to attend professional learning opportunities to stay up to date with international safeguarding research and practice and would definitely consider future study in this area when the time is right.
How has this course changed you?
Not only have I taken an incredible amount of learning away from the course that has shaped my career, I also enjoyed the academic writing and research that comes with completing an MA. It was such an achievement to complete the MA and set a great example to my own children – I also felt incredibly proud of completing my dissertation which at first I simply couldn’t believe was possible!
What are your plans for the future?
I am continuing to work in Hong Kong as Head of Primary and Executive Safeguarding Lead in a large international school. My husband is from New Zealand and that is where we will eventually settle. I would like to think that further study is on the horizon at some point in the future.
Any advice for prospective students?
Make sure that you have completed extensive research on the course so that you are sure this is the right decision. Completing the MA is a big commitment so ensuring you have the time and support network around you is really important, especially if you are going to complete the course alongside full time or even part time work. Also make sure the subject is something you love – when I was considering an MA, I got a lot of bad advice such as ‘just choose a subject and complete it’ but I genuinely don’t believe an MA is something you can ‘just complete’, you have to love what you are studying and be inspired by the content to get the most out of it. There are definitely pressure points, but the satisfaction and learning gained from completing the MA really is second to none and I would advise anyone who is serious about completing an MA to get started. There will never be a good time to start and there will always be excuses to stop you getting started, however one of the most difficult parts is to submit the application and get going as once enrolled on the course, the modules are well resourced and the support from the university is excellent.
Hannah studied Advanced Child Protection MA.