Ontario Institute for Studies in Education - University of Toronto

• • • • graduate studies
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OISE is Canada’s preeminent centre for graduate studies in education. A pioneer in education, the
University of Toronto was the only institution in Ontario to award a doctoral degree in education for
nearly a century.
Today, OISE is widely viewed as one of the world’s leading faculties for pursuing graduate studies
and offers the most comprehensive range of programs in the country. We are committed to providing an
unparalleled student experience within an environment that values excellence in research and practice.
Each year, more than 3,500 people from around the world apply to study in one of our 12
prestigious graduate programs. We admit nearly 800 students each year to pursue a MA, MEd, MT, EdD
or PhD.
Part-time Graduate Studies +
Full-Time Job = The New
Graduate Student Profile
As more and more graduate students are looking for flexible
arrangements to balance their full-time career with
advancing their education, OISE is exploring options on
how to create an equally nurturing environment for this cohort.
Enter Professor Clare Brett whose passion for understanding the
conditions for learning has resulted in a new series of opportunities for
part-time graduate students.
“Part-time graduate students often miss out on the opportunities and
experiences of their full-time peers, which can lead to a feeling of
disconnection,” says Clare. “They might not make the same connections
with researchers and they may have more difficulty finding a supervisor.”
After asking graduate students to identify challenges in balancing
part-time studies with a full-time career and healthy personal life, Clare
and a team of staff, faculty, and graduate students, began implementing
programs and resources to help address their needs.
Students now have opportunities to connect with
one another during weekend learning retreats
where they talk about comprehensive exams,
ethics reviews, and how to find a supervisor.
They can also attend workshops and training
sessions, coordinated by Clare’s team, to help
students familiarize themselves with student
services available at OISE and throughout
the University.
This is but a few examples of efforts
underway in the Department of
Curriculum, Teaching and Learning to
enhance the part-time graduate students’
experience at OISE.
OISE Academic Plan 2004-2009
Key Priority: Strengthen graduate degrees through
strategic enrolment planning, the differentiation of
academic and professional graduate degrees, and
improved procedures in relation to supervision and
research preparation.
Pictured (l to r): Professor Clare Brett, Associate Chair
of Graduate Studies in the Department of Curriculum,
Teaching and Learning and her team:
Murat Oztok, doctoral student and graduate assistant;
Anna Garrito-Cassar, flex-time PhD student; and
Terry Louisy, part-time MA student and full-time staff
member in the Department. Also pictured:
Professor Linda Cameron, Chair of last year’s task force on
flex-time students in CTL whose efforts were instrumental
in the success of this program.
OISE Annual Report
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