Ontario Institute for Studies in Education - University of Toronto

• • • • multidisciplinary collaborative programs
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Universities strive to be multidisciplinary,
collaborative centres of excellence and
OISE’s embrace of collaboration over the
past seven years has allowed it to thrive in a
number of areas. Since 2003, we have introduced
new collaborative initiatives in adult
learning, policy studies, special education,
and urban education and developed existing
areas such as Aboriginal studies and international
education.
For each of these initiatives, our faculty
members engage in cross-department and
cross-disciplinary collaboration within OISE
and with partners across the University of
Toronto campus.
Canada
Research Chair in
Leadership and Educational Change
In 2005, Ben Levin joined the OISE faculty as Canada Research Chair in
Leadership and Educational Change.
A well-known educational policy leader, Ben has worked as Deputy Minister for
Education in Ontario and has held two Deputy Minister positions in Manitoba as well. He
has considerable experience overseeing major system-wide education reforms in Canada
and England.
His research explores the following key areas:
› advancing the role and use of research in shaping education policy and practice
› building on recent experience in Ontario to improve understanding of
large-scale improvements in education
› learning more about how to alleviate the impacts of
poverty and inequality in education
Adult Learning
Adult learning takes place in organizations, communities,
workplaces and social movements; in local, national, and
international contexts; and in the private, public and
not-for-profit sectors. Researchers in this field investigate
learning both as an individual phenomenon and as an
organizational and social policy phenomenon.
Collaborative Graduate Program in Workplace Learning
and Social Change: MEd, MA, EdD, PhD
In 2008, the collaborative graduate program in
workplace learning and social change was introduced at
the MEd, MA, EdD and PhD levels. Led by the interdepartmental
Centre for the Study of Education and Work,
faculty members are from the Departments of Adult
Education and Counselling Psychology and Sociology and
Equity Studies in Education.
Students in this program explore work and learning
trends in Canada and around the globe with a focus
on social change. They situate workplace learning
within broader social trends, such as
globalization, neo-liberalism, and
organizational restructuring. Students
learn strategies that work to foster
social change through greater
equality of power, inclusivity,
participatory decision-making, and
economic democracy.
Workplace Learning and Social
Change graduates are well equipped
for careers in adult training, health
promotion, public sector management,
organizational development, program
evaluation and planning, international
development, policy analysis, research and advocacy.
Educational Policy
Starting in September 2010, a new collaborative
graduate degree in educational policy will leverage the
well-known educational policy expertise of more than 30
OISE faculty in each of our five departments.
The program is geared to students who want to
understand how policy design and implementation
factors work, in order to improve educational processes.
Graduate students can enrol in our MEd or MA in
educational policy in September 2010. In September
2011, students pursuing an EdD or PhD will have the
opportunity to enrol in this program as well.
OISE faculty involved in the collaborative program in
educational policy have expertise in the following areas:
adult education policy
curriculum and teacher education policy
early childhood policy
K-12 policy
higher education policy
› policy addressing educational equity and
social diversity
second language education policy
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OISE Annual Report 16