MSc (EdN)

Programme Features

• The Master of Science in Educational Neuroscience (MSc (EdN)) at the Academy for Educational Development and Innovation offers a pioneering integration of neuroscience and education, designed to be undertaken as a one-year full-time or two-year part-time programme. Starting in September 2024, the programme will deliver a multifaceted curriculum comprising 24 credit points across core and elective courses, including a practical capstone project.
• It is the first postgraduate programme on educational neuroscience taught in Chinese (Putonghua with Cantonese support), with an aim to attract full-time or part-time students ready to engage with ground-breaking teaching methods such as lab work, blended learning, and interactive guest lectures.
• Students will have a chance to study under the supervision of leading scholars in developmental psychology, educational psychology, neuropsychology, and psychophysiology. They will be engaged in a series of lab works, pilot studies, and experiments using advanced neuroimaging instruments such as EEG, fNIRS, TMS, and MRI.
• Graduates are expected to emerge with a deep neuroscience knowledge base, critical analytical skills, and the capacity to translate scientific insights into educational advancements. This programme stands out by preparing preservice or inservice educators who can effectively address the diverse and evolving challenges in educational settings, promoting inclusive and evidence-based practices that resonate with the fast-paced advancements in the learning sciences within the context of global education and the AI era.

Programme Aims

This programme empowers students with the knowledge and skills to apply neuroscience principles and findings in educational settings and practices. Integration of neuroscience into education will allow students to revolutionise how we interpret childhood development, cognitive processes, learning styles, and individual differences. With a deeper understanding of student needs and abilities, educators can tailor curricula, instruction, and assessment methods to meet the unique requirements of each individual.

Neuroscience provides valuable insight into the optimal conditions and strategies for learning, including meaningful activities, alternating learning phases and tests, spaced learning, social interactions, and feedback, among other things. Students can significantly benefit from these insights by improving their attention, memory, executive functions, motivation, and emotional regulation – all of which are crucial to academic achievement and personal growth.

Integrated programmes and inclusive education are widely implemented in Hong Kong and Mainland China, which presents teachers with a variety of challenges and opportunities associated with neurodiversity. By completing this programme, educators can be better prepared to recognise and respect learners' differences, including dyslexia, autism, ADHD, and giftedness. Our programme encourages a culture of respect and support for all students by creating an inclusive and equitable learning environment that values diversity.

Career Path

MSc (EdN) can substantially boost a graduate's employability and competitive edge within Hong Kong and the surrounding region. Those graduates with BEd or relevant degrees/experiences may embark on various career trajectories in Hong Kong:

• teachers at preschools, primary schools, secondary schools;
• educational neuroscience professionals to help others enhance educational methods, develop curricula, train teachers, or conduct pertinent research;
• special education consultant to devise and administer targeted strategies for students with learning challenges;
• school psychologists/counsellors to apply neuroscience to enhance student learning and well-being; and
• academia or advanced study to further their studies with a PhD or take up positions as lecturers or research associates in universities.

Programme Structure

The MSc EdN (One-year Full-time/Two-year Part-time) programme is a 24-credit-points (cps). The main teaching location is the Tai Po Campus.

Please note that in the 2024-2025 academic year, the courses will be delivered on Saturdays (from September 2024 to December 2024; and from Feb 2025 to June 2025). Four-week intensive classes (9:30-17:30, from Monday to Saturday) will be delivered from January to February 2025. According to the programme schedule, there will be no classes scheduled from 28 to 31 January 2025. If you have enquiries or needs for special arrangement, please contact our programme office in advance.

Programme Curriculum

Medium of Instruction

Putonghua (Supplemented with Cantonese)