PDip Child, Youth and Community in Galway Ireland | University of Galway

The MA/PDip in Child, Youth and Community Studies caters to professionals currently employed in or aspiring to work within community, voluntary, or public sectors. Developed by the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at the School of Political Science and Sociology, this program stems from the Centre's foundation in Applied Social Science and its active research initiatives examining effective policies and practices for children, youth, and communities.

Service providers for children, youth, and communities face growing demands from funders and governments to demonstrate measurable social impact through rigorous evidence. This one-year full-time or two-year part-time blended learning MA emphasizes community and rights-based approaches, equipping students with expertise in program design, monitoring, and evaluation for child and youth services. Participants will critically examine evidence-based discourses while exploring innovative research applications in practical settings.
Program objectives include:

Providing theoretical frameworks and practical competencies in program development, execution, and evaluation,
Cultivating skills to create rights-based, culturally appropriate programs and services,
Fostering critical analysis of emerging research trends and evidence utilization in practice,
Developing leadership capabilities in the field,
Enhancing communication and creative problem-solving skills,
Offering professional development and networking prospects.

Career Pathways
This program targets professionals in community and voluntary sectors, as well as individuals with specialized knowledge of children, youth, and communities seeking advanced qualifications for career advancement. The MA develops sought-after competencies, addressing sector needs for rights-based approaches and evidence-backed interventions required by national and international funding bodies.