Developing Research Capacity through Professional Training

This paper reports on a planned, professional, postgraduate diploma that aims to develop educators and education officials professionally towards policy making and at the same time bring about transformation in the students' work environment. In order to focus particularly on this aim and also to instil reflexive practices, we will focus on two empowering approaches, namely action research and appreciative enquiry, in addition to the generic research topics that have always been included in previous post-graduate research training in the Faculty of Education. Research at various levels is required throughout any policy process, and thus we planned to infuse the coursework with tasks in which students will need to use and further develop a variety of research skills. The students' ability to use the skills and knowledge that they acquired in the programme, in their own work contexts towards change will be assessed by means of a capstone research project. [For the complete Volume 13, Number 1 proceedings, see ED568595.]