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Project - Analysis of Canadian Master's degree programs
Client - Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS)
Description - Science-Metrix is conducting an assessment of Canadian Master’s degree programs on behalf on the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS). There have been a number of changes made to Master’s degree programs in recent years; the evolutions that have taken place on a global level need to be assessed to determine how Canadian universities fit into the new landscape. Some of the new Master’s degree programs divert from the “traditional” format, in that they may: favor a multidisciplinary content; focus more on acquisition of professional skills than academic development, sometimes targeting experienced employees rather then recent graduates; have new entry requirements; have new requirements for successful completion, for instance serving and internship rather than producing a thesis, conducting special projects and completing additional coursework, etc.; and make increased use of distance education.
The report focuses first on the situation in Canada, using statistical data to establish an inventory of Canadian Master’s degree programs, examining specifically enrolment and graduation. It analyses how Master’s degree graduates fare in the workplace, evaluating the financial costs and benefits, and reviews funding programs available to support Master’s students. Ten universities are examined in depth through case studies, which investigate how these universities have used and developed the Master’s degree, and how and to what extent they follow or intend to follow the trends identified above. An environmental scan identifies trends in Master’s degrees programs in the USA, in Europe (notably the Bologna Process), and in Asia. The report concludes with recommendations about the challenges and opportunities for universities, students and other stakeholders posed by evolutions in Master’s degree programs.
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