The mission of the Faculty of Education is the advancement of knowledge and its applications to the development of human potential in a variety of learning environments and over one's life span.

The Faculty values and encourages multiple perspectives and effective approaches to cultural, cognitive, informational, physical, and social dimensions of human development.

The Faculty is committed to excellence and ethical practice in teaching, scholarship and service at the local, national, and international levels.

Distinctive role

The Faculty of Education has a distinctive role defined by its several clienteles and its areas of excellence in research.

Clientele

In its work, the Faculty serves the full spectrum of people preparing for, or already involved in, roles related to educational improvement: professionals who provide educational services, scholars and researchers concerned with the advancement of knowledge related to education, people involved in educational governance - the Faculty works with professional practitioners, and those intending to become practitioners, and with those involved in or aspiring to careers which include scholarship and research as well as practice. We work with partners in the field to relate knowledge generated by the Faculty to improve the education of all students.

In particular, the Faculty has an integral role within Quebec Society - the Faculty has an historical and continuing commitment to the English Community within Quebec, and its institutions. In partnership with the Ministry of Education and Quebec's teachers and other educational leaders, we prepare teachers, administrators and researchers, organize outreach activities and conduct research for school improvement. The Faculty views itself as a bridge linking the educational agendas and approaches of the Anglophone, Francophone and Allophone communities. Within this role we have a concern for the teaching of English as a first and second language and of French as a second language. Working in partnership with aboriginal communities and institutions, the Faculty supports the efforts of aboriginal peoples to meet their educational goals by helping to provide initial and in-service programs for aboriginal teachers by engaging in research which supports these endeavours. As well, the Faculty facilitates the reciprocal transfer of knowledge between Quebec, other parts of Canada and other countries; Has a commitment to International Leadership - the Faculty is committed to influencing the national and international community of scholars and practitioners. Through its location in a cosmopolitan, multilingual and multicultural city, and its international staff, the Faculty welcomes students and visiting scholars from around the world, and extends its efforts in research and educational improvement to many countries.

Areas of Research Excellence

The Faculty of Education defines an area of research excellence as one which relates to our mission and in which we have:

1. An international reputation - Such a reputation is evident in many ways: through faculty leadership in conferences and scholarly communities, awards and honours conferred on involved faculty, external funding support, impact on professional practice resulting from the dissemination of scholarship and research findings, productive inter-university collaboration, placement of graduates in appropriate positions and contribution to their careers in significant leadership roles;
2. Significant scholarly research productivity - Such productivity emphasizes contributions made to scholarly breakthroughs in the discipline. Its impact is measured by acknowledgment of research through the products of research including peer-reviewed publications, books, reports, and other scholarly products, efforts in dissemination of research such as the organization of and participation in conferences, creation and development of scholarly journals, research grants to faculty and graduate students;
3. Exceptional graduate programs linked to this research - Such graduate programs are acknowledged through international accreditation, through involvement of graduate students from other significant universities from around the world, through successful program modelling, through effectiveness in producing competent graduates within suitable timeframes, and through involvement of graduate students in teaching activities at lower levels.

The areas of research excellence in the Faculty exist both within and across departments. Much of our research is multidisciplinary, reflecting a realization that much current educational research requires multiple perspectives in order to make a significant impact on professional practice.

Our services and functions

Major Faculty services and functions include:

• Academic research and scholarship for the advancement of understanding and knowledge, generated through research groups and centres, and reflective practice, and shared with scholarly communities through professional supervision, conference presentations and the publication of reports, journal articles and books.
• Education of practitioners and researchers in the Faculty's major areas of scholarly and professional inquiry through B.Ed., M.Ed., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees.
• Education of professionals for teaching, administration, counselling, and other professional roles through B.Ed., M.Ed. and Ph.D. degrees, and through Certificates and Diplomas.
• Policy research and consultation in a wide range of settings in Quebec, Canada and many other countries.
• Seminars and workshops within and outside the Faculty which link practicing educators to the agendas and insights of leading educational researchers, thinkers and leaders leading to lifelong learning.
• Application of theoretical principles related to such fields as educational and counselling psychology, administration and management, instructional processes in education, teacher education, and higher education in general.
• Cooperative partnerships with other educational, business and community organizations for research, professional development, educational innovation, organizational development and program reform, including other faculties and departments at McGill.