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Stefano Hollis

Photo of Stefano Hollis

After studying sociology at undergraduate level (with a significant focus on education and education policy) at home in the UK, I gained two years of classroom experience in Hong Kong, first in a tutorial centre and then in a primary school. In pursuing a Master’s course, I sought an experience that would both improve my effectiveness within the teaching profession, and create the possibility of moving into policy and/or research further ahead. 

The ICE program achieved that and more! Much of my learning on the course will complement my teaching work, concerning as it did the experiences of teachers and students, how to affect change within schools, and how policies affect the daily lives of school communities. Meanwhile, it has also prepared me for those opportunities within the education sector more broadly, training me in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, in understanding global and local policy trends, and in assessing the ideologies behind them.

One of the things I valued most from the very beginning of the program was the size and diversity of the cohort. A small cohort size means getting to know and sharing classes with the majority of your peers, whilst the diversity of the group brings together people with experiences in different areas of education from all around the world. Before the start of the program, I had not appreciated the extent to which I would be learning from my peers on the course, as well as simply alongside them. This diversity of experience was also a great source of both inspiration and information, and allowed me to learn more of the various area of education within which one can work. 

I am very grateful to the program and to my peers for providing both the technical training and the inspiration required for us all to go on to affect change in education across a variety of fields and locations. Next, I will be completing my practical teacher training (a “Postgraduate Certificate in Education”) at University College London, before returning to Hong Kong for further classroom experience. Looking slightly further ahead, I am considering pursuing a part-time PhD while still teaching, and eventually moving towards research or policy. The program has made this range of opportunities more possible, and the breadth of its application is another thing I appreciate!

Year 
2022
ICE MA
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