Why I chose the Community, Engagement and Belonging MASc: Inca’s Story
Inca is one of our Postgraduate students, and part of our first ever cohort of students for the Community, Engagement and Belonging MASc programme. We caught up with Inca to find out more about her decision to pursue our unique MASc degree, her experiences of the course so far and what she plans to do with her studies after graduating.
Postgraduate study was not initially part of my plan. When I completed my degree in Psychology, I was keen to enter the workforce and already had a number of exciting job interviews waiting for me post-graduation. Unfortunately, my mum was then involved in a near-fatal road traffic accident.
My mum’s accident turned my life and that of my family upside down. I instantly cancelled all of the interviews I had lined up; visiting my mum in hospital and looking after my younger brother were the priorities.
After shocking and intense time, and as my caring responsibilities reduced, I found myself lacking confidence in my knowledge, skills and how I was going to work a full-time job whilst caring for my mum. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do… then I saw the MASc in Community, Engagement and Belonging, and I saw it as the opportunity I needed.
What drew me to the Community, Engagement and Belonging MASc course
I had already taken my undergraduate degree at Warwick, so I knew Warwick could work for me, from a familiarity perspectives and connections I had made during my time there.
I was browsing the postgraduate degrees available on the Warwick website one day when I discovered the Community, Engagement and Belonging (CEB) course within the School for Cross-Faculty Studies. I was immediately drawn to the course because of how unique it is - there truly is no other degree at Warwick or any other university like it! I was excited by the option to either write a dissertation or run a community-based project for your final course grade.
After realising that no other postgraduate degree I researched interested me as much as the CEB course, I applied for the Warwick Taught Masters Scholarship Scheme which luckily, I was successful in attaining and which allowed me to comfortably pursue my MASc studies.
My experiences of the course so far
As this is a new MASc programme being offered by the Liberal Arts department, I am part of a small cohort of students studying the course. Being part of a smaller cohort, especially compared to an undergraduate psychology cohort of around 250+, is a massive strength in my eyes as it has allowed me and my fellow students to bond and learn to work together more easily.
One of my personal highlights of the programme has been the Theory and Practice of Community Engagement module. It involved a digital engagement assessment where we were given a brief from Coventry Youth Activists to create a webpage, social media content and an easy-read document describing covert hate speech. This practical assignment helped me create a meaningful and positively impactful piece of work, which is not a feeling you often get with most typical degree assessments and essays.
For my final research dissertation, I am planning on running a person-centred workshop with Warwick students and staff to better understand what inclusive practice looks like, and how inclusivity can be more effectively designed into programmes.
My plans for the future
My Liberal Arts degree has re-enforced my excitement for learning, so for now, my plan is to stay in higher education for as long as possible and perhaps explore potential postgraduate study options after finishing my degree. The idea of pursuing academia as a career and potentially teaching as a lecturer also appeals to me, but we shall see what the future holds!