Education And Professional Development

RESEARCH DEGREES

We welcome applications for research degrees (PhD, MPhil, MRes) from potential students from any discipline interested in studying topics related to supporting the health, care and wellbeing of people affected by dementia. This includes understanding the experiences and ways to support people affected by dementia, from early onset dementia through to those at the advanced stage of the illness. When research students join the Centre they benefit from a vibrant and inclusive community of dementia scholars.

We have full time and part time students. All are undertaking research degrees in applied dementia research or dementia care research. All are exploring the positive ways we can support those affected by dementia throughout the illness. 

If you are interested in applying for a Research Degree with the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice please contact rhoda.macrae@uws.ac.uk or visit the UWS Doctoral College website. 

Professional Development

Our educational offerings include masterclasses and bespoke CPD aligned to the skilled and enhanced levels of the Scottish Government's Promoting Excellence Framework. These programmes are designed and delivered by our team of award winning dementia educators and practice experts. Please speak with us and we will do our best to support your dementia education needs.

Our areas of speciality include evidence based contemporary dementia care, positive approaches to eating, drinking and personal care, working with stress and distress, advanced dementia care, complementary approaches, meaningful activities and supporting people with dementia to live the best life possible.

Our approach support learners to connect with older people and people with dementia using cognitive, emotional and haptic learning and teaching strategies in a safe and supportive way.

Find out more about dedicated CPD opportunities

CARE EMPATHIA

We have a ‘way of working’ that permeates our learning and teaching about dementia; you could say this is our signature educational approach. We call this Care Empathia, learning through knowledge (the head), feeling (the heart) and doing (the hand).

Care Empathia is an organising principle, forming the foundation of our learning and teaching from short sessions to degree programmes. It influences what we teach, how we teach, and what is learned. This strong foundation creates the conditions to deepen understanding, connection, practical actions and solutions. A learner will leave the briefest session with something they can do immediately to make a difference.

Care Empathia is rooted in values and human rights and shared with our partners in Alzheimer Scotland. In the early days of our partnership, we recognised kindred spirits in one another. The more we talked and taught together, the more we realised that we did something special. Our successful joint learning programmes created strong emotions, (laughter and tears), knowledge and deep practice change. Conversations about what we do, culminated in naming what we do: Care Empathia.

TRAUMA-INFORMED (TI) PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH

In August 2022, colleagues from the Centre were recognised for their work on a project as part of the University's Vice Chancellor's Innovation Fund.

The project, called TIPA, which stands for a trauma-informed pedagogical approach, is a distinctive pedagogical opportunity that links directly with health and wellbeing. TI approaches are not yet mainstream in the HE sector, but prominent in health and social care, and primary and secondary education, playing a central role in all areas of training and practice globally.

It is being developed as a student and staff online resource to help with ‘in the moment’ information guidance and support that is designed and delivered via a trauma-informed lens. TIPA will be based on evidence from our staff and students about the most important factors impacting them at university, developed in collaboration with reference groups that specifically address these needs.

This project was recognised by the University as having shown great ambition and dedication to ensuring success.

The project is led by Dr Margaret Brown, who has delivered third-sector trauma-informed training and Dr Eileen Harkess-Murphy, who is carrying out research in this area. The project team and advisors include academics and professional services staff in CEPS, ESS, HLS, Education Futures, Occupational Health, Student Life and NHS Education for Scotland (NES).