Xiaobo Song

How did you hear about School of Education and why did you choose to study here?

I was deeply attracted to the School of Education at the University of Leeds due to its strong reputation and teaching quality, international academic environment, and teaching approach that combines theory with practice. As an educator, I chose to study here to improve my teaching, management, and problem-solving skills.

Tell us about your course – why did you choose it? What elements of the course inspired you to study here?

As a postgraduate student in the MA Education, I have primarily chosen two types of courses. One type is related to research methods, such as qualitative research methods, while the others are focused on digital education, such as courses on designing digital education. On the one hand, the courses related to research methods could help me conduct academic research more effectively, and on the other hand, digital education was a specific field of great personal interest to me.

What was the best part of your studies – what did you enjoy the most?

The best part of my studies was the digital education modules. What I enjoyed the most was exchanging experiences and insights with classmates from all over the world on how to integrate digital technology with teaching practice. Based on critically reading literature and learning from each other’s experiences, I tried to explore different digital tools to design my teaching content.

What were your career aspirations? Do you think the experience and skills you’ve gained here have helped you in your career plans? In what way?

My career aspiration was to pursue further study in the field of digital education and become a specialized researcher and practitioner in this area. My experience and skills gained at the School of Education have been extremely helpful for my career planning. Before pursuing the MA Education programme, I only had practical experience in education. After a year of study and research, I have learned to use different research methods for specialized topic studies, as well as to apply various technological tools and educational theories in teaching practice. This has laid a solid foundation for my continued research and practice in this field.

Would you recommend the School of Education to others who are considering studying here?

Of course, I would definitely recommend the School of Education to those around me, as the school offers cutting-edge courses in the field of education, an international learning environment, and a skill set that combines theory with practice. This will provide a strong starting point for students’ career planning and job development.