Course Summary

The University of Bedfordshire Business School's 20 years' experience of teaching the Executive MBA has identified that practising managers have many motivations for embarking on the course. These include accelerated advancement in their chosen profession, a change of career direction, a desire to start their own business, acquisition of cutting-edge business skills and the ability to apply them more effectively.

By undertaking MBA study at the University you signal your commitment to an existing or future employer to taking charge of your career and to building strategic skills in readiness for increased management responsibility. Like the full-time MBA, the Executive MBA combines core disciplines with innovative subject areas such as entrepreneurship and leadership to understand the 'big picture' of business life and underpin career success in strategic management and leadership in the commercial and public sectors.

The Executive MBA is taught on the basis of a supported learning with the use of resources such as study guides and podcasts, and a live online classroom that combines traditional contact with lecturers with the use of new media. With the academic groundwork undertaken through self-directed individual and group study, the traditional face-to-face sessions become focused 'quality time' for critical discussion and application of business and management models to real-life business problems.

You will complete two projects during the course: one focused on leadership and the other a case study that integrates your previous learning. We require all students to have a minimum of two years of management experience, so you will be able to network with, and learn from, other experienced managers.

Executive MBA graduates have automatic entitlement to membership of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), which offers regular regional meetings with keynote speakers, networking opportunities and online access to a management resource centre. Whilst studying your MBA you will be able to attend our Knowledge Network meetings where business people meet to share their knowledge and experience, and listen to presentations from guest speakers. We also have an active Alumni Association, which offers further networking opportunities.

Why choose this course?

Executive MBA students come from a range of sectors and organisational backgrounds, including manufacturing information technology, retail and service, healthcare, the commercial and public sectors and both large and small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The Executive MBA is a career accelerator, and our experience shows that you will progress by applying your learning to your personal and professional life. It is also excellent preparation for further applied research-based academic study in the form of a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) also offered at our Putteridge Bury campus.

During this course you will:

• Gain an internationally-recognised degree
• Mix with other experienced managers
• Have opportunities to attend high-profile business events run by the University's Knowledge Hub and hear external speakers
• Benefit from our weekend tutoring with supported learning materials, offering flexibility for busy lifestyles
• Benefit from innovative learning materials and a course structured to maximise personal and strategic development opportunities
• Experience a MBA course that is delivered worldwide, with possibilities for international day schools/networking events

The Master of Business Administration (Information Technology Management) consists of core units of the MBA with additional units aimed at Information Technology professionals:

• Leading and managing people
• Accounting for leaders
• Marketing products and services in a dynamic environment
• Maximising impact from emerging technologies
• Operations and project management
• Strategy
• Leadership project
• Integrated management project

Students can then select two options from the following:

• Project management methodologies
• Information systems strategy
• Managing data

MBEITAAP

Assessment

The assessment strategy is as follows:

1. The underpinning philosophy of all the assessments is developmental, building on your knowledge, expertise and capabilities to ensure that you are an able and confident leader and manager. This emphasis will enable you to explore, experience and develop your understanding of leadership, management and innovation within the context of your business and personal needs.

2. This is exemplified by the project of the MBA IT which will allow considerable autonomy for participants to reflect upon their personal models of leadership in terms of their individual competence areas. Critical evaluation and reflective observation skills are developed in the context of personal effectiveness which will facilitate critique across a range of leadership issues in business environments.

3. The overall aim of the assessment strategy is that you will receive constructive feedback from your course tutors, and student peers within the group. The team will support you to help you to use this feedback as part of your continuing professional and self development and to ensure you are enabled to do this you will be provided with group and individual tutorial support from the team. This, in turn, links to your personal and professional development unit offered on the course. Your tutor will give you the active guidance to plan the next stages of your learning. This opportunity for supported self - reflection will enable you to take charge of your learning through developing critical evaluation and planning skills.

4. To facilitate and maximise learning for all students a range of assessment methods are used throughout the course and you will be required to undertake a variety of group and individual based assessments throughout the duration of the course. These assessments include individual and group written feedback assignments and projects, action learning reports as well as presentations. They are all rooted in authentic and practical workplace scenarios to enable learning to be transferred to the workplace. The assessments are designed to test knowledge and understanding of the appropriate underpinning theoretical input and research, but also to demonstrate your skills. An appropriate sample of all assessed work will be subject to multiple marking and external moderation to ensure appropriate quality standards and intended learning outcomes are achieved as well as consistency and fairness to all. The course will maintain a balance between examinations and assignments (group and individual) and may employ other formats including online tests and presentations. The course culminates in a substantial practical real - world project in which you will draw upon the knowledge acquired in the earlier part of the course. You will examine and develop strategies, risks, evolving technologies to provide an innovative and creative solution for a company. The final project the Integrated Management Project pulls together all aspects of the course through a detailed review of a specific organisation.

5. Apart from the formal assessments there will be an emphasis on self, peer and group assessment. However all formal assessments will be marked graded and moderated by professional tutors only. The aim is for you to become an independent and self-directed lifelong learner and you will not only gain the skills and advantages of using self - reflection but you will gain more feedback from the conventional tutor-student written feedback. This will be used primarily as part of a formative assessment process within the units, rather than in the summative part, where moderation by others may be used.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Critically assess and demonstrate a systematic understanding of relevant knowledge about the economic, environmental, social and technological change issues relating to organisations, their external context and how they are managed, including international developments and corporate governance.

2. Assess and apply relevant knowledge to a range of complex situations taking account of the development and progression of the relationship and expectations between markets and customers and other stakeholders.

3. Demonstrate a critical awareness of current issues in business and management which is informed by leading edge research and practice in the field, including the concepts, processes and institutions in the production, marketing and management of goods and / or services.

4. Understand and synthesise the financing of the business enterprise, the sources, uses and management of finance and the use of accounting for managerial and financial reporting applications.

5. Synthesise and apply practically the range of theory and practice relating to the management and development of people within organisations.

6. Demonstrate and critically reflect on an understanding of appropriate research techniques sufficient to allow detailed investigation into relevant business and management issues and to show expertise in the interpretation of such material.

7. Acquire and analyse data and information, to evaluate their relevance and validity, and to synthesise a range of information in the context of new situations.

8. Effectively develop and manage relevant communication and information technologies for application in business and management in a global knowledge-based economy.

External Benchmarking

The Subject Benchmarking Statements and Academic Standards for a Masters award in Business and Management are used for this degree. The degree expects you, as a student, to be able to demonstrate relevant knowledge and understanding of organisations, the external context in which they operate and how they are managed. The degree will be a challenging learning experience and an integration between theory and practice. As a student you will reflect on your knowledge, experience and practice, using peer and tutor interaction as one of the key processes here. The course will prepare you for and/or develop your career in business and management by developing skills at a professional or equivalent level, or as preparation for research or further study in the area. This includes the development of positive and critical attitudes towards leadership, change and enterprise, so as to reflect the dynamism and vibrancy of the business and management environment, of which Information Technology is a major driver. You will develop your ability to apply knowledge and understanding of business and management to complex issues, both systematically and creatively, to improve business and management practice, demonstrating an ability to convert theory into practice from a critical and informed perspective so as to advance the effectiveness and competitiveness of employing organisations. Of particular importance will be the security, risk management and strategy and emerging technologies units.

Further details of these benchmarks can also be obtained by accessing. http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/benchmark/masters/MBAintro.asp

Educational Aims

The educational aims of the course are grounded in the Universitys mission to provide challenging and innovative learning and teaching that empowers the active and professional learner. In particular the course aims:

• To enable you to expand on your current management and leadership capabilities and to enable you to contribute to a global knowledge economy


• To enable you to appreciate the integrated nature of management study, and to relate both hard and soft issues to problem solving


• To emphasise the critical importance of technology and emerging developments in the study of management


• To add value to your employment prospects


• To undertake advanced studies of organisations, their management and the changing external context in which they operate


• To develop and enhance a career in business and management by developing skills at a professional or equivalent level


• To develop the ability to apply knowledge and understanding of business and management to complex issues, both systematically and creatively, to improve business and management practice


• To develop critical awareness of technology as a key business enabler, its associated ri sks and strategies for managing these risks


• To enhance lifelong learning skills and personal development so as to be able to work with self-direction and originality and to contribute to business and society at large

The course recruits for starts twice per year in September and in February. The course will normally be completed in 12 months September Starters.

The start of each cohort of MBA studies will be preceded by an induction period. This will include team building and orientation and Business Communications. It is essential that you complete this before coming on the main learning platform of the MBA

Year 1- September to January

• Marketing products and Services in a Dynamic Environment


• Leading and Managing People


• Accounting for Leaders


• Maximising Impact from Emerging Technologies


• Leadership Project

Year 2- February to June

• Strategy


• Operations and Project Management


• Project Management Methodologies (option)


• Information Systems Strategy (option)


• Managing Data (option)


• Integrated Management Project

Student support

The Department of Computer Science and Technology and the Business School have extensive experience of working with students who are studying. The MBA IT is paced and structured to enable you to manage your time over the period of the course. The course team will be your first point of contact while you are studying and you will also be allocated to a student self study support group, which will also act as both a learning and motivational help to you. You can meet up face to face apart from the times you are at the University or can contact via email.

The University also has a number of formalised and specialised support structures and departments.

Many of you may be concerned about returning to study. Be aware that while at work your experience is a valuable aid to helping you cope with academic study and your general life skills will have developed since leaving formal education after graduating. However assistance with study skills and IT support is available and you can access the Professional and Academic Development (PAD) department.

Team working

One of the key purposes is to improve your personal and organisational performance and quality through the continuous application of the skills required to work in successful teams in a business context. The synergy provided by the use and development of team working skills is essential for this to occur both in your workplace and within your learning experience at the University. You will be working with other students in groups and the course team to assess complex situation, solve business problems and issues, make decisions and anticipate future challenges. The advantages of team working are well understood and self evident but in the context of this degree course they are essential for creativity and results focused thinking. You will need to develop and apply your critical thinking and process skills and the team working environment endemic within the degree will foster and deepen these abilities. Group activity will be accessed throughout the course via tutorial groups, group work within the workshop sessions, project work related to workshop scenarios and assignments. All team working will be organised so that the experience is constructive and you will gain feedback, both explicit and implicit that will enable you to develop your critical thinking skills and also reflect on your personal strengths and perceived areas for development. Team working will therefore be essential for the enquiry process needed for academic study as well as your own continuous professional development. Student self supported learning groups will be organised to work within the University and these ideally should be used for self help and study outside the formal study periods. You will also be encouraged to attend networking groups and more formal lecture / seminar sessions organised by the Knowledge Network within the University.

Career Management Skills

LINKS CAREERS

Over the duration of the course you will network with other students, the course team as well as have opportunities to go to presentations and lectures provided by the Knowledge Network which is a vibrant and lively meeting point for business people to share their knowledge and opportunities. More information can be obtained on http://www.theknowledgenetwork.co.uk/

The Business School offers courses on behalf of the Chartered Management Institute and the Institute of Leadership and Management as well as the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. The nationally recognised professional organisations all provide career management information and networks.

It is important that we stress that we plan to integrate personal, academic and career development within the course and you as a professional learner will feel better equipped to make relevant decisions and moves in line with your personal and career goals.

Career/Further study opportunities

Career:

We anticipate that when you complete your degree you will possess the ability to become a positive change agent in any organisation and an obvious champion for the added value of a dynamic and innovative organisational culture. You will also have had extensive and continuous opportunity for reflective and critical evaluation of your capability as a team worker and leader. The course may also equip you to start your own business or expand the business you are in.

The course has professional and personal development fully embedded throughout and you will develop skills in risk management and strategic thinking and analysis that you can apply to your own career. This will enable you to enhance your employability skills, reflect on the skills and knowledge you may need to accelerate your career and bring value to your current and future employment. When coupled with the learning from analysing the impact of new and emerging technologies and the knowledge of securing business - critical data, you will be in a very powerful position to deliver a strong strategic vision that is coherent and rigorous, with minimum risk. This relates to a key theme in the Education Strategy that offers you the opportunity to participate in a curriculum that is focused on employability and that enables all students to maximise their opportunities.

During the course you will have extensive networking opportunities within the wider course team as well as the University. You can talk through career and further development opportunities with your tutor as well as your peers and wider circle. Whatever you decide to do you will have a toolkit of knowledge and capabilities developed from the course that will support and enable you.

Further study:

Decisions relating to further study can be made during or after the course and you would be encouraged to keep in touch particularly by attendance at Creativity Clubs and the opportunities provided by the Knowledge Network. We will be running a series of Alumni events and you will be invited to these which will offer the opportunity for further study and contact with the University.

The tutors will always be there as a source of advice and help should you want to progress your development further. The course is aimed at self-directed and motivated individuals and it is unlikely you will sit still. Alumni will be particularly welcome to input into subsequent deliveries of the MBA IT. Students may wish to continue to a DBA or PhD after some time.

Entry

The unique, robust and specialist Masters level qualification is delivered between the Department of Computer Science and Technology and the Business School of the University. It is aimed at individuals in the IT sector, with a suitable management background, who would like to develop their capabilities and apply such learning to release such talents in others. In order to benefit from the degree you will need to have an educational, experiential or professional base that involves working with others in a management capacity. In order to cope with the demands of the course you should have:

• An Honours degree in any discipline from a recognized higher education institution


• Appropriate Management experience of at least 2 years (or equivalent)


• For international students English competence of IELTS 6.0 or equivalent is required.


• Special entry is available for those with no degree but with extensive management experience


• Special entry is available for those with no management experience (33% of the total cohort) but with a 1st Class Degree

Successful completion of this degree will enable you to have the necessary knowledge and research transfer that will underpin your abilities to release enterprise and imagination into your team and company. You will be a strong role model so you will need to be a person who is willing to critically reflect and engage with personal and organisational change. As the course is rooted in workplace practice and experience, it is also essential that you have the support of your line manager and your colleagues, or others with the necessary power and influence. Your success as a student will be dependent on you taking your learning into your organisation and experimenting, challenging and actively reflecting.

Some of these criteria will be a challenge to you. You should be aware that the course will be hard work but it will also be fun and will enable you to develop your management and creative ability practically. You may discuss with the course leader before acceptance for the degree and he will explain in more detail to you the implications and intended outcomes of the course and explore with you your ability to engage in the learning requirements of the qualification.

UK students Undergraduate entry requirements

Standard entry requirements for Foundation degrees (FD/FdSc)

A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.

Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.

• As a guideline, a typical offer would require you to obtain a UCAS tariff score of between 80-120 points, based on your level 3 studies.
• Students who require a Tier 4 Student Visa cannot apply for our foundation courses. For these courses the University of Bedfordshire is not able to sponsor Tier 4 Student Visa applications.

Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.

We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.

Standard entry requirements for Undergraduate degrees (BA/BSc)

We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.

The general requirement is one of the following:

• UCAS Tariff Score greater than 200, which should include either two A level passes or an AVCE Double Award
• An Access qualification
• Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate or BTEC National Diploma

Postgraduate taught courses

Postgraduate applications (MA/MSc) should be made direct to the University using the  standard University application form. There are some exceptions, please see individual course descriptions for details.

• UK/EU students application form
• International (non-EU) students application form
  

Students from the European Union

Entry requirements

As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.

We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.

How to apply

International students

• Undergraduate applications (BA/BSc) can be made direct to the University or via our representatives in your home country. If you intend to apply to more than one university in the UK you should apply via UCAS. If you want to apply to the University of Bedfordshire only you should apply directly using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Postgraduate applications should be made directly to the University using our international application form (link below) or via our representatives in your home country
• Healthcare, nursing and midwifery students Many of these courses are not available to overseas students due to UK immigration law in regard to bursary funding. Please contact international admissions to find out if you are eligible to apply
• BA Nursing Studies Level 3 (with or without Overseas Nursing Programme) is available to overseas students - please contact International Admissions by email at international-admissions@beds.ac.uk for further information

(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)

Course application form for international students

We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.

• Course application form for direct applications [PDF]

How to complete your course application

Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.

Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section

Accreditation of prior certificated learning (APL)

APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.

Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `

The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.

We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.

• APL application form for International students [100Kb] updated 041007

What next?

Return your completed application to:

University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom

Contact International Admissions

T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk

Awarding institution

University of Bedfordshire

Teaching Strategy

The course is varied, both in curriculum content and delivery methods. The teaching strategy for the MBA IT follows the guidelines in the Universitys Education Strategy.

This course adheres to the principles of CRE8 and emphasises a learning experience which is meaningful, active, reflective, collaborative and creative. These principles are practised through working methods and outcomes reflected in the range of assessments and subject matter requiring critical analysis and reflective activities.

Lectures, seminars, tutorials and lab work will be used extensively, but, in addition, a great deal of participants time will be spent in small groups, involving, for example, discussion of case studies, simulation exercises, preparation for assessments, and work on presentations.

Although lectures are held weekly in term time, it is clear that the private study demands on this type of course are considerable.

1. The teaching and learning approach of the course is through blended learning. This means a combination of pedagogic approaches, including using the latest approaches to learning technology, action learning, and independent learning. You will acquire a toolkit of diverse and complex skills and knowledge necessary for your development as a creative organisational change agent. Student centred self support groups, both face to face and / or via virtual contact, will be used throughout the course. There are thus a variety of pedagogic approaches in which the focus of the learning is experiential to enable you to practise, experiment and evaluate in the workshops and other face to face opportunities, and to use the online technology and related facilities for knowledge acquisition and research.

2. The course offers a opportunities for collaborative learning both in face-to-face groups and online where there is increased use of collaborative learning tools such as discussion boards, blogs and wikis. Some may be facilitated by lecturers or other staff. Others may be initiated and run by students. These tools offer you considerable opportunities to learn from others in the group and extend your learning experience.

3. The teaching strategy will be eclectic enabling you to gain the necessary underpinning theoretical knowledge and research that will enable you to actively explore, reflect and critically evaluate your own perceptions and knowledge. This approach will also help you to become an autonomous and self-directed learner. This means you will be confident of your capabilities as an independent learner and researcher and able to manage your own learning in line with your busy work schedule, using your learning skills to develop a compendium of knowledge, reflecting and analysing the implications of this for your understanding of innovation and organisational change and applying this new understanding in practical situations at work.

4. In line with the Education Strategy the course will include research informed teaching where the research from this and other universities will be brought forward into the curriculum. The University has a number of Research Centres that focus on business issues that will be relevant to your study on the course. You will also be encouraged to bring your own research and experience in to the course.

5. There will be an initial induction at the start of the course to familiarise you with your student colleagues and the course team and to give you a very practical insight into the MBA IT learning experience. Attendance at this induction is required before continuing on the course and will include team building and Business Communications. The induction will be facilitated by members of the course team and will focus on learning through critical reflection, peer and lecturer feedback, and self analysis. You will also be introduced to the different facilities and resources at your disposal. It is an essential element of the course and will ensure you approach the learning on the course effectively from the start of the semester.

6. Each study unit will have dedicated integrated materials, which can be accessed via the University Virtual Learning Environment. These give you the necessary underpinning knowledge and research directives and they are written specifically for this course by the relevant academics within the team. You will receive information to help you with time management to ensure that you complete each unit of study within a specified timescale. In addition podcasts, wikis, and voice to voice seminar tutorials may be used, but please be assured technical training and support will be provided where necessary.

7. Action learning involving the use of real life problems and scenarios will be integrated into the workshop and other face-to-face sessions. This flexible process allows action, improvement and change together with relevant research to be achieved at the same time. You will gain knowledge and understanding which will allow change to be processed in an informed way, and similarly your understanding will be further informed by the change. This process of learning can be replicated in the workplace to help and enable transference of learning and is also very self - development related and reflective.

8. The teaching strategy is designed to support you through the process of becoming an agent for change and innovation. Your learning experience while studying will give you the opportunity to explore, experience and develop your management abilities according to your personal and business needs and your leadership style. In this way you can construct and interpret new meanings for the way you conduct your business life. Partnership independent learning thinking performer / practitioner.

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

N/A

Students with disabilities

The course team is aware of the requirements of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 and seek to ensure that the practices the Act seek to encourage are followed. Concerning special educational needs (e.g. dyslexia) special provision is made for assessment for course work depending on the individual needs of the student. All formal teaching and learning is undertaken on premises that provide reasonable access for you if you have concerns about mobility. Advice on the nature of specific disabilities and the reasonable adjustments which can be made to accommodate disabled students is available from the Disability Advice Team.

Skills Development

Below is set out how we as the course team plan to help you to cope with skills development during the degree course.

Communication:

In order to be a successful innovator it is essential that your communication skills are of a very high standard. Throughout the qualification you will be involved in expressing and reflecting on your ideas as well as influencing and shaping decisions. You will be communicating with a wide network of diverse people and groups and your oral communication skills will be effective and persuasive. Your written report writing skills similarly will be the standard expected of M level students, and the course offers a rich forum for further elaboration and development of this important capability.

Information Literacy:

This will be introduced to you help to access journals and info and making judgements and to critically engage with, and to make reflections on, increasingly extensive amounts of information now available through a range of technologies. In order to engage in academic research you will need to find, understand, evaluate and use information. Also important are the regulations and laws as well as institutional policies related to the access and use of information. Tutors will provide study skills practice to help you to understand how to approach abstracting relevant information from an academic article and hence to cope wit the demands of academic practice. These academic practice skills are probably new to you and there will support from the course team to help you, particularly in the initial stages of the course. There will also be online guides to take you through accessing basic principles and procedures of the learning regime. In addition you will receive help from specialist staff to help you navigate your ways through Learning Resources (the Library), as well as giving your encouragement to produce new information through empirical research and use of digital media.

Research and Evaluation:

These skills are central to the learning strategy within the course to enable you to work through and resolve blockages to creativity and other related problems and concerns, probably from your workplace. You will need to demonstrate original, independent and critical thinking, and to further develop relevant theories relating to how you will translate these into action. The action learning process will support your development where peers and tutors will evaluate and give you feedback and share in your learning. So the research process will allow you time for data collection, reflection on current practice, enable you to work through problems that are not resolved by the traditional lecturer / seminar route, and to take action. In this way you are committed to innovation.

Creativity and Critical Thinking:

The course focus is on leadership, innovation and change and is structured around developing your capabilities as a critical and evaluative thinker to enable you to make reasoned arguments, based on research findings. Creativity is an essential part of these elements. You will be given the opportunity to think reflectively about learning materials and activities you are presented with, you can take time to pause an reflect, and then perhaps question what is said. You will use other sources of evidence to question as well as your own knowledge and experience. In this way you can establish the worth of the arguments and develop your independent learning skills. The evaluation and synthesis process will enable you to present your own interpretation of the information, logically and coherently. This is creativity in action and such learning will enable you to transfer these reflective skills to the workplace and mentor and support your colleagues to do the same, but in a productive and supportive learning culture. Testing out your critical and creative thinking skills will be done with other students, and tutors, in tutorials, self-help groups and other course forums. Tools such as discussion boards and blogs are available to assist in an increased demand for collaborative learning on the MBA IT.

Improving learning and performance

The course aims to enable you to become an autonomous learner and a reflective and creative change agent who is able and willing to reflect on experience and explore and anticipate future opportunities, and then applying your learning to ensure innovation. Most people have some internal blocks that will inhibit development and the workshop and other face to face sessions in particular, will be organised to inspire you and give you space to release inhibitions, keep you motivated and engaged and facilitate risk taking, experimenting with new problem solving techniques that you can transfer to your workplace. In order to ensure this happens the course has the following continuous development design features.

• You will be engaged in using assessment feedback. The assessments are planned and designed to ensure you will have suitably designed tasks and assignments with clearly defined criteria and standards. The learning outcomes will be transparent and clear for each assessment. There will however be an open endedness that is inherent in all assessments. For instance you may be asked to set and draw up a scenario for problem solving within your workplace environment as part of the assignment. You will therefore be active within an authentic learning scenario, the situation is dynamic and in real time, and most importantly you will be learning and monitoring a work situation, evaluating and making adjustments as events unfold. The aim of the feedback from the tutor would be to help you to recognise your own input to the problem, and to self assess efficacy in the achievement of the learning objectives. You will be encouraged to be open with student peers about feedback from assignments and to use this knowledge within the self - study groups


• You will be supported throughout the course to take greater responsibility for your own development. Your self study groups and the formal lectures / workshops will enable you to access resources, synthesise and make connections that will work towards solving better understandings and possible solutions to difficult problems. This energetic and active approach to learning will enhance your confidence and self esteem and will provide a continuous feedback loop ensuring your motivation to act as a professional and autonomous learner


• The course is designed to ensure there is connectivity between the tutor, the student and the wider course team to maximise learning opportunities. All tutors are experienced in facilitation and active listening skills. He or she will work with you in a constructive relationship to ensure a clear sense of purpose and positive intention, in line with you own personal and business needs and goals


• You will be encouraged to reflect and evaluate the implications of your learning style for your preferred patterns of problem solving, decision making and team working. Such feedback enables you to improve your communication patterns, work more effectively with others who perhaps you label difficult and to reduce conflict. Other diagnostic tools may also be used in the workshops. However it is anticipated that personal evaluation of learning relating to creativity and innovation will be the most powerful evaluative process for the assessment of progress and direction

Progress files

You will be expected to keep a progress file, along with all students of the University. Over the duration of the qualification you will be collecting a large amount of information, which is an important record of your achievements.

Professional standards

There are no dedicated professional standards for related specifically to this qualification. However the University has links and partnerships with both the Chartered Management Institute and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and actively networks with both these organisations to ensure professionalism and excellence. We would expect you to demonstrate this professionalism in your future career by:

• Being a inspirational and ethical leader that people want to work with so that you are able to transform your organisational culture to ensure innovation and leadership are of paramount importance


• Being able to manage yourself and being positive to manage emotional responses to situations and people in a constructive manner


• Managing relationship through self-awareness of ones own emotions and those of others to successfully engage others


• Leading and following others to ensure sustainable and ethical change is occurring in your organisation


• Use communication strategies that bring differing viewpoints and generate positive results and to use suitable language and perspective when delivering messages


• Show awareness and knowledge of the applied social sciences in your team working and building


• Be a respectful and listening manager / team player who is open to others perspectives and who will evaluate ideas constructively and positively


• Be committed via mentoring and coaching to continuing personal development and promote the CPD ethic within your business


• Be mindful of the ethical implications of your practice through dialogue with peers, clients and mentors, and adhere to professional ethical standards at all times in relation to action learning and action research, formulating alternative solutions as necessary, including the demonstration of an awareness of the ethical implications of creativity versus conformity. Your tutors will adhere to ethical, personal and professional standards at all times. The University has specific policies and procedures to ensure such standards are rigorously adhered to

Strategy for developing and embedding the professional standards

These standards underpin and drive and learning and teaching philosophy of the qualification and are integrated into all aspects of the Masters provision.