Course Summary

There is a growing recognition that an organisations success is critically dependent upon effective management of its employees. Whether in the competitive world of commercial business or the changing and challenging context of the public and not-for-profit sector, it is increasingly vital to have skilled, committed and empowered employees who gain satisfaction from meeting the goals of the organisation. To achieve this is not easy professional human resource management practitioners can play a vital role in bringing their special expertise to bear on the challenges presented.

This course gives you the opportunity to develop as an HR practitioner from an international perspective, able to provide a high level of practical expertise and contribute effectively to the achievement of successful human resource management. It will enable you to explore the research and debates about human resource management practices that are fundamental to organisations in contemporary society, as well as attempting to answer the critical questions posed.

You will assess current thinking within this rapidly developing field at both operational and strategic levels. You will also develop a strategic view of human resource management, learning to recognise the key people-management implications of corporate goals and problems, to analyse data using relevant techniques and knowledge, and to develop action plans for practical implementation. Through a blend of studying key ideas and theories, case study work and practical investigation of business situations, you will develop the expertise to make an invaluable contribution to effective organisational management.

Why choose this course?

On successful completion of this course, you will be well-placed to pursue a career as a professional human resource practioner in areas such as employee resourcing, training and development, employment relations and reward management.

During the course you will:

• Experience assessment that takes place within the University, with focus on continuous development of your learning to enable you to become a competent human resources manager
• Mix with other postgraduate students in a unique environment
• Experience a blended learning approach, combining up-to-date use of electronic media with traditional tuition and access to well-stocked library resources

Areas of study you may cover on this course include:

• International business environment
• Human side of management
• Introduction to human resource management
• Communications in business
• Comparative human resource management
• Employee engagement
• Personal resourcing
• Human resource development
• Engaging with research
• Applied human resource management project

There are so many good things about this course. Mostly I enjoy aspects like performance management, HRM practices and how it differs from one country to another. For various countries the scenario and the application of theories is different, and it can be challenging, but interesting at the same time.

Amarachi Amaugo - MA International Human Resource Management

MAIHRAA

Assessment

The overall strategy is to achieve a balance between the assessment of academic understanding and evaluation, and the assessment of competences and skills that are valuable in organizations. Assessments are structured to ensure that the course and unit aims and objectives are achieved and clear indications are given on the assessment brief relating to the specific learning outcomes. In this way transparency is ensured. The assessments are designed to test and assess knowledge and understanding of the appropriate subject matter, as well as to demonstrate the capabilities embodied in the learning outcomes of the subject areas/units comprising the course.

Assessment is organised to be motivational as well as an integral learning opportunity and is benchmarked to ensure that the standards of the University are upheld. Your tutors will ensure that formative continuous feedback and assessments are built into the units of study to ensure that progressive feedback is given to you to help build confidence, skills and knowledge on a continuous basis; a common method of achieving this is through group work and feedback involving self-assessment and constructive criticism during the formal tutorial sessions. Each unit has at least one summative assessment and such assessments provide formal feedback and reflect measures of achievements linked to the formal learning outcomes of each unit. Assessment strategies will focus on developing wider attributes and skills as well as testing knowledge and understanding. You will be encouraged in the face-to-face sessions to continuously self-assess your progress and for the formal assessments, you will have detailed assessment briefs clearly articulating the task and expectations required to obtain a pass level grade. You will received focused, meaningful and timely feedback designed to build confidence and motivation and to support further learning.

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a strategic and systematic understanding of current and relevant HR research and key debates within the field of HRM.

2. Critically reflect and develop constructive solutions to business problems within a business organisation to enable you to operate as a business partner with other key managers.

3. Evaluate published research and current expert thinking, to assess its relevance to challenging business scenarios and to apply this understanding as a key change agent within your organisation.

4. Extrapolate from existing practice and research to synthesise and create new and revised approaches to established HR and business practice to maximise profitability and maximise people contribution.

5. Understand and be able to apply practically some research techniques to enable you to systematically research and investigate key HR issues and to identify reasoned and creative business solutions.

6. Develop confidence to enable you to communicate persuasively and influentially at all hierarchical levels within the organisation, both orally and in writing.

7. Understand and evaluate the role of strategic HR partner and business leader, and to apply current and relevant research and practice to ensure the sustainability and the credibility of the function within the organisation.

8. Demonstrate the qualities and capabilities expected of a professional manager and to work in partnership with senior managers within your business to successfully measure, develop and maximise organisational people potential.

External Benchmarking

QAA Subject benchmarks, Masters level Business and Management.

Educational Aims

The educational aims of the course are grounded in the Universitys mission to provide challenging and relevant learning and teaching that empowers the active and professional learner. The aims are also rooted in the mission and practice of the Business School to provide enterprising and fit for purpose courses that are necessary for businesses to expand and diversify. The Schools Learning and Teaching strategy supports these aims through the development of an engaging and stimulating learning environment that, particularly at postgraduate level, engages actively with research and scholarly activity. The underpinning philosophy of the course is to engage in critical, analytical, historical and comparative approaches to the study of human resource management. It is interested in the implications of contemporary research relating to the management and development of HR structures and processes at an operational and strategic level within modern business organisation. The course is also underpinned by and takes full cognizance of benchmarks for management.

The course aims to equip you with the knowledge and understanding required to critically evaluate and reflect upon your studies including enabling you to:

To:

• Develop and gain insights and understanding of excellent practice in HRM and to make connections across the various specialist areas of this field


• Provide you with the knowledge to enable you to develop strategic understanding of specialist HR and generic management capabilities to ensure you are able to contribute to the progression of a business


• Develop your skills of analysis to enable you to manage and work with complex data for business decision making and problem solving to ensure organisational progression


• Educate, develop and enhance your professional competence to analyse complex people management and development problems critically, rationally and rigorously, and to make informed decisions by creatively and systematically applying the knowledge and understanding of HR concepts and best practice


• Ensure you have the ability to draw on and integrate material from a variety of contexts both academic and non-academic in order to address creativity and innovation


• Enhance your lifelong learning skills , continuing personal and professional development capacity, to enable you to work with self direction and originality as thinking performers, thus contributing to business performance and society as a whole

Student support

You will have access to the full range of relevant University support services, and will be informed about these at induction and via a course dedicated BREO site. Formative assessment activities will be undertaken at an early stage to identify particular difficulties individual students may have, and to recommend such students to make use of relevant support services. The Course Manager will provide advice and explanation, and is key to the overall support you will receive during your studies.

Team working

You will undertake in-class tasks, activities, exercises in collaboration with other students in small groups. To gain maximum benefit, you will need to develop your ability to work effectively in a team, taking leadership and accepting leadership by others as appropriate.

You will also be required to undertake group work activities outside class sessions, face to face and online. To gain maximum benefit, you will need to develop your ability to work effectively in a team, taking leadership and accepting leadership by others as appropriate.

Career Management Skills

The MA in HRM Studies is designed for those:

• Who wish to enter a professional career in the human resource management field, for whom membership of CIPD is not particularly relevant or suitable (ie primarily working outside the UK or Ireland)


• Who wish to further their understanding of contemporary human resource management issues

Career/Further study opportunities

Career:

On completing this course you are likely to progress into one or more of the following areas:

• Professional generalist role in the human resource management field


• Professional roles in a specialist field within human resource management: employee resourcing, employee reward, employee relations, employee development


• Management positions within the human resource management and development function


• Consultancy positions concerned with the management and development of employees


• Professional roles within organisations concerned with public policy matters relating to employment affairs

Further study:

On completing this course you are likely to progress onto:

• MBA or similar taught Masters in the general area of business management


• Higher degree by research


• Professional doctorate (eg DBA)

Entry

Standard:

Standard entry requirements for UK students - http://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/ukugentryreqs

Students from the European Union - http://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/eu/guides

International students - http://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/international/apply

Additional:

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 teaching and learning approach will be to build upon experiences that you will have developed and experienced through your previous studies at degree level. You will be encouraged to reflect critically on your previous experiences to assess the theory and other learning material presented in the course and make suggestions as to the best way to apply your learning. At Masters level you will be expected to be an autonomous learner and to take responsibility for your own learning and development. The learning methods used are designed to help and enable you to work in complex and unpredictable fields and to continuously review your own learning needs. You will be supported to achieve this through contact with your tutors, as well as your fellow students. The underpinning philosophy of the face to face lectures, presentations and seminars reinforce the concept of a thinking performer who displays and offers a high level of expertise in your professional field and can apply a depth of knowledge and systematic understanding of HR principles and practice within a business organisation. You will be enabled to develop a critical insight into the world of people and organizations and how best to manage them within the modern global infrastructure.

Formal teaching will use a range of teaching and learning approaches including lecture/seminar presentations/discussions (where the lecturer seeks opportunities to develop informal discussion and debate as the lecture progresses) the use of case studies and problem solving, individual and group presentations, and individual tutorial support for the project. A flexible and technology enhanced approach to learning activities is adopted to ensure that you will have the opportunity to personalise your learning according to your preferred learning style and to support your personal development. There will be an emphasis on group work, particularly informally in the seminars and presentations, throughout the course. This approach to learning is further reinforced by the use of the online virtual learning environment Breo. The facilities of BREO enables you to collaborate with your fellow students, and is especially helpful when you are new to the UK. You will be encouraged to meet tutors individually if you have any problems or areas needing clarification.

The learning strategy will ensure that there is progressive advancement of knowledge and understanding throughout the programme, supporting personal responsibility for learning and continuing professional development. The continuous improvement of strategic and operational competence is embedded in the course curriculum and the commitment to lifelong learning supported by the University will be ensured. The course team have worked to ensure that the learning experience is realistic for you and will help to ensure you are able to contribute actively and professionally in your future employment. You will not just acquire subject knowledge and understanding but you will develop wider capabilities that will ensure you have the credibility of a future strategic manager.

Below is a outline of the Units that you will study:

Semester 1 - Weeks 0-15

• International Business Environment


• Human Side of Management


• Introduction to Human Resource Management


• Communication in Business

Semester 2 Weeks 16-30

• Comparative Human Resource Management


• Employee Engagement


• Personnel Resourcing


• Human Resource Development


• Engaging with Resarch

Semester 3 - Weeks 31-45

• Applied Human Resource Management Project

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

N/A.

Students with disabilities

Colleagues on the course team are very conscious of the requirements of Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA) 2001 and seek to ensure that the practice that the act seeks to encourage is emulated. Special provision can be made for assessment for course work and through the administration of central examinations for unseen special educational needs such as dyslexia.

The team endeavour to make course materials available to students in formats that they feel comfortable using (e.g. through BREO). Advice on the nature of specific disabilities and the reasonable adjustments which can be made to accommodate disabled students is available to us from the Disability Advice Team.

Skills Development

Communication

To help with the development of this you will:

• Engage in discussion and debate with fellow course members and tutors, on in-class activities and exercises including case studies


• Undertake group-based tasks outside class sessions, face to face and remotely (on-line)


• Make presentations on set tasks in class sessions

Information Literacy

To help with the development of this you will:

• Access and study a variety of textual materials, including academic and practitioner oriented literature as well as student oriented textbooks


• Use standard office software to produce documentation for formative and summative assessment


• Use a variety of online search tools to search for, locate, and study academic and professional practitioner source materials


• Use various tools within BREO to engage interactively with tutors and fellow course members

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will:

• Locate, analyse and assess relevant statistical and other data required for formative and summative assessments


• Prepare and carry out an Applied Human Resource Management Project as part of the assessment process

Creativity and Critical Thinking

To help with the development of this you will:

• Examine organisational and employment related issues from a variety of stakeholder perspectives, identifying dilemmas and seeking appropriate resolutions


• Examine the different organisational situations, policies and practices of other students and compare these with those of your own organization, considering what lessons may be drawn

Improving learning and performance

The course aims to enable you to become an autonomous and reflective learner 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 learning at some times, but the experienced course team will try to ensure that learning is organised to inspire you, keep you motivated and engaged and by discussing and reflecting on workplace scenarios and problems, you will be able to transfer your learning to your future workplace. In order to ensure this happens the course has the following continuous development design features.

1. You will be engaged scenario problem solving. There will however be an `open-endedness that is inherent in all problem solving. 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. You will be encouraged to be open with student peers about feedback from assignments and to use this knowledge within the self-study groups and tutorials. Self reflection and personal evaluation of learning will be embedded in these group learning activities, as will the development of consensus relating to the development possible solutions to these business issues.

2. You will be supported throughout the course to take greater responsibility for your own development. The course will provide a cognitive apprenticeship to enable you to draw back implicit and explicit feedback about your knowledge and capability progression. In order for this to happen there will need to be a strong bond between the course team, the student group and the learning tasks. Your self-study groups and the formal tutorials 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.

3. You tutors will be anchors throughout the course. The course is designed to ensure there is connectivity between the tutor, the student and the wider course team to maximize 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.

4. As someone who is perhaps new to learning and study within the UK, you will be apprehensive about your ability to cope with a Masters level degree and the concomitant study skills involved. You will have a detailed induction course and here you will be taken through the academic skills required for successful completion of the course including approaches to enquiry and practical research, reading and decoding an academic journal article and writing academic reports and formal assignments. Web technology is used extensively by the University to support learning and access to these resources will be explained to you. You will also have a presentation from your Tutor Librarian from within the Learning Resource Centre who will help you to access journal articles and other relevant learning resources, electronically.

Progress files

Over the duration of the qualification you will be collecting a large amount of information, which is an important record of your achievements. You will be guided and supported to collect and save relevant evidence related to your personal development.

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. During the course we would expect you to conform to the following behaviours:

• Being a inspirational and ethical leader that people want to work with


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


• Managing relationships 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


• 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 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

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.