Course Summary

This postgraduate course is designed for middle to senior managers working in a variety of sectors. Students should be keen to reflect on and develop their practice as a means of progressing their careers. You will even have the chance to discover new career opportunities while on the course, as students will be enrolled in the Chartered Management Institute, receiving benefits such as regular meetings with keynote speakers and access to a state-of-the-art management resources centre.

This course will provide you with theoretical knowledge and understanding that relates to best practice in private, public and voluntary sectors. You will have the opportunity to engage in debate with fellow managers from differing organisational backgrounds. This dynamic student body creates a stimulating environment for shared learning about leadership and management. In addition to contemporary management theory, you will develop the practical ability to reflect on your managerial experience and transfer your learning back into practice in the workplace.

On completion of this course, you will receive the University of Bedfordshire Postgraduate Certificate in Management, plus the CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership. The latter is a nationally recognised qualification that entitles you to apply for associate membership to the CMI for continued networking opportunities following your graduation.

Why choose this course?

On successful completion of this course, you will be equipped for progression as a qualified, professional manager. You will gain insight into your strengths and capabilities and plan your career path accordingly. Once in your chosen position, you will have the skills required to improve the competitiveness of your organisation and optimise its use of resources.

During the course you will:

• Draw on best practice from the private, public and voluntary sectors
• Work with other students from diverse organisational backgrounds
• Gain networking and learning opportunities through other students and the CMI
• Receive guidance from a teaching team with first-hand experience in the field, plus significant research and consultancy work
• Become a reflective manager able to apply theory and experience to improved practice in the workplace
• Work toward dual accreditation from the University and the CMI
• Benefit from the opportunity to fast-track to our MBA (Master of Business Administration) course to further accelerate your career progression

Areas of study you may cover on this course include:

• Managing people and relationships
• Organisation and environment
• Managing finance
• Managing projects

PCEXD

Assessment

Our aim is to enable you to relate assessment to your practice at work, as far as possible. In general, the work you present for assessment will be based on your practice as a manager (or your evaluation of case studies if you are not currently in work) and your critical reflection on it, informed by relevant theory, research and empirical evidence. As students studying at Masters level we expect you to recognise the complex, unpredictable and often ambiguous contexts in which organisations operate. Therefore, as you are increasing your knowledge of the more specialised developments and research in your field, you will also need to critically evaluate and reflect on their relevance and implications for your own work. You will also be expected to become independent in planning and managing the learning process and in reviewing and meeting your own learning needs. Assessment is designed to be developmental and should extend your intellectual and practical skills. You will receive constructive feedback from your tutors which you can use to inform your continuing professional development.

Within this general aim, a variety of both group and individual assessment methods will be used across the different units. These may include, for example, a reflective and critical analysis of team working or other type of collaborative working arrangements, the creation, implementation and evaluation of a personal development plan, a critical evaluation of the annual accounts of an organisation and the creation of a financial plan for an area of strategic importance, demonstrating significant understanding of the inter-relationship between the finance and other strategic functions. You will also be expected to analyse complex, and often abstract data and identify, evaluate and use complex sources of management information to design a project plan, demonstrating systematic understanding of the relationship between operational and strategic demands, and the ability to formulate effective responses. You will need to demonstrate the ability to identify the significant environmental issues and developments, including political, social, economic and technological, that will impact on organisational effectiveness and demonstrate significant and specialised knowledge of specific interventions, such as marketing and policy analysis, that will enable you to construct appropriate organisational responses. In all of these tasks we will be expecting you to demonstrate significant understanding, specialist knowledge and high level ability to translate abstract ideas and data into effective organisational initiatives. We will encourage you to use a range of creative approaches to completing and presenting your assignments, as relevant and appropriate to your work context. These could include the use of role play, podcasts, video clips and blogs.

Two of the assessments include group work as we think this provides an important opportunity for you to develop your skills in working collaboratively. In keeping with the universitys policies on groupwork assessment, you will receive an individual grade. This grade will have two group components; however they will comprise only 40% of the grade and 60% will be awarded by the tutor, taking into account self and peer assessment

Course Learning Outcomes

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

1. critically evaluate and apply knowledge, understanding and skills pertaining to the management of people, to create and maintain productive, fair and rewarding relationships.

2. enhance your competence as a reflective practitioner so as to be able to work autonomously, creatively and ethically, and shape your organisation and wider society.

3. critically analyse environmental factors that influence organisational strategy, and develop and implement appropriate responses.

4. identify, critically evaluate and use sources of management information to aid operational planning and implementation.

5. design, implement and critically evaluate systems and processes in order to fulfil organisational purposes.

6. drawing on an understanding of relevant financial frameworks, critically analyse financial information in the furtherance of organisational objectives and identify and synthesise financial proposals for new projects.

7. critically evaluate academic theories, research and practical experience and investigate organisational issues using appropriate methods and drawing on various sources and types of data, in order to develop reasoned proposals for organisational change.

8. question theory, practice and your own preconceptions about organisation and management, and synthesise and experiment with novel approaches to personal managerial practice and organisational practice.

9. develop and apply a range of interpersonal skills that are sensitive to context and enhance your influence with members of a wide range of constituencies.

External Benchmarking

QAA benchmark for Masters degrees in Business and Management (2007)

Educational Aims

This course aims to enhance your effectiveness as a manager by developing the knowledge, skills and sensibilities that will help you to respond to and shape the changing work and organisational environment. Recognising that the contemporary environment is complex and fluid, and that boundaries between formerly distinct sectors are becoming blurred, the course draws on best practice from private, public and voluntary sectors. We welcome students from all three sectors, and, through interactive approaches to teaching, aim to stimulate critical debate and shared learning.

The model of learning upon which the course is built is reflective practice. Accordingly, we will encourage you to adopt a critical stance towards current theory and practice, reflect on experience at work, integrate theory and practice, and experiment with new approaches in the workplace. By developing increased competence as a reflective practitioner, you will be able to take responsibility for your own continuing professional development.

Student support

There will be a range of sources of support for you on the course. You will be allocated a personal tutor who will provide guidance and support for your academic development. For guidance on specific subjects, you will be able to approach the unit tutor. For any issues that relate to the course as a whole, or those that cannot be resolved with unit tutors, the course leader will be available for consultation. There will also be an elected student representative who can give feedback and raise issues formally at Course Committee meetings.

As well as these course-specific sources of support, the University also provides a range of support services, including Careers, Chaplaincy, Counselling and Financial Advice. Support for study skills, such as academic writing, is available from the Professional and Academic Development Department.

Team working

There will be opportunities for teamworking within and outside the classroom. The style of classroom learning will be facilitative and will be interactive, drawing on students experience. Small group exercises and whole class discussions will support you to work with a range of peers. The course will focus explicitly on teamworking in the workplace and will support the development of knowledge and skills that foster the initiation and maintenance of positive, constructive and rewarding relationships at work.

Career Management Skills

You will be encouraged to include your own career and long-term personal and professional development as part of your reflective practice at the outset of the course. This is focused on in particular in the `Managing People and Relationships unit. Sharing experience with peers from other sectors is likely to be particularly valuable in gaining critical insight into your future career development.

Career/Further study opportunities

Career:

The course will support the development of critical thinking and enhanced managerial practice and will therefore enable you to consolidate or enhance your career in a very competitive labour market.

Further study:

Successful completion of the course enables admission with credit to the MBA and the MA Management, Organisation and Society (subject to validation) offered at the University of Bedfordshire.

Entry

Additional:

The course is designed for people in managerial roles who are seeking to improve their understanding and practice of management and who are capable of postgraduate level study. Consideration will be given to:

• applicants with an Honours degree or equivalent from a recognised university working in, or aspiring to a managerial role


• applicants with lower level qualifications but with relevant managerial experience

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 strategy is designed to provide a challenging learning experience which encourages all students to question management theory and practice, translate theory into practice from a critical and informed perspective, and develop new or modified approaches to managerial practice at work. The emphasis is, therefore, on active participation. You will be encouraged and supported to share your current and prior experience and participate in debate and conversation with peers and tutors. The classes will be structured through a mix of lectures, case examples, structured exercise and self-rated materials. There will be opportunities for small group work and whole class discussion. Lecture slides, relevant reading, links to websites and discussion boards will be provided on the Universitys virtual learning environment, BREO. As well as attending and participating in the classes, you will also need to devote time each week to individual study. This may take the form of further reading about particular topics, or undertaking work-based investigations or interventions.

Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body Accreditation

Approval is being sought for the CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Leadership and Management

Students with disabilities

All teaching is undertaken on premises that provide reasonable access for 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 adopted.

Concerning special educational needs (e.g., unseen needs such as dyslexia) special provision is made for assessment for course work and through the administration of central examinations. The Course team endeavour to make course materials available to you in formats that you 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 from the Disability Advice Team.

Skills Development

Communication

To help with the development of this you will:

• work in groups, contribute to discussions and encourage and support contributions from your peers


• prepare and deliver reports and presentations

Information Literacy

To help with the development of this you will:

• identify, evaluate and use information from a wide range of sources, including academic, work-based and internet-based sources


• use academic resources, such as electronic journal databases and BREO, independently

Research and Evaluation

To help with the development of this you will:

• research information from a wide range of sources


• carry out practical research investigations or action interventions

Creativity and Critical Thinking

To help with the development of this you will:

• engage in discussion which will allow you to question established theory and practice


• consider management and organisation from a variety of theoretical perspectives


• explore innovative approaches to leadership

Improving learning and performance

The concept of reflective practice will be introduced at the start of the course and this will be used throughout as the principal educational model for development and assessment.

Progress files

You will be supported and encouraged to maintain an ongoing record of your learning and achievement in an e-portfolio. This is a personal online space which is intended to support your learning and enable you to gather important data together with reflections and feedback, in an easily accessible place. You can use the e-portfolio for a variety of purposes, including:

• preparation for assessment by recording notes and reflections and assembling material from the workplace


• developing awareness of your own learning process


• personal and career development; CV building


• sharing your learning with peers and tutors, at your discretion


• presenting and showcasing your managerial skills and capabilities

Professional standards

Professional Standards refers to the attitudes and behaviours we value as a Course Team and hope to share and hold to with our students. As a manager and leader, you are in an influential position and inevitably act as a role model for others at work. The course will be more fulfilling, enjoyable and effective if we act courteously and considerately to each other. The behaviours that we hope to cultivate as a course group include:

• the observation of high standards of courtesy and consideration to others. For instance, we should attend classes, arrive punctually, and switch off mobile phones wherever possible. We should support each other inside and outside the classroom by active listening and offering constructive feedback


• the demonstration of openness and sensitivity to diversity, ethics, and social and environmental issues


• proactive engagement with the concepts and techniques of continuous professional development

Strategy for developing and embedding the professional standards

We will invite you and your fellow students to consider and add to the professional standards as part of induction. These will be reviewed as the course progresses.