Sustainable Management | University of Bedfordshire

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About the course

Sustainability is fast becoming a driving force in shaping organisational strategy as companies move forward in the Green Economy and - as such - there is a growing need for professionals with an advanced knowledge of organisational approaches to managing sustainability.

On this up-to-the-minute course you can develop the personal and professional skills you need to be a key player in this global knowledge-based field. You study the core areas of sustainability within the corporate sector along with logistics management and its relationship with sustainability. You also explore the relationship between the economic ambitions of businesses and the growing global need to meet sustainability targets.

In line with our practice-based approach to learning the course offers a combination of academic study and working with industry on real sustainability-related problems.

It is accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

Why choose this course?

Every taught unit is delivered in a six-week block with six entry points through the year allowing you to start at a time that most suits you
Build your understanding of contextual issues relevant to sustainability such as climate change globalisation and economic pressures
Develop advanced knowledge of organisational approaches to sustainability; government policies; and the structural issues companies and countries face when implementing a sustainability agenda
Gain the critical capabilities and knowledge to apply theory to complex issues and generate effective sustainability strategies for specific business needs
Benefit from studying with a Business School with partners across the world enabling you to experience the cross-cultural perspectives essential to organisations in global markets

Find out more about financial support available

What will you study?

Strategic Management

This unit covers the field of strategy-making and strategic management. You will consider current issues and challenges facing directors, senior managers and entrepreneurs in guiding the long-term development of organisations. The objectives of organisations and the means of achieving these objectives through the mobilisation and deployment of assets and resources and the integration of the various functions of the organisation will be the focus of the unit.

Global Logistics And Supply Chain Management

Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management is an area that is rapidly gaining importance and focus as businesses address the challenge of meeting increasingly demanding customer expectations globally. There has been a growth in interest in how organisations manage the flows into, within, and out of their enterprises and recognition that this fundamentally affects their competitive position. In an increasingly competitive marketplace those organisations that appropriately embrace logistics and supply chain management rationale will strengthen their ability to compete successfully.

This unit aims to enable you to:

Have a sound understanding of the various dimensions of the complex and dynamic subject of logistics and supply chain management;
Examine critically the key issues of contemporary developments and practices in logistics, supply chain management and other related areas, and solve practical problems creatively by using relevant and well researched theoretical concepts and frameworks.

This unit will introduce you to well-developed theories and concepts in global logistics and supply chain management as well as the current research in the areas of sustainable supply chains and technological innovations. In particular, it will concentrate on contemporary developments within subject area of the course, and the increasing integration between the highly related areas of logistics management, supply chain management, and sustainable operations management. It will consider the ways in which these developments are expanding and challenging the traditionally accepted roles and objectives of these functions and how integration can contribute to enhanced competitive advantage for organisations.

Sustainable Business Management

The central aim of this unit is to equip students with the knowledge and skills to understand the scope and aspects of business impacts on the environment and how these impacts may be managed to improve business sustainability. The unit will closely reflect the needs of the revised international environmental management standard, ISO14001:2015 and recognise the contexts of climate change and the move to a circular economy that are integral to the perspectives of the standard. The unit will help students develop their management skills in the light of rapidly developing, complex ideas about business sustainability. Research will play a large part in this. The need for managers to find out fast through sound research skills, and the ability to carry out independent research and appreciate the quality of sources, will be integral to success on the unit. In particular, the unit will help students critically assess current business practices while developing strategic and operational opportunities to embed sustainability more deeply throughout the business. This will include systems but, to reflect the emphasis of ISO14001 (2015) will emphasise the need for senior leadership, creativity and engagement skills. The unit will work in partnership with Bedfordshire Green Business Network (GBN) to engage students with real life case studies and opportunities for practical skills development.

Performance Achievement Planning

This short course is a professional development course that is designed to support all PG students in the University of Bedfordshire Business School to enhance their employability and develop a professional profile through their journey in the Masters. The specific aims are to:

Enhance students’ professional, personal development and communication skills.
To support students to evidence how their experience at masters level has contributed to the development of their professional profile as required after graduation.
To support students to develop the necessary academic skill required for successful completion of postgraduate research

International Corporate Governance And Company Law

The central aim of this unit is to provide you with a thorough understanding of global Corporate Governance and the relationship with Company Law. In order to achieve this, you will be encouraged to identify issues involved in the creation and management/governance of modern corporations.

The unit is highly relevant to today’s business, with many global companies pronouncing on their own interpretation of governance. Given the recent scandals at companies such as VW group, the importance and impact of good governance practice and bad practice will be assessed. In addition to the development of UK company law, consideration will be given to the impact of EU law both internally and externally. The social implications of classic stakeholder-ship versus shareholder-ship are central to the unit, along with an understanding of corporate protection and corporate crime.

Business Dissertation

Aims:

To bring theory and practice together to formulate a topic of your interest whether it is a research-oriented topic or a more clinical topic that is relevant to the context of business and conduct research on your choice of topic relevant to your field of study
To stimulate you to reflect on issues critically and to identify aspects that need further research
To provide you with the opportunity to explore a topic and appreciate the importance of literature review in the learning process
To critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of other people’s research to formulate your own study
To enhance skills in time-management, research management, project organisation and decision-making
To apply and reflect on the practicalities of research including access to sources and ethical considerations

Relevance

An important aim of a Master’s degree is to master and apply your knowledge and skills independently so that you can successfully carry out research. This dissertation provides you with the opportunity for sustained independent study that builds on your research proposal and represents the culmination of your Master’s level studies.

How will you be assessed?

A number of different assessment methods will contribute to your development and will enhance your employability. We consider it essential that comprehensive feedback is provided in due time so it is integrated in your learning process. When group work is required the marks given will be individual following the University of Bedfordshire's regulatory scheme. In some cases different kinds of assessment may be used in combination making sure however that there are no hidden tasks. The different kinds of assessment are listed below and in some cases they will be used in combination making sure however that there are no hidden tasks.

In addition to the assessment strategies followed in each Unit student knowledge and skills will be also formatively assessed through problem solving sessions or case study discussions in order to ensure that development of their comprehension of the underlying concepts is appropriate to the level of studies and continuously supports the overall student achievement.

The intensive character of this Course's delivery as it is outlined in its Teaching and Learning philosophy is consistent with the needs of today's world for graduates who accumulate knowledge fast and are able to express the outcome of this process in a way that is meaningful and comprehensive. After induction a week of intensive direct contact time followed by students own contribution through individual learning will take them to the first assessment point. The process will repeat and at the end of the six-week block the final assessment will be due. This will be a demanding but very rewarding experience.

The overall assessment strategy for this course is geared towards creating opportunities for realistic assessment that links the learning in the class with real-life case studies. Reports Case study exams and presentations that focus on providing experience in assessing and evaluating sustainability in business. Among other assessment types the following may be used:

Class Tests: Questions in these exams always promote critical thinking and help you gradually develop your ability to apply analyze synthesize and evaluate.
Oral Presentation: A number of transferable skills will be developed including the ability to present your findings in a professional clear and concise manner.
Reflective Report: Evaluating your own contribution to a team is essential in the context of this course but in the workplace as well
Dissertation / Professional Practice / Live Project: Regardless of which master's capstone experience you opt for you will have to produce an individual independent piece of work. The three capstone units will each be evaluated as equivalent. You will be asked to identify the research question or problem under investigation review the relevant literature and develop a sound methodology in order to explore the problem proceed with the analysis discuss your findings and make recommendations. It is the capstone of this course and builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in all Units. It will be one of the most challenging but yet enjoyable and rewarding experiences you will encounter.

The use of a wide range of sources both academic and other sources is a requirement for a postgraduate degree. The notions of accountability and academic integrity will be an integral part of your course. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. You will be informed about what plagiarism is and how to avoid it during the delivery of each Unit. Where an individual project is required you will be asked to show the different stages of your work or to present it in its entity upon completion. Where collaborative tasks are assigned an individual reflective report will be necessary to indicate your contribution to the team. All coursework assignments will require a thorough evaluation of the sources used and referencing will be done according to the Universitys Harvard Referencing System.

Careers

Sustainability has a wide employment reach encompassing as it does environmental social educational and economic fields as well as business. On successful completion of this course you will have the skills to find employment opportunities as a sustainability specialist across the private public and charity sectors in areas such as financial services; management services; consulting; marketing; or advertising – to name a few.

You will also be well prepared for further academic study at either MPhil or PhD level.

Entry Requirements

2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area

Entry Requirements

2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area

Entry Requirements

2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area

Entry Requirements

2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area

Entry Requirements

2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area

Entry Requirements

Fees for this course

UK 2024/25

The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk