Awards
Target Award
Apprenticeship Standard
Programme Offerings
Part-Time
Educational Aims of the Course
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Modules will normally be delivered in block release format i.e. three full days per 10 credit module, however, days will be broken down into 2-3 hour sessions. The University’s VLE (Canvas) will be utilised to allow teaching and additional supporting materials to be readily available off-site and provide a means for participants to maintain contact. A strong emphasis is placed on recognising that the workplace is an important place to learn, learners will integrate key concepts and theories, assessing the impact of these on their own working environment and reporting back on their findings. In addition, the teaching approach will utilise a ‘flipped learning environment’ as well as technology, when appropriate, to maximise learning opportunities. The flipped learning environment allows for the face to face teaching experiences to probe learning and development through facilitation suited to the executive education experience. An important element of the programme is the opportunity it provides for participants to apply their learning to organisational situations. The fact that learning is applied, rather than being purely theoretical, is of crucial importance to students, since their roles empower them to make a contribution to, and impact on, their organisation. This approach is supported by the sharing of understanding which draws on the group experience. The importance of peer learning, essential for professional and experienced management practitioners, is also developed through the use of action learning sets as a supportive and collaborative approach enabling issues and challenges from the workplace to be discussed and peer reviewed by colleagues on the course. This approach also provides a forum for students to bring ideas, thoughts, issues and actionable remedies to the fore. One of the key intellectual skills necessary for success on the MBA programme is the development of a critical approach. This is encouraged and developed from the first module Scholarly Business Practice (7100LODMBA) and is reoccurring theme throughout the MBA and a requirement of all assessed work. Acknowledging that some of our students will be returning to study after a gap or may come to the programme with significant professional experience but without a previous academic background the first module Scholarly Business Practice (7100LODMBA) will focus on developing masters level study skills, this will be supplemented with specially developed learning resources for MBA level study and will continue throughout the programme with further study skills support provided through tutor direction and supported by the University-wide resources. Another key element of the MBA is the importance given to reflective practice and this is encouraged and supported throughout the programme and forms part of each written assignment. One of the first modules Leadership, Engagement and Development (7101LODMBA) specifically addresses good practice around critical reflection and the synthesis of new knowledge with existing practice. This skill development continues through the programme, with the final taught module Applied Business Research (7105LODMBA) preparing students for their final Consultancy Business Project (7106LODMBA). Classroom sessions are devised as an interactive, student-centred experience with group activities playing a large part in the learning experience. Participants will be expected to undertake work on their own and, given the applied approach to assessment, this will demand a degree of self-management and resilience to manage a full time senior leader work role with part time study.