Partner Details

Unicaf

Awards

Target Award

Award Description:Master of Business Administration - MBA
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit

Programme Offerings

Part-Time

F2F-UIC-APR
F2F-UIC-AUG
F2F-UIC-DEC
F2F-UIC-FEB
F2F-UIC-JAN
F2F-UIC-JUL
F2F-UIC-JUN
F2F-UIC-MAR
F2F-UIC-MAY
F2F-UIC-NOV
F2F-UIC-OCT
F2F-UIC-SEP

Educational Aims of the Course

1. Apply a scholarly approach and up to date business knowledge to operate as a versatile, confident and effective leader in a complex, dynamic working environment. 2. Critically appraise complex problems and situations across functional boundaries in order to develop holistic, integrated strategic responses to organisational and management issues. 3. Prosper as a critical independent learner able to apply and practice principles of reflection and continuous development to positively impact individual and collective performance within the organisation. 4. Synthesise new learning with existing experience to make a positive impact on current context from the start of the MBA programme. 5. Develop knowledge and understanding of current and pervasive issues in business and management to enrich own professional practice, enhance career development prospects and facilitate personal and professional development. 6. Identify, analyse and capitalise on opportunities for transformation and venture creation within the organisation 7. Understand, critically appraise and conduct research providing analysis and synthesising data and information to make sounds judgements and recommendations. 8. Engage in responsible leadership practices, appreciating diversity and behaving with integrity.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Apply knowledge and understanding to complex issues, both systematically and creatively, so theory is utilised and applied to practice from a critical and informed perspective, thus enhancing organisational effectiveness and competitiveness.
2.
Critically appraise, leverage and exploit digital technologies, data and disruptive practices to support organisational transformation ensuring sustainability and competitiveness.
3.
Exploit opportunities for networking to facilitate horizon scanning in order to identify and analyse business opportunities for new venture creation
4.
Critically evaluate and utilise theories in approaches to practitioner research within the organisation to enable new insights and opportunities to solve complex problems and facilitate change.
5.
Progress leadership and management thinking by negotiating and gaining stakeholder engagement in order to undertake a significant research project which utilises academic research philosophies and strategies to challenge established practices and facilitate organisational growth.
6.
Use relevant research methods to critically appraise an issue, optimise the synthesis of complex data, both systematically and innovatively, to develop practical solutions and evaluate outcomes.
7.
Identify appropriate leadership style(s) for different situations, apply engagement and motivation strategies to manage people, activities and operations and engage effectively with stakeholders
8.
Synthesise new learning with existing experience to improve professional practices by increasing self-awareness though ongoing critical reflection taking responsibility for continuing to develop knowledge, skills and emotional intelligence.
9.
Engage in responsible leadership practices and behave with integrity. This includes an appreciation of diversity, an openness to utilising the strengths and contributions of all colleagues, a recognition of the importance of active listening, seeking feedback and the humility to learn from others.
10.
Develop confidence and expertise to articulate opinions, synthesising and clarifying complex ideas and arguments in both oral and written communication, enhancing ability to persuade and influence all stakeholders to create business impact.
11.
Make a professional and informed contribution to the development of practice in an organisation by engaging as a scholarly practitioner; questioning established practice, critiquing and interrogating academic literature and making judgements about relevance and applicability to context.
12.
Synthesise and utilise knowledge of the different functional areas of business, academic literature, theory and understanding of organisation context, both strategically and operationally, to make integrative links to deliver business impact.
13.
Investigate an issue of strategic importance through in depth research and application of appropriate methodology to provide insight/contribution to business/organisational practice.
14.
Apply systemic thinking principles to aid strategic thinking and planning, connecting ideas and practices to solve complex problems and enhance decision making across functional boundaries.
15.
Critically appraise the global, macro-economic and political environment to evaluate appropriate strategic directions, choices, options across different functional areas
16.
Have a basic understanding of financial management principles with the ability to interpret and critically appraise organisation financial information and utilise for strategy formation.
17.
Critically evaluate and apply knowledge of financial management to appraise and manage organisational risk and support organisational governance and decision making.
18.
Apply critical insights from business practice and academic theories and frameworks including trends, challenges and enablers to translate strategy into operational practice.
19.
Critically evaluate and utilise appropriate methods and tools to deliver strategic aims or goals as practical deliverable outcomes for organisational growth and impact.
20.
Utilise awareness of theories and best practice to develop leadership strategies which create optimal conditions for innovation including the confidence to manage transformation processes, take calculated risks, manage uncertainty and learn from failure.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Unicaf's VLE (Moodle) will be utilised to allow teaching and additional supporting materials to be readily available 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 an online learning environment, as well as technology, when appropriate, to maximise learning opportunities. The online learning environment ensures 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 Leadership and Scholarly Business Practice (7511UNIMBA) 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 Leadership and Scholarly Business Practice (7511UNIMBA) 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. This skill development continues through the programme, preparing students for their final Consultancy Business Project (7506UNIMBA). Online sessions are devised as an interactive, student-centred 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. Other skills will be embedded in specific modules. The core management competences of allocating priorities and time management are supported by clear submission deadlines, with protocols for extenuating circumstances. Transferable skills will be crucial in providing students with the increased confidence and ability to solve business problems within their organisation. The culmination of transferable skills, including reflexive learning will be the demonstrated in the MBA dissertation which is known as the Consultancy Business Project. Thought leadership will also be employed on the programme, fostering intellectual skills and addressing the ever-changing nature of leadership and management in the real world. Assessment The assessment methodology includes written assignments and presentations which require participants to relate their learning to an organisational setting. It is expected

Opportunities for work related learning

The programme conforms to the QAA requirements for "a career development programme for those who have significant ... and relevant work experience on which the learning process should build". The programme’s approach to how managers and leaders learn applies proven management and leadership development approaches. At the centre of the programme’s philosophy is the notion that we learn best from experience, so action learning, skilled facilitation and peer support are a key part of the programme. This approach also builds strong peer learning groups where managers learn from each other. That is because the programme sees management and leadership development as a social and collaborative process. It also means that the programme takes learning from the workplace seriously. Consequently, all students will bring expertise from their own area of practice which they can share and develop further through exposure to new learning, sharing of good practice and the opportunity to reflect and improve their performance.

Programme Structure

Programme Structure Description

There is one programme award: Master in Business Administration. This is offered part time for international students on the Unicaf programme. Students studying part time will be able to complete the MBA between 2-5 years. Students must take the following modules: 7511UNIMBA - Leadership and Scholarly Business Practice (30 credits) … For more content click the Read More button below.

Entry Requirements

Alternative qualifications considered
Other international requirements

HECoS Code(s)

(CAH17-01) business and management