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COURSE INFORMATION
The Newcastle Business School MBA programme is designed as a generalist career development programme for those students who have postgraduate and/or relevant work experience on which the management process can build. The programme therefore aims to meet the needs of regional organisations, professional bodies and individual career development - not only to meet individual value to you in your role but also to help you realise your full potential. The part-time MBA programme typically lasts 3 years. Each of the three years represents a stage oand potentially a stepping-off-point for Postgraduate Certificate in Management Studies (Year 1) and Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies (Year 2). The final year is the dissertation or project year and completes the MBA.
PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES
The more detailed objectives are to enable you to:
- Develop relevent management and organisation knowledge, both academic & professional, in line with postgraduate standards/benchmarks
- Develop your critical reflection skills and engagement with organisation and professional theory to understand, and where appropriate, challenge existing individual and organisational capability
- Develop understanding of your organisation's strategic focus and environment and the impact of the interrelationship between resources, customers and clients, in a changing context
- Develop committment to your personal and professional development, through independent and reflective learning
- Engage in individual research and demonstrate your ability to understand and apply management theory
- Enhance your interpersonal and team working skills
- Learn from the experience from other participants onthe programme
PROGRAMME DESIGN
The curriculum has been designed with consideration of the Quality Assurance Agency Academic Standards for Masters Programmes and relevent Professional Standards (AMBA/EQUIS/ EQUAL/ABS) togther with consultation with current students and employers. In addition, the Business School's research interests are considered and drawn upon, where appropriate.
INDUCTION
An induction to the programme and to Northumbria University is provided, offering an opportunity to discuss expectations, explore issues relating to the mechanics of the programme and provide practical help in terms of study skills and assignment writing. You will be allocated a personal tutor, likely to be the Programme Leader in the first instance, who is available to you for personal guidance on an individual basis.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
As part of your learning and development on this programme, you will be required to reflect on your own progress, to identify both your learning and shortfalls in learning, and to identify strategies to overcome and develop those shortfalls. The module 'Leaders and their context' provides the initial introduction to the underlying philosophy of a critically reflective approach to personal
development. This module also supports the development of relevant knowledge and skills for learning to learn, individual learning and actively encourages the development of learning managers through the use of
learning sets. All other modules on the programme reinforce this by providing a learning environment which encourages you to be proactive in reflecting, monitoring, assessing and developing your own emergent knowledge and practice. In addition to the formal taught elements of the programme, in Year 1 you are aided in your personal development by a management development residential. This is a two day residential event and it investigates the nature of team work and the possible contribution of the individual to the team. There is a two day residential event in Semester 2 of Year 2. It investigates the nature of management research and the use of qualitative research methods, as well as a one-day Business Game event.
You are also encouraged to further your learning and development by participating in development opportunities within Newcastle Business School such as the Corporate Guest Speaker Programme. Whilst the
various residential events allow the part-time MBA students to work alongside their counterparts from the full-time MBA Programme.
Newcastle Business School will pay for participants enrolling on this programme to become studying members of the Chartered Management Institute (for the duration of the programme). This includes access extensive business/management information covering theory and practice, personal/career development guidance, autorecording online CPD Scheme, a team of professional research staff and much more. Graduates from this programme will receive professional recognition at a minimum Associate level (ACMI), or with 3 years practical managerial experience at full Member level (MCMI), subject to the individual paying an annual fee. Those able to achieve Member status may also progress to Chartered Manager (CMgr) status.
THE PROCESS
Programme content is delivered via subject specific modules. The modules are delivered by a series of sessions based around formal input, workshop activities, case discussions and practical exercises. Examples include using video, film, presentations, group discussions and individual and group presentations. Directed learning will engage you in further research work to support and enhance learning in the sessions. Independent learning is reading which you identify, either pursuing areas of interest or providing deeper or broader knowledge of the subject area. You can expect a balance of lecture-based input and workshop/seminar activities that help you to apply theory to your 'real life' situations, critically analysing and making recommendations for appropriate ways forward for you and/or your organisation.
Sessions will include an opportunity for you to participate in the process of knowledge generation, peer interaction, communication and contextual application. Critical reflection on knowledge, experience and practice underpins the learning and teaching process. Each module is supported by a teaching and learning plan, which outlines the process and frameworks for learning, directed study, and independent reading. The necessity of directed study and independent reading are critical dimensions of the programme, thus developing you as an independent learner. You are therefore expected to allocate significant personal study time outside your
attendance at Newcastle Business School. You will be encouraged to join learning sets to facilitate individual and group reflection and dialogue during your study.
COURSEWORK AND ASSESSMENT
Nearly all the assessment on the programme is via assignment in which you are expected to apply relevant knowledge to an organisational context. All assignments are designed to test your understanding of theoretical and applied perspectives and your ability to use this appropriately to critically analyse individual and/or organisational practices, evaluating current practice and research in order to modify and develop your own and the organisation's approaches. Criteria will be provided so that you understand what is expected of you and how you will be assessed on your performance. You are required to demonstrate self-reflection and reflective
practice where appropriate. You will be provided with feedback on your assignments and as part of reflective practice, this feedback can be utilised in the preparation of your subsequent assessments. Expectations of you are high and a rigorous programme of study and weekly reading and preparation means you will be expected to put in a significant amount of additional study outside of the timetabled study hours, typically 8 to 15 hours per week.
Year 1
(Postgraduate Certificate in Management Studies)
* Leaders and their context
* Diagnosing the System
* Financial Management
* Marketing Management - a relationship approach
* There is a two-day residential team building
event at the beginning of this year.
Year 2
(Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies)
* Strategy and Change in a Global Environment
* Human Resource Management and Development
* Business Research Analysis
* Contemporary Issues in Management
* There is a two-day residential study block in Semester 2 of this year, covering research methods and business game
Year 3
(Masters in Business Administration)
* Dissertation (15,000 words) or Work-based Action Research Project (15,000 words)
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Normally entry is by possession of a first degree or professional qualification. However, talented, motivated and experienced applicants without the following
qualifications may be considered.
Certificate in Management Studies
(Year 1)
NVQ4 in Management, or HNC/HND in relevant subjects or University or CNAA Degree or Foundation Diploma in Management Development (Newcastle Business School) or acceptable professional qualification equivalent to one of the above Plus 2 (minimum) - 5 years Managerial/supervisory experience.
Diploma in Management Studies
(Year 2)
Postgraduate Certificate in Management Studies - 60 points at HE level 7 (module exemption may be applied where direct equivalence can be identified). No advanced
entry will be considered for direct entry onto Year 2 on the basis of prior experience alone.
Newcastle Business School MBA
(Year 3)
Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies of 120 points at HE Level 7 (this NBS Programme).
ATTENDANCE MODE
The taught component of the programme is delivered over two 15- week semesters per year - September to January and February to June (dates vary).
Part-time students are expected to attend one afternoon and evening a week, normally from 1pm to 6.30 pm. Normally Year 1 is on a Tuesday and Year 2 is on a
Thursday.
PROGRAMME LENGTH
- One year for the Postgraduate Certificate in Management Studies.
- Two years for Post Graduate Diploma in Management Studies.
FEES
Information on current fees is available from the Admissions Office. Fees may be paid in instalments.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Admissions Office
Northumbria University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8ST
TEL: 0191 227 4433
FAX: 0191 227 4561
EMAIL: nb.admissions@nortumbria.ac.uk
www.newcastlebusinessschool.co.uk