Programme Specification for International Human Resource Management MA
|
Final award |
MA |
|
Intermediate awards available |
Postgraduate Diploma; Postgraduate Certificate |
|
UCAS code |
N/A |
|
Details of professional body accreditation |
N/A |
|
Relevant QAA Benchmark statements |
This programme has been developed in accordance with the QAAHE subject benchmark for Masters Awards in Business and Management |
|
Date specification last up-dated |
March 2011 |
Profile
The summary - programme advertising leaflet
Programme content
The growing internationalisation of economic activity is inseparable from an increasing need to manage people across borders. This poses challenges not only for large firms but also for smaller enterprises that need to internationalise at an early phase of their development. Internationally-operating organisations need to develop the competences to make strategic decisions about international staffing, understand how to manage foreign nationals in their home countries, and deal with a range of complex practicalities occasioned by cross-border and cross-cultural operation.
The MA in International Human Resource Management at UEL is intended to meet the advanced educational needs of the specialists who will manage and research the HR implications of this phenomenon.
The programme embraces:
- The study of how organisations operate internationally and the changing global and national context for their activities.
- Understanding, analysing and evaluating a range of approaches to people management and organisational strategy.
- Acquiring skills in research and information handling.
- Developing a range of skills to serve as a foundation for lifelong learning and personal and career development.
The MA in International Human Resource Management at UEL
The programme builds on UEL’s long experience of offering a wide range of postgraduate programmes in the UK and abroad. It offers three notable elements:
- rigorous academic study of the context for global business and international business strategy, organisational behaviour, human resource management, and international human resource management,
- practical and transferable skills for operating in a multi-national – and multi-cultural – environment
- engagement in a wide-ranging module offering skills and critical analysis in the field of understanding the business environment, the management of knowledge and information, project planning, and research methods.
The programme is taught in the university’s purpose-built Business School in London Docklands. This new facility, opened in 2006, offers a stimulating and supportive learning environment, backed up by state-of the-art technical facilities.
Admission requirements
For admission to postgraduate business and management programmes, applicants normally need to have either:
- An undergraduate honours degree from a recognised/accredited university with a minimum 2.2 classification or equivalent.
- Pass in a recognised Premaster’s or Master’s Qualifying Programme.
Applicants for entry to the MA International Human Resource Management programme will normally be expected to have a first degree or equivalent with a minimum 2.2 award in a related or relevant subject area: this could include a first degree in business or management studies, commerce, economics, a social science, or a combination of these.
Applicants who do not meet this requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basis in the light of their professional and academic experience.
In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, an IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent qualification) is required. As a rule, no individual IELTS band should be below 6.0.
Candidates will be interviewed where appropriate. Candidates who do not fully meet the English-language requirement stated above may be offered the opportunity to perform a language test.
International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.
There will be a reasonable expectation that the applicant will be able to fulfil the objectives of the programmes and to achieve the standard required for the award.
The University will apply the principle of equality of opportunity to its admission activities and encourages the recruitment of local and regional students and those with special needs.
Programme structure
The programme is modular in structure and consists of two stages.
Stage One comprises four taught modules each of 30 M Level credits:
- international business strategy,
- managing people and transformation,
- managing and researching in an international context,
- international human resource management.
Stage Two, which awards 60 M level credits, entails the writing of a Dissertation of 14,000 words. Students must have passed the modules in Stage 1 in order to move on to Stage 2.
The programme is available on a full- or part-time basis. Full-time students study two modules in each semester, followed by the Dissertation. Part-time students study one module per semester.
Learning environment
The programme is taught at the Business School, a new purpose-built facility in Docklands. The Business School is one of the largest schools at the University of East London, with over 2,000 full-time and almost 1,000 part-time students, taught by some 60 academic staff.
There is a very high investment in appropriate technology and the Business School has extensive computing facilities.
The learning environment sets out to promote active and reflective learning by participants, with extensive scope for group work and problem-based learning using case studies and analyses. This is achieved through three main forms of learning and study.
Lectures – which set the context for learning, introduce themes, and structure regular reading. The aim is an interactive experience in which course participants can draw on – and challenge – module tutors.
Seminars – which offer scope for exploring case studies, group work in preparing presentations, and exploring the literature.
Self-directed learning – based on a framework provided for each module, involving structured reading and problem-solving.
Assessment
There is range of assessment methods on the programme. Each module is assessed separately, using different mixes of assessment – such as coursework assignments, group presentations and reports, and exams. The aim is to assess a range of skills.
Assessment takes place during the semester in which the module is taught, and as a rule there are two assessment tasks in each taught module.
The Postgraduate programmes adhere strictly to the University regulations on assessment, designed to ensure fairness and maintain the quality of our awards. All work for assessment is double marked and quality is monitored by external examiners.
Relevance to work/profession
The learning outcomes of this programme reflect the approach taken by the UK Quality Assurance Agency in its guidelines for masters’ programmes in business and management. Masters programmes add value to first degrees by enabling individuals to develop in two ways that are central to a career in a commercial business or international organisation.
Firstly, they develop an integrated understanding of the field: that is, they enable students to see business in its context, and in its relationship to other central dimensions of business life.
Secondly, they require participants to become critically aware in their engagement with the subject: that is, the enable students to assess evidence for and against a point of view, to challenge the presuppositions of a theory, and to be equipped to engage in research to corroborate or refute an argument.
These skills are central in fostering the mature, positive, yet critical approach which organisations need if they are to develop and thrive in a complex and rapidly changing economic, business and political context.
The Masters in International Human Resource Management aims to apply this overall philosophy to the needs of students considering, or developing, their careers in this area of HRM. The management of people is a field in which an integrated and critically aware understanding of business life – and the roles of individuals within it – is of particular importance. Human resource management has been identified by leading researchers as a crucial domain for the successful operation of multi-national employers.
Thesis/Dissertation/project work
The MA Dissertation is a central element of the programme – and worth one-third of the total academic credits needed to obtain the award. The Dissertation can either be dealt with as a management problem or have a more academic focus. It provides an opportunity for sustained research, analytical thinking, and clear and rigorous writing. A module on research methods offers scope to develop research and information-handling skills as part-preparation for the Dissertation.
Added value
-
Your future career
Graduates from the programme can be expected to find employment in HRM in internationally-operating organisations based in a range of jurisdictions. In some cases, the programme might serve to help an individual (and their employing organisation) develop specialist competences needed to promote organisational development, such as a move to international operations.
How we support you
The programme aims to provide consistent and continuing support for students through staff involved in teaching, administration and programme management. A key contact point is the Business School Helpdesk, which can help with a range of student enquiries in conjunction with academic staff.
There is also support to cover particular linguistic and academic needs through UEL’s Academic English Study Support service (AESS), delivered by the English Language Centre.
In general support is provided through,
- accessible and supportive module tutors,
- student support centre with dedicated staff,
- induction process that aims to develop key skills for UK study,
- an ongoing parallel support programme of English language and study skills,
- an on-line facility for learning skills.
- large learning resource facility with on-line databases,
- self-study areas.
Bonus factors
Outcomes
Programme aims and learning outcomes
What is this programme designed to achieve?
This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:
- Engage in a study of organisations operating internationally and the changing global and national context in which they operate.
- Acquire a balance of theoretical and practical skills to allow participants to develop intellectually, personally, and professionally in the field of International Human Resource Management.
- Develop the ability to apply knowledge and understanding of organisations and approaches to the management of people to complex issues in a systematic and creative way.
- Understand a range of approaches to the field and analyse and evaluate them in terms of their theoretical coherence, empirical substance, and practical applicability.
- Develop a range of skills to serve as a foundation for lifelong learning and personal development.
What will you learn?
Knowledge
- A systematic understanding of the central issues that determine and shape the theory and practice of IHRM in organisations.
- Theoretical approaches and practical implementation options in the field of corporate strategy and strategic human resource management in the international field;
- A foundation of the principles and key issues in organisational behaviour and human resource management.
- Knowledge and critical understanding of theories and approaches in the policies and practices of international human resource management, and in particular its capacity to engage with and steer change within organisations and in the environment;
- Analysis and evaluation of a range of current problems in international human resource management.
- Knowledge and understanding of the ethical issues and range of stakeholder concerns that influence and shape the management of organisations in the international field;
- Knowledge and understanding of the methodologies and techniques for collecting, processing, analysis and presentation of different types of data for the purposes of management research.
Thinking skills
- An ability to identify, analyse and solve problems, where appropriate in quantitative terms, and develop related solutions from a range of options.
- Ability to exercise intellectual and practical creativity.
- A capacity to identify and use sources of knowledge, and evaluate the status of knowledge and information providers.
- Critical thinking, including the ability to identify assumptions, evaluate propositions in terms of logic and evidence, and identify implicit values.
- The ability to understand the cultural assumptions and norms of others, and reflect on one’s own culture and assumptions.
- The ability to acquire and analyse data and information, evaluate their relevance and validity, and synthesise new information.
- Acquisition of skills to promote and enhance lifelong learning and reflection.
Subject-Based Practical skills
- The ability to contribute to the shaping of an international human resource management strategy and its alignment with broader organisational objectives.
- An understanding of the value and complexities of multi-national teamworking.
- The ability to engage in the management of international assignees and other mobile employees in terms of preparation, training, support and re-integration of assignees.
- An understanding of the complexities of reward for internationally mobile employees.
- The ability to contribute to the HRM input to the preparation for and implementation of cross-border mergers, acquisitions and alliances.
- An understanding of the problems associated with international change management.
- An ability to analyse the implications of different regulatory regimes and industrial relations systems for HR policies and practices in an international business.
Skills for life and work (general skills)
- Personal effectiveness, self-awareness and self-management.
- Leadership and the exercise of appropriate leadership skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, using a range of media, and exercise skills of persuasion and compromise in complex settings.
- A capacity to work in teams and, where appropriate, to exercise leadership.
Structure
The programme structure
Introduction
All programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.
One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).
Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:
- 0 - equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme
- 1 - equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 2 - equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 3 - equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- M - equivalent in standard to a Masters degree
Credit rating
The overall credit-rating of this programme is 180 M level credits.
Typical duration
Entry is at two points per year, in September and February. All full time cohorts are provided with 12 months’ tuition and 3 months self directed study. Those who commence their programmes in September can complete in 12 calendar months. Given the exigencies of university vacations those who commence in February can complete in 15 calendar months.
Part-time participation is available for attendance during daytime sessions. Part-time students would need to study for four semesters during the taught part of the programme. There is a choice of submission date for the Dissertation for part-time students.
It is possible to move from full-time to part-time study and vice-versa to accommodate any external factors such as financial constraints or domestic commitments. Many UEL students make use of this flexibility on a range of programmes and this may impact on the overall duration of their study period.
How the teaching year is divided
The teaching year is divided into two semesters of roughly equal length. A typical student registered in a full-time attendance mode will study two 30 credit modules per semester and a typical student registered in a part-time attendance mode will study one module per semester
What you will study when
The programme consists of two stages.
Stage One comprises four taught modules each of 30 M Level credits:
- International Business Strategy
- Managing People and Transformation
- Researching and Managing in a Business Context: International HRM,
- International Human Resource Management.
Stage Two, which awards 60 M level credits, entails the writing of a Dissertation.
Students who begin the Programme on a full-time basis in September (Semester A) will study in line with the following structure:
|
Semester |
Module title |
Credit |
Status |
|
A |
(1) International Business Strategy |
30 |
Core |
|
A |
(2) Managing People and Transformation |
30 |
Core |
|
B |
(3) Managing and Researching in an International Context |
30 |
Core |
|
B |
(4) International Human Resource Management |
30 |
Core |
|
May - August |
Postgraduate Dissertation |
60 |
Core |
Students who begin the Programme in February (Semester B) will study in the line with the following structure:
|
Semester |
Module title |
Credit |
Status |
|
B |
(1) International Business Strategy |
30 |
Core |
|
B |
(3) Managing and Researching in an International Context |
30 |
Core |
|
A |
(2) Managing People and Transformation |
30 |
Core |
|
A |
(4) International Human Resource Management |
30 |
Core |
|
January-May |
Postgraduate Dissertation |
60 |
Core |
Should the Programme be offered on a part-time basis, students will study in line with the following structure (module numbers below as per above for full-time module numbers).
|
Semester |
B |
A |
B |
A |
B |
A |
B |
A |
|
February 07 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
September 07 |
- |
2 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
|
February 08 |
- |
- |
3 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
- |
- |
|
September 08 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
- |
|
February 09 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Stage 2 of the Programme (Postgraduate Dissertation Module) would run in the second semester in the period immediately following the core 30 M-level credit module assessments (January or June) with a choice of submission dates for the written piece of work. Students must have passed the modules in Stage 1 in order to move on to Stage 2.
Requirements for gaining an award
In order to gain a Postgraduate Certificate, you will need to obtain 60 credits at Level M.
In order to gain a Postgraduate Diploma, you will need to obtain 120 credits at Level M
In order to obtain a Masters, you will need to obtain 180 credits at Level M. These credits will include a 60 credit level M core module of advanced independent research.
Masters Award Classification
Where a student is eligible for an Masters award then the award classification is determined by calculating the arithmetic mean of all marks and applying the mark obtained as a percentage, with all decimals points rounded up to the nearest whole number, to the following classification
|
70% - 100% |
Distinction |
|
60% - 69% |
Merit |
|
50% - 59% |
Pass |
|
0% - 49% |
Not Passed |
Assessment
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching and learning
The programme embraces a range of teaching and learning approaches, each intended to enable participants to develop the knowledge and skills required in a Masters’ programme, and in particular to be able to guide their own work and reflect on how they are learning.
Participants will be expected to lead a discussion based on their own research and be able to work in groups and present findings and solutions to problems to the cohort. At all times students will be encouraged to reflect on and take responsibility for their own learning. Tutorial and seminar groups are a key component of the programme and aim to help you to analyse the underlying principles and practices of management and assess their application to identified issues. The main approaches to teaching and learning on the programme can be summarised as:
- An emphasis on the role of learners in acquiring knowledge.
- A need to develop the skills of self-managed learning.
- An awareness of the challenge of working at postgraduate level and the importance of developing a critical approach to study.
Knowledge is developed through:
- Integrated tutor led lecture and class/group seminar/case study/discussion
- Private study to prepare for group discussion and presentations.
- Private study to prepare for assignments and report writing.
- Reference and access to literature resources, including on-line academic and business journals and databases
Thinking skills are developed through:
- Seminars and group work
- Case studies and associated problem-solving activities
- Structured group/seminar discussion.
- Linking of theory and practice in each module.
- Written assignments
- Presentations of prepared work.
Practical skills are developed through:
- Researching presentations and projects both group and individual.
- Undertaking data collection and analysis.
- Group work.
- Case studies and work shops.
Skills for life and work are developed through:
- Report writing
- Presentations
- Participation in group/team work.
- Completion of major research project.
- Continued directed learning between classes
Assessment
A range of assessment is used on the programme, intended to establish whether the learning outcomes for each module have been achieved, and to promote self-managed and reflective learning.
Knowledge is assessed by:
- Group and individual presentations.
- Group and individual course work/assignments.
- Research embodied in the Dissertation.
Thinking skills are assessed by:
- Group work
- Presentations
- Assignments, which may based on case studies
- Research methodology and analysis in the Dissertation
Practical skills are assessed by:
- Compliance with deadlines for assignment and presentational requirements for assignments and Dissertation.
- Preparing presentations.
Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by:
- Presentations
- Assignments
- Report writing
- A variety of tasks including those undertaken on an individual basis or in a group
Quality
How we assure the quality of this programme
Before this programme started
Before this programme started, the following was checked:
- there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
- adequate resources would be in place;
- the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
- the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
- the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
- the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.
This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.
How we monitor the quality of this programme
The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:
- external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
- statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
- student feedback.
Drawing on this and other information, programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation. The process is monitored by the Quality and Standards Committee.
Once every six years an in-depth review of the whole field is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists. The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions. The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.
The role of the programme committee
This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff). The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality. The programme committee plays a critical role in the quality assurance procedures.
The role of external examiners
The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner. External examiners have two primary responsibilities:
- To ensure the standard of the programme;
- To ensure that justice is done to individual students.
External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:
- Approving exam papers/assignments;
- Attending assessment boards;
- Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks;
- Ensuring that regulations are followed;
- Providing feedback through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future.
Listening to the views of students
The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:
- Module evaluations and feedback.
- Student representation on programme committees (meeting 6 times year)
- Student/Staff consultative committee (meeting 3 times a year
Students are notified of the action taken through:
- Circulating the minutes of the programme committee
- Providing details on the programme noticeboard
- Communication via Module Tutors
Listening to the views of others
The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:
- Formal contact with external examiners
- Approval for major changes in the programme via school board, programme committee, the university’s quality procedures, and external examiners
- External industry and practitioner views.
Further Information
Where you can find further information
Further information about this programme is available from:
- The UEL web site (http://www.uel.ac.uk)
- The student handbook.
- Module study guides.
- UEL Manual of General Regulations and Policies http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/
- UEL Quality Manual http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/
- Regulations for the Academic Framework http://www.uel.ac.uk/academicframework/
- The Business School website http://www.uel.ac.uk/elbs
- Current External examiners
- External examiner reports (available from UEL virtual learning environment (UELPlus or Moodle))
