Programme Specification for Social Enterprise: Health & Social Care MA
|
Final award |
MA |
|
Intermediate awards available |
PGCert, PGDip, |
|
UCAS code |
N/A |
|
Details of professional body accreditation |
N/A |
|
Relevant QAA Benchmark statements |
N/A |
|
Date specification last up-dated |
June 2012 |
Programme content
Most Masters programmes on social enterprise tend to be generic for the whole sector, with a broad approach. There is no focussed Masters programme that addresses the issue of leadership and management development with a keen understanding of the current policy climate, combining academic and professional approaches, especially for the Health and Social Care sector. This programme is designed to inculcate and nurture an entrepreneurial mindset for the participants and equip them to build entrepreneurial ventures in the emerging third sector in general and the health and social care sector in particular.
This is the programme for people involved in and who want to be involved in the third sector, especially social enterprises, who want to develop leadership and management skills and build and sustain enterprises that deliver public services in a policy environment that supports such public service delivery. The programme aims to develop a keen understanding of the policy environment in the third sector and respond appropriately to the external environment that impacts service delivery through socially entrepreneurial organisational forms that are sustainable. You can build a strong career in the third sector with the skills, knowledge and understanding facilitated by the course and be confident leaders and managers of sustainable social enterprises.
The programme is flexible with intermediate awards (Postgraduate Certificate or Associate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma) so that you can take individual modules or a whole Masters, and study part or full time. There will be the opportunity to take a variety of optional modules, some taught by the core team and others in related fields including NGO management.
M A Social Enterprise: Health & Social Care at UEL
- Taught by research active staff team
- Option modules available from other subject areas and programmes.
- Diverse teaching methods including workshops and fieldtrips
- Modular and flexible programme with part-time study and intermediate qualifications available
- Practitioner focused programme oriented towards health and social care commissioning policies
Entry requirements
- Applicants to the MA, PGDip and PGCert should normally hold a first class or second class (2:1 or 2:2) honours degree in a related area including social science, social work, business management, education, health, etc. Applicants who are not graduates but who have at least two years relevant research or professional experience may be considered. Eligibility for students without degree-equivalent qualifications will be assessed on the basis of an essay and personal statement that demonstrates they have acquired key learning outcomes equivalent to students completing undergraduate study. The AEL (accreditation of experiential learning) procedures of the University will be followed for this. Places will be offered to students applying without formal requisite qualifications after this assessment and a successful interview with a member of the programme team. International students may be interviewed by phone or Skype.
- In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.
- The knowledge, skills and experience that the applicant has gained through employment, training courses, voluntary work, previous education or private study could count towards this programme. These learning experiences will be formally recognised with the Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes and can count as credit towards the degree. Therefore such applicants would be encouraged to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.
Programme structure
To ensure a flexible access to the programme for students we will run in full and part time mode and accommodate both a September and a February start. Intermediate awards will be available for those completing 30, 60, or 120 credits. In 2013-14 one of the modules will run in block delivery.
Learning environment
The programme is delivered through diverse teaching methods including lectures, seminars, workshops and fieldtrips. Written material such as lecture notes as well as video and audio podcast material will be available to students via UEL’s Virtual Learning Environment. Students will receive individual supervision to help with the preparation for their coursework.
Assessment
Each module is assessed with respect to the learning outcomes indicated against each assessment piece. In the case of course works, case studies, proposals etc. the module guide for each module will clearly lay out the topics, what is expected in the written pieces as well as marking criteria. All modules carry 30 credits except the Dissertation, which carries 60 credits. Modules are assessed by coursework which is comprised of essays, case studies and exams in some modules.
Relevance to work/profession
The programme is geared to support students seeking or developing a career in the Third Sector. The research project may be connected to your existing, professional work – this will be agreed in discussion with the programme tutor. For students not currently working in the area the programme team can help advise you on arranging a dissertation placement if wished, although this is not compulsory.
Dissertation/project work
The independent dissertation is a key part of Masters level education; hence it carries twice the credit rating of other modules. Other modules will include project work as well as essays.
Added value
- The staff team include academic experts widely published in the area of social enterprise.
- The opportunity to study in London where the social enterprise sector is growing rapidly
- Access to over 100 social enterprises in the South East as well as leading practitioners in the field
Your future career
Destinations will include establishing or managing social enterprises, cooperatives and other social economy organisations as well as positions in the public sector. For those interested in continuing in an academic arena, the programme provides strong research grounding for continuing to PhD level and further.
How we support you
All students will be allocated a personal tutor in additional to support from programme/module leaders. Support includes one-to-one meetings and email and telephone support where needed. Students are encouraged to attend relevant UEL/LSS events.
Bonus factors
- Unique M-Level module on entrepreneurial models in Health and Social Care service delivery
- London location
- Practitioner relevance
- Research-led teaching
The Programme aims and learning outcomes
This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:
- Apply social theory and appropriate conceptual frameworks to evaluate and reflect on current social problem solving in general and social entrepreneurship in particular
- Inculcate and nurture an entrepreneurial mindset for the participants and equip them to build entrepreneurial ventures in the emerging third sector in general and the health and social care sector in particular
- Build competency in design and redesigning appropriate and efficient service delivery systems, and creating and strengthening an effective organizational mechanism in social enterprises, co-operatives, mutuals and other social mission led organisations
- Develop a keen understanding of the policy environment in the third sector and respond appropriately to the external environment that impacts service delivery through socially entrepreneurial organisational forms that are sustainable
- Impart appropriate skills and competencies for the co-production of services, accessing multiple resources, networks and stakeholders
- Build strong leadership and management skills that facilitates the creation, leading and managing of socially entrepreneurial organisations that comprehensively meet the needs of communities and individuals
What will you learn?
Knowledge
- Understanding of the different types of NGO, Social Enterprise and other Third Sector Organisations and their stakeholders
- Planning for setting up of social enterprises, co-operatives, mutuals etc.
- Skills in leading and managing a diversity of organizational forms in social entrepreneurship;
- Ways and means of resourcing social enterprises and related initiatives
- Legal forms and policy provisions available for social enterprises and other related initiatives
Thinking skills
- Critically engage with conflicting perspectives and evidence which can be interpreted in a variety of ways;
- Critically reflect on experience of working in organisations in relation to academic debates in the field.
Subject-Based Practical skills
- Ability to develop proposals for managing change in social enterprise and non-governmental organisations
- Ability to contribute to improving the effectiveness of organisations
- Ability to engage with complex issues of an ethical and political nature.
- Ability to design and conduct a research project [MA].
Skills for life and work (general skills)
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to use Office applications and specialist software.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
The programme structure
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 for Masters, 30 for PG Associate Certificate, 60 for PGCert, 120 for PGDip.
Typical duration
The typical duration of this full programme is one year full-time or two years part-time. 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 of our students make use of this flexibility and this may impact on the overall duration of their study period. Those who want to step off mid-way through the programme or earlier have different early completion qualifications depending on credits completed. These are: Post Graduate Associate Certificate (30 credits); Post Graduate Certificate (60 credits); Post Graduate Diploma (120 credits)
How the teaching year is divided
The 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 or two modules per semester. In 2012-3 there will be one module running in block delivery (Social Enterprise: Planning and resourcing) and subject to demand the programme team will extend block delivery in the future.
What you will study when
Full-time students must complete 180 credits (includes dissertation) in Year 1; part-time students either complete 60 credits in Year 1 and 120 credits (includes dissertation) in year 2 or 90 credits in Year 1 and 90 credits in Year 2.
The following are the core and optional requirements for this programme:
|
Level |
UEL Module Code |
Module Title |
Credit |
Status |
|
M |
ISM202 |
Social Enterprise: Planning and Resourcing |
30 |
Core |
|
M |
ISM201 |
Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship – concepts and practices |
30 |
Core |
|
M |
ISM203 |
Health and Social Care service delivery – entrepreneurial models |
30 |
Core |
|
M |
ISM204 |
Managing and Leading social enterprises |
30 |
Optional |
|
M |
ISM400 |
Dissertation |
60 |
Core |
|
M |
AIM203 |
Sustainability and the Commons |
30 |
Optional |
|
M |
ISM205 |
Project management in NGOs and social enterprises |
30 |
Optional |
Pathways by full-or part-time study and by start date:
|
FULL-time, September start |
||
|
30 credits |
30 credits |
|
|
Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship – concepts and practices |
Social Enterprise: Planning and Resourcing |
|
|
Health and Social Care service delivery – entrepreneurial models |
Option |
|
|
Dissertation |
|
|
|
FULL-time, February start |
|
|
|
30 credits |
30 credits |
|
|
Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship – concepts and practices |
Social Enterprise: Planning and Resourcing |
|
|
Dissertation |
||
|
Health and Social Care service delivery – entrepreneurial models |
Option |
|
|
PART-time, September start |
|
|
|
Note – students take one option module; this may be in Sem C (first year), Sem A (second year), or Sem B (third year). Therefore depending on students’ choices, the part-time credit split by year will either be 60 credits / 120 credits or 90 credits / 90 credits. |
|
Sem A |
Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship – concepts and practices |
|
Sem B |
Social Enterprise: Planning and Resourcing |
|
Summer |
Reading |
|
Sem A |
Health and Social Care service delivery – entrepreneurial models
|
|
Sem B |
Option |
|
Summer |
Dissertation |
|
PART-time, February start |
||
|
Note – students take one option modules; this may be in Sem C (first year), Sem A (second year), or Sem B (third year). Therefore depending on students’ choices, the part-time credit split by year will either be 60 credits / 120 credits or 90 credits / 90 credits. |
||
|
Year 1 |
Sem B |
Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship – concepts and practices |
|
Summer |
Reading |
|
|
Sem A |
Social Enterprise: Planning and Resourcing |
|
|
Year 2 |
Sem B |
Option |
|
Summer |
Dissertation |
|
|
Sem A |
Health and Social Care service delivery – entrepreneurial models |
|
Intermediate Awards
PG Associate Certificate (unnamed): Planning and resourcing for social enterprises. This will be on offer to students who take only the 30 credit block delivery module ‘Social Enterprise: Planning and resourcing’. Students taking other 30 credit modules may be awarded an unnamed PG Associate Certificate as per standard UEL procedure.
PG Certificate: Social Enterprise. This will be available to students completing 60 credits of programme modules.
PG Diploma: Social Enterprise: Health and Social Care. This will be available to students completing 120 credits from the programme but not the 60 credit dissertation.
Requirements for gaining an award
- In order to gain a Postgraduate Associate Certificate, you will need to obtain 30 credits at Level M.
- 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 |
Further information
Contact: Gladius Kulothungan , Programme Leader: gladius@uel.ac.uk
Teaching Approach:
Knowledge is developed through
- lectures
- seminars
- workshops
- tutorials – with academic and personal tutors
- field visits – and invited guests
- guided and independent reading and research
- student-led presentations
Thinking skills are developed through
- seminars
- small-group discussions
- workshops
- tutorials
- field visits
- student-led presentations
- applying initiative and original thinking in analysis and creation of reports
Practical skills are developed through
- library and archive research
- data analysis
- essay and report writing
- workshops
- student-led presentations
- research seminars
- independent research dissertations
- formulating problems and managing learning tasks, carrying out research work with autonomy, discipline and professionalism
Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through
- essay and report writing, group presentations, independent research dissertation
- collaborating in a small group as a leader or participant to solve a specific problem
- presentations of reports of seminar research and group presentations
- defining the parameters of a problem, researching it autonomously and managing the research process
- Undertaking research within an organisation (optional but encouraged)
Assessment approach:
Knowledge is assessed by
- essays
- reports
- formative presentations
- examinations
- dissertation project (MA only)
Thinking skills are assessed by
- essays
- reports
- formative presentations
- examinations
- dissertation project (MA only)
Emphasis is placed upon understanding of topic/s; application of knowledge in making an argument; clarity of arguments; evidence of synthesis and creativity; evidence of independent thought; and originality and distinctiveness of the student's own viewpoint.
Practical skills are assessed by
- essays
- reports
- formative presentations
- examinations
- dissertation project (MSc only)
Emphasis is placed upon evidence of systematic preparation; coherent structure and analytic insight in the assessed work; and clarity of expression.
Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by
- essays
- reports
- formative presentations
- the dissertation (MA only)
Emphasis is placed upon coherence of assessed work and clarity of expression. Students are encouraged to become familiar with various media and visual tools available to develop their work.
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 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
- Student/staff consultative committee
Students are notified of the action taken through:
- Circulating the minutes of the committee
- Updates from teaching staff
Listening to the views of others
The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:
- Questionnaires to former students
- Annual student satisfaction questionnaire
- Liaison with professional bodies
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 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/
- School web pages http://www.uel.ac.uk/lss
- Current External examiners
- External examiner reports (available from UEL virtual learning environment (UELPlus or Moodle))
