General OverviewThe MBA programme will be delivered via a variety of modes detailed below:
· a one year full time programme delivered over three terms
· a two year part time programme delivered over six terms
· a five year (maximum) distance learning/on-line programme delivered over fifteen terms (maximum).
The global nature of the business world requires management professionals who have a critical understanding of how business is conducted now and will be conducted in the future. Such professionals not only need strategic analytical skills, but also business intuition and judgement brought about by an enquiring and adaptive mind. The use of business simulation exercises, role play, case studies, in-company analysis will assist the honing of the students’ communication, negotiation and facilitating skills. The overall aim therefore is to produce MBA graduates of the highest quality who can respond creatively and effectively to the challenges of the global business environment.
The Programme has a structure that takes advantage of an integrative teaching approach, starting with the crucial nature business function integration. This theme will run throughout the Programme to allow a comprehensive understanding of how key business functions impact upon one another. As well as providing the essential core business knowledge and understanding, the programme places a strong emphasis on developing the applied managerial skills that are vital to managing creativity, as well as problem solving.
Students may wish to continue their study through a Doctor of Business Administration and/or Continuous Professional Development.
The MBA is aligned with the UWS Education Enabling Plan and has been designed to create an environment which facilitates the involvement of the student in a learning partnership. The individual learning experience is therefore the focus of the programme, rather than that of a comparison with their fellow students’ performance. Consequently students drive their own MBA journey through their contribution and involvement with the programme activities and interaction with their peers. The programme aims to expose students to a learning and problem solving environment that can be compared to that which they will/or have experienced in a real business context, e.g. dealing with conflict, negotiation, team members, and resolving business conundrums, as well as personal dilemmas. Interaction in this environment will allow the student to demonstrate their understanding of contemporary management theory as well as what they have absorbed through peer interaction, such a learning process will be fundamental to module design. The overall theme of the programme and its constituent parts will be the application of the students’ knowledge to real business issues. This applied focus will be underpinned by the study of theoretical concepts and paradigms in specific contexts synergising the various different disciplines and areas that have been studied. This model of learning requires the student to conduct analysis of a specific issue and then consider different options before deciding on the most appropriate course of action. Each module is designed so that this process does not occur in isolation but rather it is a collaborative undertaking within syndicate groups from the MBA community. For students to gain full advantage of this experience a detailed structure will be contained in the module handbooks stipulating what is expected of each student during these student centred activities, e.g. preparative work, directed reading, independent research. All teaching mechanisms are student centred. The lecture is not intended to impart large amounts of complex information but rather a vehicle through which we give an overview of the area of study, frame it within appropriate of context, and provide the student with a structure which they can use to inform their own study. Irrespective of the mode of study, all students will receive the same content albeit in different formats, i.e. FT and PT students will have face-to-face lectures, whereas their DL peers will have the same content but a via a series of vignettes and explanatory content. This also with all other activities, such as case study analysis, simulations, and group work projects, i.e. the content of what of every student receives is similar, however the format in which it is delivered may vary depending on the specific mode of study. Unique to the UWS MBA is the requirement for all students to immerse themselves in the MBA community. Some module activities will require students to undertake syndicate work within their peer groups drawn from all modes of study and therefore from across the globe. This is designed to be a direct representation of life in the real business world and adds a true international dimension to the learning experience. A combination of formative and summative assessments will be used. Formative assessment is of particular importance during the initial stages of the MBA student journey as it will encourage the individual to reflect on their performance, their grasp on management theory and its application, their development as a leader, as well as their interpersonal skills. As the student progresses through the programme greater emphasis will be placed on summative assessments. The actual assessment format will be a mixture of online test, reports, essays, presentations and projects. There will be individual, group and peer assessment. The use of group work assessment is deemed justifiable as it is a means of expanding ones knowledge from different cultural and sectorial perspectives. It also allows the student to undertake different roles within a team in which they have to discuss, negotiate, and persuade and then sign up to a consensus outcome. Resits for group work assignments will, where possible, be group work based, however, if this is not possible due to student numbers individual assignments will be used. Many of the learning activities undertaken by the student, as well as coursework, will be based on real world experiences and case studies. Real world business case studies, with which the students are hitherto unfamiliar, will also be used. This will be conducted with full consultation of the Module Coordinators responsible for the module. The Strategic Business Project will most likely be undertaken within the students employer organisation and/or on a consultancy basis and will require the student to bring to bear all of the knowledge and skills that they have developed throughout the programme on a significant business issue affecting the organisation. It may require qualitative and/or quantitative research and analysis. The student will be required to develop a suitable proposal which is acceptable to any host organisation, as well as faculty.
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