Course description
Introduction
This is a programme with three stages each of one year’s duration and which carries a qualification at each of the three stages. The University of Lincoln and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) jointly validate the programme. Successful completion leads to the award of MSc in HRM as well as Graduate Membership of the CIPD.
The first year is a general introduction to management and HRM. Upon successful completion of this stage, you will achieve Licentiate Membership of the CIPD and a Postgraduate Certificate in HRM from the University of Lincoln.
The second stage leads to the Postgraduate Diploma in HRM. The final, third stage completes the programme and leads to the award of MSc in HRM and Graduate Membership of the CIPD.
The programme is flexible and allows students who successfully complete each stage to exit at the end of each year and either recommence at some later date with the University of Lincoln or if you move location to take the qualification to another provider and continue your CIPD studies.
The programme is aimed at those who are currently involved in HR or are interested in pursuing a career in this area. The programme is interactive and draws on the knowledge, skills and experience of the group – consequently we welcome participants from a wide range of backgrounds – for example – HR generalists, managers, training and development specialists etc.
Attendance
Formal attendance is normally on one day a week. It will either be taught from lunchtime to late evening or from the morning to early evening depending on the day of attendance. You will also be expected to commit to a certain amount of time outside formal attendance in order to undertake reading and preparing appropriately for assignments.
Course Content
Certificate Level
This stage covers the Leadership and Management and People Management and Development stages of the CIPD standards. The overall objective of the first year is to introduce participants to explore HRM in conjunction with general management disciplines. The central theme is to broaden the HR specialist’s appreciation of a wider range of organisational issues. A residential block of two days duration forms an integral part of this stage. The units covered in this stage are:
People Management and Development
The main themes of this unit cover:
* The changing nature of work and employment
* Influences on Labour markets
* The development of the personnel and development functions as a specialism.
* The scope of Personnel and Development
* Personnel and Development as a strategic partner.
* CIPD standards, ethics and professionalism
* The Personnel &Development practitioner and relationships with key stakeholders
* Personnel and Development supporting organisational performance and success
* Evaluating Personnel and Development interventions
Managing Self and Others
The main themes of this unit cover:
* Consideration of aspects of individual behaviour through the process of self analysis, peer analysis and academic exploration.
* Developing an understanding of the functions and processes of groups and their roles in organisations.
* The development of skills and competencies relevant to personal effectiveness and as a preparation for managerial roles.
* The broader aspects of organisational structures, styles and behaviours.
* Development of reflective practice.
Managing Global Business
The main themes of this unit cover:
* The main features of the economic and market changes and their impact upon organisations.
* Critical appraisal of the strategic process from inception to implementation within a global environment.
* Critical evaluation of how organisations may be affected by political, operational marketing, legal etc. processes and how this may also act in a reverse manner.
* Critical debate of some current technological developments and consideration of their significance for organisational stakeholders within the global environment.
* The development of strategic awareness of the internal and external factors the influence global success within the organisation.
Managing Information for Competitive Advantage
The main themes of this unit cover:
* Statistical terminology and formulae, applying principles and concepts of statistical analysis to data
* The communication of conclusions arising from the analysis of numerical information
* Demonstration a critical awareness of the role of ICT in the management of data, information and knowledge within organisations and in supporting management decision making
* The effective application of systems approaches to information and knowledge management within an organisational context
* Evaluation of the role of accountancy, finance and financial planning in the decision making process of the firm
* Preparation of simple numerical calculations and critically evaluation of their limitations and uses.
Diploma Level
This stage covers the specialist areas within the Human Resource Manager’s role. A two day residential stay is an integral part of this stage. The units covered in this stage are:
People Resourcing
Main themes of this unit include:
* The strategic significance of people resourcing.
* Examination of the relationships between people resourcing, the internal ‘customers’ and internal and external stakeholders.
* Traditional and contemporary approaches to people resourcing.
* People resourcing interventions and their effectiveness
* People resourcing strategies, policies, systems and procedures and their contribution to corporate goals
* Corporate social responsibility and ethical issues in resourcing
* People resourcing in culturally diverse environments
* Contemporary resourcing issues
Learning & Development
Main themes of this unit include:
* The national and international Training and Development scene.
* The link between Business Strategy and Human Resource Development strategy
* Relationship of Learning and development with other HR functions and roles.
* Learning and CPD, and the management of careers.
* The ‘Learning Organisation’ and approaches to organisational development.
* The management of knowledge and change: global and local implications.
* The role of the training and development function within the organisation,
* The ‘competence’ movement.
* Identification of training and development needs
* Programme design and delivery, including cross cultural awareness.
* Assessment and evaluation of training and development initiatives
Employee Relations
Main themes of this unit include:
* Context of Employee Relations and the implications for the balance of power
* Managing the employment relationship
* The parties and processes in Employee Relations
* Employee involvement
* Employee participation
* Employee relations skills
Employment Law
Main themes of this unit include:
* Origins of law
* Individual employment law and how this best fits personnel practices
* Collective employment law
* The influence of the EU employment law
* Employment tribunals
* Health and safety
Management Report, Including Graduate CIPD Qualification
At the final stage, providing that the certificate and diploma stages have already been completed, it is possible for participants to take the option of completing a management report instead of a dissertation and the HR Strategy and Research Methods units. The Management Report is a substantial piece of work (7000 words) and it has a strong practical managerial focus. This will be completed during the third year. This route leads to Graduate membership of the CIPD and the award of Postgraduate Diploma in HRM
Masters Level, Including Graduate CIPD Qualification
The following two modules are taken in the first semester of the third year:
Research Methods
Main themes of this unit include:
* Research philosophies
* Research tools
* Structuring research projects
* Identification and application of appropriate methodology
Human Resource Strategy
Main themes of this unit include:
* What is human resource strategy?
* The relationship between corporate strategy and human resource strategy
* Visioning for transformational change
* Structural analysis and strategies for change
* Management by corporate culture
* Employee development and Human Resource Strategy
* Implementation of strategic change
* HRM/D strategies appropriate to mergers, acquisitions, strategic alliances and joint ventures
* Contemporary issues in HRM
* Interpersonal skills development appropriate to supporting strategic interventions
Dissertation
A significant piece of action research focussed on an HRM/D issue of choice, supported by personal supervision.
Masters “Top Up”
This route is for people, who have already achieved Graduate Membership of the CIPD and wish to gain masters qualification. This route starts in September and includes the Research methods and HR Strategy units and the dissertation.
Assessment
A variety of assessment methods are used on the programme including written assignments, group projects, presentations and, in some subjects, written examinations. The teaching and learning methods are designed to support your progress towards completing the assessment requirements of the programme.
Relationship With Professional Bodies
The Business School enjoys a close relationship with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, and this programme is fully accredited by the CIPD. On successful completion students will achieve Graduate Membership of the CIPD.
The university is a CIPD Licensed Upgrade Centre and on successful completion of the programme you can progress your membership of the CIPD to reflect both your newfound professional qualification and existing experience.
The MSc Human Resource Management programme is also available as a full-time option. For more information about this course please use the contact details below.
