University Accredited Courses > Diploma in Management
Leading to MSc in Strategic Change Management or MA in Management by Action Learning
The Diploma in Management is a stimulating and challenging management development programme for experienced managers or those with appropriate previous qualifications including NVQ level 5. Its innovative approach to management development has a number of distinct advantages, especially flexibility and organisational relevance.
Students can take the Diploma as a valuable qualification in its own right or proceed to “top-up” to the MSc in Strategic Change Management or MA in Management by Action Learning programmes.
This is an attractive course for practising managers from a wide range of sectors, who wish to strengthen and up-date their existing knowledge and skills. We anticipate that many students will take on an enhanced role in the management of change in their organisations. Specifically the programme aims to:
• develop working managers at all levels to become both effective managers of change
• provide a firm foundation for a life-time of progressive managerial learning
• provide a “niche” alternative to conventional MBA programmes
• focus on continuous personal development
• place emphasis on defined management competence outcomes underpinned by knowledge and understanding
• provide a flexible approach to learning and development using a learner-centered approach
• allow a high degree of responsiveness to the changing and dynamic internal and external environments
• use real-life individual and organisational issues as the basis for learning
• provide the support of a dedicated tutor
Based around the revised 2004 Management Standards, the programme is primarily concerned with the development of personal and organisational management competence. It goes beyond a traditional approach, uniquely bringing together underpinning knowledge and understanding, competence and personal development in a way that optimises the learning experience.
The programme is usually completed within nine to ten months and comprises the following modules:
• Managing change
• Managing results
• Managing resources
• Managing human resources
• Managing information technology
• Managing the business environment
• Managing self and personal skills
• Strategic leadership.
The programme is based around one-day workshops, delivered in a cost-effective way to small groups usually of no more than 10 in number. They are usually held once a month backed up by extensive learning materials and activities and used to develop personal skills through experiential learning. Specifically students will address and analyse appropriate issues in their own organisations and their role and development within them.
In addition to tutor delivered subject specific inputs the workshops are also where, development needs are identified and discussed, development projects/assignments are designed, learning contracts are negotiated and agreed and evidence of competence is presented and analysed.
On company-specific programmes, specialised input is encouraged from appropriate professionals from the organisation wherever possible.
Assessment is via a portfolio of work that records the application of theory to practice. There are no exams or group assignments.
The programme is delivered in two modes. The first is to individual participants attending workshop sessions typically one day per month, whilst the other is as a programme run in partnership with organisations, delivered in-house, as and when required, to an appropriate number of participants.
The post-graduate Diploma in Management is:
• open to students having completed either the Certificate in Management or a similar Level 4 type qualification, or
• have a first degree, or
• have a management qualification at NVQ level 5 allowing a “top up” to a University Diploma, or
• are senior and experienced practicing managers
To benefit fully from the course, managers should be self-starters who, with appropriate support, can take a major part of the responsibility for their own learning. It is important that applicants are able to participate in work-based activities that present learning opportunities.
Subject to University authorisation and sufficient demand, our next scheduled programmes are due to commence;
September 2008 at our premises in Armitage Bridge , Huddersfield
September 2008 at a future location around the M40/M25 junction area of North West London