GLASGOW CALEDONIAN UNIVERSITY Programme Specification Pro-forma
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Programme Title: MSc/PgD Human Resource Management
2. Final Award: MSc Human Resource Management
3. Exit Awards: PgD Human Resource Management
PgC Human Resource Management 4. Awarding Body: Glasgow Caledonian University
5. Approval Date: June 2012 (GCU Re-approval/CIPD Re-accreditation) 6. School: Glasgow School for Business and Society
7. Host Division/Dept: Department of Business Management
8. UCAS Code: N/A
9. PSB Involvement: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
10. Place of Delivery: Glasgow Caledonian University
11. Subject Benchmark Statement: QAA Benchmarks for Masters degrees in Business and Management
12. Dates of PSP preparation/revision: September 2014
2. EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME
The key purpose of the Human Resource Management programme is:
‘to support students’ career preparedness and/ or career development for strategic and/or operational HR roles, where a key responsibility lies in managing, supporting and/or developing an organisation’s human resources, in domestic, international and/ or culturally diverse settings’.
The Human Resource Management (HRM) Programme aims are:
• to develop critical analysis of current thinking and leading practices in HRM in work environments and spaces that often extend beyond national boundaries and involve different cultural groups;
• to provide students with a theoretical and applied grounding in contemporary HRM models and activities, in a range of contexts;
• to build awareness and critical appreciation of the impact of globalisation and internationalisation on organisational environments;
• to develop conceptual evaluation of HRM strategies, policies and practices in a variety of contexts and provide appropriate solutions to problems;
• to stimulate originality in the application of HRM knowledge in a variety of contexts/ situations that are uncertain, ambiguous or risky;
• to develop an understanding of the value and design of research and Inquiry;
• to promote a deep, independent level of learning and high level of professionalism in inter-acting with and managing an organisation’s human resources in a variety of settings;
• to inculcate professional and transferable skills related to HRM at conceptual and practicable levels;
• to develop a core set of people management skills/ techniques;
• to foster independence and self-direction, together with creative thinking, decision-making and problem-solving ability, in the field of HRM
• to develop qualities and skills in reflective learning; • to generate and develop leadership potential; and,
• to encourage positive and confident responses to the management of change and provide the opportunity for students to develop and apply further critical, analytical and investigative skills at a strategic level (through a Masters HRM Research Project).
4. PROGRAMME STRUCTURES AND REQUIREMENTS, LEVELS, MODULES, CREDITS AND AWARDS
Postgraduate Certificate in Human Resource Management
This exit award will recognise students’ learning from the programme should they require to exit the programme without PG Diploma or MSc credits gained. Students will have completed 60 credits from any of the modules below
Module Code Module Title Credit
MMN620367 MMN620371 MMN620375 MMN620377 MMN620385 MMN620388 MMN220197 MMN620363 MMN620396
Personal and Professional Development Managing & Developing Human Resources HRM in Organisational Contexts
Resourcing and Talent Management Performance Management
Managing Employee Relations Employment Law
Change & Leadership
Research Design & Critical Inquiry
15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15
Exit Award – PgC Human Resource Management (without CIPD accreditation)
60
Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management:
For September intakes the full-time Pg. Diploma programme will normally be completed in three trimesters whereas the part-time programme will normally be completed in five trimesters. For January intakes the full-time Pg. Diploma programme will normally be completed in four trimesters whereas the part-time programme will normally be completed in seven trimesters. The Postgraduate Diploma (PgD) in Human Resource Management (part-time and full-time) will provide the full knowledge bank for the CIPD Advanced Level Diploma. In order to achieve this a PgD student will complete 7 taught programme specific modules (15 credits each) and 1 (30 credit) research focused module, Business Investigation Report.
Module Code Module Title Credi t MMN620367 MMN620371 MMN620375 MMN620377 MMN620385 MMN620388 MMN220197 MMN622365
Personal and Professional Development Managing & Developing Human Resources HRM in Organisational Contexts
Resourcing and Talent Management Performance Management
Managing Employee Relations Employment Law
Business Investigation Report
15 15 15 15 15 15 15 30 Exit Award – PgD Human Resource Management
(full CIPD accreditation)
135
4. PROGRAMME STRUCTURES AND REQUIREMENTS, LEVELS, MODULES, CREDITS AND AWARDS cont. /…
MSc in Human Resource Management:
September intakes (Full Time) – the MSc programme (including the HRM Research Project) will normally be completed in three trimesters. Typically full-time students will study four modules in Trimester A and five modules in Trimester B with the HRM Research Project (and placement) bridging Trimester B and Trimester C (see Route A, below).
January Intakes (Full Time) – the MSc programme (including the HRM Research Project) will normally be completed in four trimesters. Typically full-time students will study four modules in Trimester B, carry out one module alongside their placement and research in Trimester C, and study four modules in Trimester A with the HRM Research Project (and placement activity) completed by the following Trimester B, Year 2 (see Route A, below).
September intakes (Part Time) - students will study five modules over Year 1 of the programme with one module in Trimester C (Yr 1). In Year 2 they will study four modules, and complete a further (final) module (HRM Research Project), in Trimesters A - C of Year 2 (see Route A, below), thus completing the programme in six trimesters.
January Intakes (Part Time) - the students will study four modules over Year 1 of the programme, five modules over Year 2 (one in Trimester C), and submit the HRM Research Project in Trimester B of Year 3 (see Route A, below), thus completing the programme in seven trimesters.
In summary, those students who commence study in the January intake are anticipated to require an additional trimester to complete the programme as compared with those starting in a September intake.
The MSc in Human Resource Management (part-time and full-time) is awarded for 180 credits at SHEM level. Both Full and Part time students achieve the MSc via Route A. An alternative route for MSc study for students who already hold a Pg Diploma in HRM, with CIPD accreditation (from GCU or another institution) is shown in Route B. Students on Route B who are unable to evidence prior learning in Research Design will be required to undertake the Research Design and Critical Inquiry module instead of the Change and Leadership module.
4. PROGRAMME STRUCTURES AND REQUIREMENTS, LEVELS, MODULES, CREDITS AND AWARDS cont. /…
Route A
Module Code Module Title Credit
MMN620367 MMN620371 MMN620375 MMN620377 MMN620385 MMN620388 MMN220197 MMN620394
Personal and Professional Development Managing & Developing Human Resources HRM in Organisational Contexts
Resourcing and Talent Management Performance Management
Managing Employee Relations Employment Law
Research Design & Critical Inquiry
15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 MMN620363 MMN620373
Change and Leadership HRM Research Project
15 45 Exit Award – MSc Human Resource Management
(full CIPD accreditation)
180
Route B
Pg. Diploma in Human Resource Management (with CIPD accreditation)
135
Module Code Module Title Credi
t MMN620363
MMN620394
Change and Leadership OR Research Design & Critical Inquiry
15
MMN620373 HRM Research Project 45
Exit Award – MSc Human Resource Management (*) 185
(*) without CIPD accreditation as already this have via PG Diploma
8. ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS
GCU’s Assessment Regulations (September, 2015), apart from those specified below under programme specific variations apply to the PgD/MSc HRM.. The key assessment provisions defined by GCU’s Assessment Regulations are summarised below, but a full set of regulations can be found at:2015/2016 Taught Postgraduate Programmes Assessment Regulations
• Module Pass Mark - The overall pass mark for all modules on the HRM programmes is 50%. In addition, for modules assessed through a combination of coursework and examination components, the attainment of a minimum mark 45% in each of the coursework and examination components is also required.
• Number of Attempts - Each assessment mechanism for all modules will cater for a first and a second diet. A student who fails at the second diet (attempt) will be deemed to have failed the module and exhausted all legitimate attempts in the module.
• Assessment Non-Submission - The non-submission of assessment without good cause and prior agreement of the module leader will normally result in a mark of zero being awarded (and treated as an attempt).
• Assessment Deadline Extension - Extensions to coursework submission deadlines may only be granted by the module leader and will normally require a formal application from the student consisting of a letter explaining the circumstances and documentary evidence in support of the claim. Such an application must be made prior to the stipulated deadline. Applications received after the stipulated deadline will only be considered in extenuating circumstances, subject to the discretion of the module leader.
• Compensation - The Assessment Board may allow the overall performance of a student to compensate for failure in only one M level module (maximum of 15 credits) on the HRM programmes. Automatic compensation will apply when a student obtains an overall module mark of between 45%and 49%, and has achieved an overall aggregate mark across all modules of at least 55%. Additionally, for modules assessed through a combination of coursework and examination components, each component contributing to the overall mark must have achieved a mark of at least 40%. Compensation may be applied at the Postgraduate Diploma exit award point.
Please note that failure on the following modules cannot be compensated: Business Investigation Report (30 credits)
Consulting for Strategic Change (30 credits) HRM and Leadership (30 credits)
HRM Research Project (45 credits)
• Project - The Programme Leader may require any student’s Project to be assessed through a viva voce examination. In such an event a panel including the Supervisor, Programme Leader and any other internal and external individuals the Programme Leader wishes to include will be established.
• Regulations for Award with Merit or Distinction
When exiting the programme, a student who has shown special performance in
assessments at the first diet for all modules, may be granted the award of either ‘with Merit’ or 'with Distinction'.
The criteria for the award of ‘with Merit’ or ‘with Distinction’ are as follows: Merit:
i) overall credit - weighted average of the modules used in the calculation, as specified in 19.2.3, within the range 65% to 69% and
ii) passed all modules undertaken in the final stage of the award at first attempt and iii) passed all modules included in the calculation at the first attempt
Distinction:
i) overall credit-weighted average of the modules used in the calculation as specified in 19.2.3, equal to 70% or greater and
ii) passed all modules undertaken at the level of the award at first attempt and
iii) passed all modules included in the calculation at the first attempt with a mark of 55% or greater and
iv) where the award has a project/dissertation module (or equivalent), the mark for that module is no less than 70%.
(Extracted from GCU Assessment Regulations, 2015).
Programme Specific Variations
• Compensation - A student who has been compensated based on GCU Assessment Regulations for a single failed module, is required to attempt and pass an alternative assessment for the compensated module to meet CIPD requirements for CIPD Accreditation. Only upon successful completion of the alternative assessment, will the
student be eligible for professional membership with the CIPD.
• PgD Award With CIPD Accreditation:
The award for PgD Human Resource Management requires 135 credits as opposed to the GCU requirement of 120 credits, to meet CIPD requirements and the related learning outcomes embedded within the Business Investigation Report.
Awards - The HRM programme is delivered in three stages:
Exit Award: Postgraduate Certificate (named, without CIPD accreditation)
To qualify for the PgC named exit award, a student must complete sufficient HRM programme modules, excluding the Business Investigation Report [30 credits] and the HRM Research Project [45 credits] to achieve 60 credit points at SHEM. This exit point does not carry CIPD accreditation.
Exit Award: Postgraduate Diploma (named, with CIPD accreditation)
To qualify for the PgD named exit award with CIPD accreditation, a student must complete sufficient HRM programme modules, including the Business Investigation Report [30 credits], to achieve 135 credit points at SHEM.
Exit Award: Postgraduate Diploma (named, without CIPD Accreditation)
To qualify for the PgD named exit award, but without CIPD Accreditation, a student must complete sufficient HRM programme modules to achieve 165 credit points at SHEM. The 165 credits must include the ‘HRM Research Project’.
Exit Award: University Postgraduate Diploma (named, without CIPD accreditation)
In exceptional cases to qualify for the University’s PgD named exit award, a student must complete sufficient HRM programme modules to achieve 120 credit points at SHEM. These credit points may include the HRM Research Project [45 credits] or the Business Investigation Report [30 credits]. This will be awarded without CIPD accreditation.
Exit Award: University Postgraduate Certificate (without CIPD Accreditation)
In exceptional cases, to qualify for the University’s PgC exit award, a student must complete sufficient HRM programme modules to achieve 60 credit points at SHEM. These credit points may include the HRM Research Project [45 credits] or the Business Investigation Report [30 Credits].
Final Award: Masters
The final award, with CIPD accreditation, will be conferred on students who have successfully completed the entire programme of study attracting 180 credits at SHEM.