School of Education and Continuing Studies (SECS)

The Course

The Course is aimed at those people who hold, or who aspire to hold, senior managerial positions in education and/or training organisations. Please note that the course focus is educational management, it is not a teacher training programme.

Mode of Study

Part-time: (over two years). One evening per week, Mondays 6.00pm - 9.00pm

Full-time: (over one year). Every afternoon Mondays - Thursday inclusive 2.00pm - 5.00pm, plus all day Friday for the first semester.

Start Date

October of each academic year.

Entry Requirements

Applicants will normally be expected to have an Honours degree of at least second class standard in a relevant discipline. Other applicants, including those with degree-equivalent qualifications, or experience, may be admitted but will undertake a programme of preparatory reading and submit a written Paper of a satisfactory standard in order to confirm their ability to study at postgraduate level. A verified portfolio of managerial experience must also be submitted.

Course Outline

Unit 1 - Management of People in Organisations
Unit 2 - Principles of Marketing
Unit 3 - Management of Resources and Finance
Unit 4 - Management of Information Systems
Unit 5 - Management of the Curriculum
Unit 6 - Strategic Issues and the Management of Change
Unit 7 - Research Management and Methods: Individual Professional Development
Dissertation (12,000 - 15,000 words)

Assessment

There are no end of session examinations, all assessment is continuous within each of the taught Units. As far as is possible, all assignments are work-related: modifications to this are made for full-time students.

Course Unit Descriptors

Unit 1 - Management of People in Organisations (15 credits)

This Unit introduces the models, theories and practices of education and training management. A wide range of organisational structures and models are examined and then reviewed in the context of their relationship with identified institutional culture and subcultures. The influence of these factors upon the role, skills, qualities and aptitudes necessary for effective managers/leaders is then examined and individuals conduct a needs analysis to identify personal development requirements. Current developments in human resource management are defined and institutional relationships between human resource management/development, policy and practice, are explored. Theories of motivation are reviewed, their application and usefulness on individuals and groups are explored. This includes analysis of group structures, social control, influence on motivation, effect on perceptions, attitudes, behaviour, conformity and socialisation, etc.

Unit 2 - Principles of Marketing (15 credits)

The aim of this Unit is to develop an appreciation of how an organisation identifies and responds to the needs of its various customers - students, clients, parents, employers, etc. and to consider the applicability of various marketing concepts appropriate to education and training.

Unit 3 - Management of Resources and Finance (15 credits)

The Unit will provide a theoretical framework for understanding the monitoring and control of budgets and enhance competence and understanding when contributing to the negotiation of budgets. The content of the Unit is designed to increase competence in the effective securing and allocation of resources to support strategic planning activities.

Unit 4 - Management of Information Systems (15 credits)

Not intended as a practical, skills based Unit, but an opportunity to explore a range of management information systems so that students develop an understanding of how these systems can be used to improve institutional and strategic decision making.

Unit 5 - Management of the Curriculum (15 credits)

The purpose of this Unit is to provide a thorough understanding of the issues involved in current debates regarding quality, institutional effectiveness and improvement of the curriculum/programme/training. Scrutiny of past, present and proposed initiatives will enable students to organise and implement appropriate curriculum management planning and development coping strategies.

Unit 6 - Strategic Issues and the Management of Change (30 credits)

The Unit enables the individual to understand why it is necessary for education and training organisations to formulate strategic Plans; the influence and role of key stakeholders in the planning process; external and internal forces which drive the planning and operation stages. The stages of strategic change are identified and the appropriateness of situational leadership models are scrutinised for compatibility with the complexities of implementing and sustaining change.

Unit 7 - Research Management: Individual Professional Development (15 credits)

The purpose of this Unit is to enable students to refine the processes of identifying research questions, issues and hypotheses and to present a Research Proposal prior to undertaking research for a dissertation. There will be opportunity to clarify understanding of methodological issues, critically examine proposed methods and research instruments and thus extend those personal management and study skills developed in previous Units.

Unit 8 - Dissertation (60 credits)

The Dissertation is a major and culminating component of the MSc programme. It provides an opportunity for students to focus upon, and to pursue, topics of interest or relevance raised during the taught and assessed elements of the Course. Indeed, some of the preparation work for the Dissertation will have been undertaken in the previous Units and Assignments.

Finance Information

• Fees may be paid in full or by direct debit
• Alumni applying for full-time postgraduate courses may be eligible for a discount
• Career Development loans are available through some banks including Barclays
• For further information about fees please contact the number below 

For further information about the course, please contact

Dr David Holloway
Course Leader
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 5212
Email: david.holloway@port.ac.uk

For an application form and other enquiries, please contact the Enquiries Secretary:

Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 5204
Fax: +44 (0)23 9284 5365
Email: secs.enquiries@port.ac.uk