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Programme Handbook

Bachelor of Business Administration

Revised on 1 August 2014

Bachelor of Business Administration Programme Handbook

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FOREWORD Welcome by the Dean of the Business School It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the BPP Business School. The aim of our Bachelor of Business Administration programme is to help prepare you to progress in your chosen careerby providing you with opportunities to develop the key skills and competencies which employers most look for in graduates. Our staff are committed to enabling you to maximise the value of your time at BPP but the main drive must come from you. We welcome your feedback which enables us to continually review and enhance our courses. Learning is a collaborative activity – we look forward to collaborating with you to deliver high quality business education. Good luck with your education and your future.

Tim Stewart Dean of the Business School


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Welcome by Director of Programmes On behalf of the Business School, I am pleased to welcome you to the Bachelor of Business Administration programme. This programme is designed to be engaging, stimulating and highly relevant to the world of work. It is designed to shape the business people of the future and as such you are about to undertake a programme which has been designed with the contemporary business landscape, and your role in it, in mind. We are keen to ensure that you have a positive and rewarding learning experience and that you are able to achieve not only the programme outcomes that but also the goals that you have set for yourself. As future alumnus and, hopefully, leaders we hope that your period of study at the Business School will be the beginning of a long-term association with us. I look forward to getting to know you and wish you every success. Dr Sally-Ann Burnett Director of Management Programmes


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CONTENTS SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAMME .................................................................... 5 SECTION 2: AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES ........................................................................... 9

PROGRAMME STAGES......................................................................................................12 Stage One ..................................................................................................................12 Stage Two ..................................................................................................................15 Stage Three ................................................................................................................18

Diagram of Outcomes Leading to Award .............................................................................20 SECTION 3: LEARNING, TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGY.................................................24 SECTION 4: STUDENT SUPPORT .............................................................................................32 SECTION 5: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE .....................................................................................37 SECTION 6: MODULE OUTLINES .............................................................................................43

STAGE ONE.....................................................................................................................46 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 1 ..........................................................................................46 FINDING AND KEEPING PEOPLE .....................................................................................51 LEADERS OF TOMORROW ............................................................................................87 MONEY MATTERS ..................................................................................................... 139 THE BUSINESS WORLD ............................................................................................... 169 MARKETING AND SALES ............................................................................................. 204 KNOWING AND INFORMING OTHERS ........................................................................... 244

STAGE TWO.................................................................................................................. 276 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 2 ........................................................................................ 276 CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY .................................................................................... 281 FINANCE FOR ENTREPRENEURS................................................................................... 318 HOW ORGANISATIONS BEHAVE .................................................................................. 361 MARKETING RESEARCH .............................................................................................. 389 MANAGING BUSINESS OPERATIONS ............................................................................ 426 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT .................................................................................. 466 STRUCTURES AND RESTRUCTURING............................................................................. 502 TECHNOLOGY AT WORK ............................................................................................. 532 VISION AND STRATEGY .............................................................................................. 569

STAGE THREE................................................................................................................ 607 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 3 ........................................................................................ 607 BUSINESS PLANNING AND BUSINESS PROPOSALS .......................................................... 612 IDEAS GENERATION................................................................................................... 652 MANAGING PROJECTS ............................................................................................... 694 RISK, GOVERNANCE AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ........................................ 733

SECTION 7: ASSESSMENT CRITERIA ....................................................................................... 768 SECTION 8: STAFF CONTACTS............................................................................................... 776 SECTION 9: PROGRAMME REGULATIONS............................................................................... 777 SECTION 10: CURRICULUM MAP .......................................................................................... 782


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SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAMME

Details

Programme Title Bachelor of Business Administration

Qualification(s) Bachelor of Business Administration

Awarding Body BPP University

Overview of Programme

This programme is designed to equip you with the knowledge, understanding and practical skills desired by employers, and contributing to success in your career. The programme therefore provides a solid basis for those wishing to develop or consolidate a career in a business related field. As such the programme seeks to develop skills appropriate, but not restricted to, graduate careers in business with the potential for management positions and general employability. The programme provides a comprehensive grounding in subjects which are at the core of the modern business world, such as communication, finance and marketing. Students will also participate in the Professional Practice modules which have been designed to provide opportunities to apply knowledge and understanding to real world situations and to develop relevant work-related experience. These modules can be highly customised to reflect your circumstances and career aspirations.


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Level 4 – Certificate of Higher Education Professional Practice plus 90 credits from compulsory modules

Finding and Keeping People

(15 Credits) Compulsory

Money Matters (15 Credits)

Compulsory

Leaders of Tomorrow (15 Credits) Compulsory

The Business World (15 Credits)

Compulsory

Marketing and Sales (15 Credits)

Compulsory

Knowing and Informing Others

(15 Credits) Compulsory

Professional Practice 1

(30 Credits)

Compulsory


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Level 5 – Diploma of Higher Education Professional Practice plus 90 credits from the choice of electives

Change and Sustainability

(15 Credits) Elective

How Organisations Behave


Finance for Entrepreneurs


Marketing Research (15 Credits)

Elective

Managing Business Operations (15 Credits)

Elective

Performance Management



(30 Credits)

Compulsory

Structures and Restructuring


Technology at Work (15 Credits)

Elective

Vision and Strategy (15 Credits)

Elective

Please note: Electives will run subject to demand and may not be available at all times.


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Level 6 – Honours Degree

Business Planning & Business Proposals (15 Credits)

Compulsory

Managing Projects (15 Credits) Compulsory

Ideas Generation (15 Credits) Compulsory

Risk, Governance and Corporate

Social Responsibility (15 Credits) Compulsory Professional

Practice 3 (60 Credits)

Compulsory


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SECTION 2: AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Programme Aims

The aims of the degree are designed to provide you with an integrated academic and professional training environment that develops enterprising behaviours, skills and knowledge as well as intra and entrepreneurial mindset and capabilities. It seeks to develop life long learning and skills appropriate, but not restricted, to graduate careers with the potential for management positions and general employability, including self employment. This programme equips its graduates to:

Progress towards achieving their goals as an employee, manager or entrepreneur in business or the non-profit sector, or in further study within the academic community

Develop their detailed knowledge and understanding of business practices in order to meet the changing needs of How the business world operates

Critically evaluate the knowledge acquired and utilise it in situations which may be characterised by contested and contradictory information

Develop a broad and deep understanding about key Bachelor of Business Administration in areas such as finance, people, operations, information and marketing within the context of the business environment

Develop relevant transferable and practical skills to enhance their own personal development and employability, including ideas generation and setting up a new venture or business

In setting the Learning Outcomes of the programme we have drawn on the QAA benchmark statements for Higher Education at levels 4, 5 & 6, as well as their recently-issued guidance on enterprise and entrepreneurship education.


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Programme Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes describe what you should know and be able to do if you make full use of the opportunities for learning that the programme provides. If you successfully complete the programme: Knowledge and Understanding

Ref A. You should be able to demonstrate a:

K1 Comprehensive and detailed knowledge and understanding of the essential concepts underpinning businesses and the context within which they operate

K2 Wide appreciation of the various processes, procedures, theories and practices that need to be applied within organisations or led by entrepreneurs to achieve successful business related outcomes.

K3 Detailed knowledge and understanding of the concepts and techniques related to business processes within different organisational sectors and the business environment.

K4 Critical understanding of the ethical issues which confront contemporary business practice.

Cognitive Skills

Ref B. You should be able to:

C1 Analyse internal and external business environments to develop solutions and identify opportunities in line with organisational /entrepreneurial requirements.

C2 Critically evaluate situations through the use of reliable and relevant research evidence to assist in the solution of business problems.

C3 Synthesise information and ideas drawn from varied sources, and critically evaluate alternative explanations, arguments and theories.

C4 Apply the full range of multi-disciplinary approaches, as appropriate to the problem or issue being discussed.

Professional Skills and Attitudes

Ref C. You should be able to:

P1 Recognise and deal with complex issues using appropriate analytical tools and techniques, anticipating future trends and arguing alternative approaches to solving business related issues.

P2 Communicate complex ideas and arguments clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences using a range of media and methods.

P3 Demonstrate the ability to be able to plan and self manage and have originality in tackling and solving problems in a wide variety of business situations while being critical of the outcomes.

P4 Critically apply business and enterprise concepts and frameworks to solve problems in


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complex environments.

General Transferable Skills

Ref D. You should be able to:

T1 Exercise initiative and take personal responsibility within agreed guidelines when dealing with different and variable situations in the workplace.

T2 Make decisions that reflect good practice in complex and unpredictable situations.

T3 Demonstrate their ability to reflect upon their experiences and plan their own future development.

T4 Engage effectively in debate in a professional manner and produce detailed reports.

These learning outcomes reflect those that will be achieved for the Bachelor of Business Administration award. Exceptionally, if a student exits earlier in the programme, they may be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education or a Diploma of Higher Education depending on their achievement. In each case, you will have achieved the learning outcomes as listed for that award.


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PROGRAMME STAGES

Stage One

Certificate of Higher Education

Introduction

This qualification caters for students who:

Have no previous degree but who wish to progress to make a career in business or further study within the academic community, or

Are currently in employment or and now wish to achieve an academic award to assist with career progression, or

Have completed an appropriate apprenticeship qualification and are now looking to move on to the next stage academically.

This qualification provides grounding in the knowledge of the core concepts, principles and key skills associated within the generic curriculum areas.

Module Requirement Credits Page

Professional Practice I Compulsory 30 Credits 46

Finding and Keeping People Compulsory 15 Credits 51

Leaders of Tomorrow Compulsory 15 Credits 87

Money Matters Compulsory 15 Credits 139

The Business World Compulsory 15 Credits 169

Marketing and Sales Compulsory 15 Credits 204

Knowing & Informing Others Compulsory 15 Credits 244


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Educational Aim

The Certificate of Higher Education is designed to develop your understanding and skills that are required for successful employment or progression within the academic or professional community. The programme aims to equip its graduates to:

Understand the integrated nature of organisations and their environment.

Evaluate and interpret the key concepts and principles within Bachelor of Business Administration

Start to develop arguments and make judgements through the use of data and in accordance with basic theories and concepts related to basic Bachelor of Business Administration areas

Develop academically through a knowledge and understanding of business concepts and principles

Consider career progression and specialisation subject to their interests and abilities

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding


K1 Factual and conceptual knowledge base related to such business areas as finance marketing, people, communication and leadership.

K2 Basic understanding of a range of theories, models and approaches to business to examine these in the context of the contemporary business world.

K3 Fundamental understanding of the environmental factors, including economics, finance and marketing that influence business and the implications of these.

K4 Primary awareness of ethical issues in core business activities and is able to discuss these in relation to personal beliefs and values.

Cognitive Skills


C1 Carry out an analysis of the business environment with guidance to provide satisfactory responses to issues

C2 Apply the correct concepts and frameworks to clearly defined problems while beginning to appreciate the complexity of the decision-making involved in Bachelor of Business Administration activity

C3 Evaluate the reliability of data using recognised and appropriate financial and other numeric approaches

C4 Collect and synthesise business ideas and information in an appropriate manner


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P1 Demonstrate an understanding of the issues involved when working with others and to be able to act appropriately to achieve successful outcomes

P2 Apply relevant methods and frameworks to clearly defined business problems

P3 Undertake research tasks with minimum guidance to investigate and develop people performance issues

P4 Communicate effectively to explain business issues in a clear and concise manner



T1 Work flexibly within agreed and defined parameters

T2 Operate in predictable defined contexts using standard, recognised techniques

T3 Take responsibility for their own learning

T4 Work effectively with others while meeting the required obligations involved


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Stage Two

Diploma of Higher Education

Introduction


Have acquired a relevant Certificate of Higher Education and wish to study Bachelor of Business Administration further within an academic environment.

Want to build upon their formalised knowledge and understanding of business to address more specific areas.

Are currently in employment

Aspire to a degree level qualification.

Want to progress to make a career in business and/ or in further study within the academic community.


Stage 1








Stage 2

Professional Practice 2 Compulsory 30 Credits 276

Plus 90 credits from the following list:

Change and Sustainability Elective 15 Credits 281

Finance for Entrepreneurs Elective 15 Credits 318

How Organisations Behave Elective 15 Credits 361

Marketing Research Elective 15 Credits 389

Managing Business Operations Elective 15 Credits 426

Performance Management Elective 15 Credits 466

Structures & Restructuring Elective 15 Credits 502

Technology at Work Elective 15 Credits 532

Vision and Strategy Elective 15 Credits 569


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Educational Aims

The Diploma of Higher Education is designed to develop your understanding and skills in wider areas of business and to create greater opportunities for successful employment and/ or progression within the business or professional community The programme aims to equip its graduates to:

Extend their knowledge and understanding of the integrated nature and complexity of organisations

Develop further their detailed knowledge of key business conceptstogether with an awareness of relevant contexts and frameworks

Develop systematic knowledge and critical understanding of business from differing perspectives and discipline areas

Evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems within organisations

Discuss business issues confidently and appropriately with colleagues whether they are senior, peer or subordinates

Access relevant and reliable business information relevant to their subject specialism

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding


K1 Knowledge and understanding that allows them to analyse and evaluate systems to improve effectiveness and efficiency

K2 Knowledge and understanding of key business functions, their nature, contribution and interaction

K3 Greater knowledge of the nature and organisational impact of the changing and future nature of How the business world operates

K4 Awareness of wider social, cultural and ethical issues in business

Cognitive Skills


C1 Compare alternative methods and techniques for obtaining and analysing data to assist in providing organisational solutions

C2 Reformat ideas and information across a range of disciplines for a given business purpose

C3 Evaluate the relevance and significance of data collected in developing business outcomes

C4 Apply problem solving skills across a range of disciplines


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P1 Propose solutions to resolve specific business related issues of varying complexity using a wide range of techniques

P2 Plan and make decisions that reflect good business practice across a range of disciplines

P3 Formulate suitable strategies to achieve defined goals and report clearly on and critique methods and business outcomes

P4 Provide concise and informative explanations in situations of varying complexity



T1 Select appropriate methods of communication for different audiences and purposes

T2 Demonstrate effective self management and learning

T3 Work effectively both as a member of a team, by giving and receiving information, and as an individual through evaluation of strengths and weaknesses

T4 Evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses in order to further your personal and professional development


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Stage Three

Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons)

Introduction


Have acquired a relevant Diploma of Higher Education and wish to study business further within an academic environment

Want to build upon their formalised knowledge and understanding of business to address more specific areas

Are currently in employment

Aspire to a degree level qualification

Want to progress to make a career in business and/ or in further study within the academic community


Stage 1








Stage 2












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Stage 3


Business Planning & Business Proposals Compulsory 15 Credits 612

Ideas Generation Compulsory 15 Credits 652

Managing Projects Compulsory 15 Credits 694

Risk, Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility

Compulsory 15 Credits 733


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Diagram of Outcomes Leading to Award

Stage One


[360 Credits]

[120 @ Level 4, 120 @ Level 5 and 120 @ Level 6]

Assessment

Module Credit Rating

Work for Assessment Requirement for Award

Weighting for Classification


30 Credits

[Level 4]

Formative

1. Activity 2. Activity

Summative

1. Portfolio [100% of Module Grade]

Compulsory 25% Certificate of Higher Education

12.5% Diploma of Education

Finding and Keeping People

15 Credits

[Level 4]

Formative

1. Presentation

Summative

1 2,000 word written assignment [100% of Module Grade]

Compulsory 12.5 % Certificate of Higher Education

6.25 % Diploma of Higher Education

Knowing & Informing Others

15 credits

[Level 4]

Formative

1. Self and Peer-assessed problem sets

Summative

1 2,000 word portfolio

[100% of Module Grade]



Leaders of Tomorrow

15 Credits

[Level 4]

Formative

1. Activity.

Summative




Marketing and Sales

15 Credits

[Level 4]

Formative

1. Exercise in Market Segmentation

Summative

1. Marketing plan [100% of Module Grade]



Money Matters

15 credits

[Level 4]

Formative

1. Problem Set 1

Summative


6.25 % Diploma of


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1. 1,500 word report plus exhibits [100% of Module Grade]

Higher Education

The Business World

15 Credits

[Level 4]

Formative

1. Case study

2. Q&A Sets

Summative




You will also be required to attend an interview (viva voce) which addresses the learning outcomes of the stage as a whole and forms part of the final assessment for that stage. While the viva does not carry a specific weighting, it can impact the result for the stage as a whole.

Stage Two


[360 Credits]


Assessment





30 Credits

[Level 5]

Formative

1. Activity 2. Activity

Summative

1. Portfolio [100% of Module Grade]

Compulsory 12.5 % Diploma of Higher Education

12.5 % Honour’s Degree

Plus 90 Credits of any combination of modules from the following list:

Chage and Sustainability

15 Credits

[Level 5]

Formative

1. Group exercise 2. Individual reflection

Summative

1. 2,000 word written assignment [100% of Module Grade]

Elective 6.25 % Diploma of Higher Education


Finance forEntrepreneurs

15 Credits

[Level 5]

Formative

1. Activity, critique financial statements

Summative

1. 2,000 word written assignment. [100% of




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Module Grade]

How Organisations Behave

15 Credits

[Level 5]

Formative

1. Activity

Summative

1. 2,000 word written assignment. [100% of Module Grade]



Managing Business Operations

15 credits

[Level 5]

Formative

1. Exercise in process mapping

Summative

1. 2,000 word Report [100% of Module Grade]



Performance Management

15 credits

[Level 5]

Formative

1. Activity

Summative

1. 2,000 word report[100% of Module Grade]



Marketing Research

15 credits

[Level 5]

Formative

1. Planning and managing a survey

Summative

1. 2,000 word market research proposal [100% of Module Grade]



Structures and Re-structuring

15 credits

[Level 5]

Formative

1. Presentation

Summative

1. 2,000 word report[100% of Module Grade]



Technology at Work

15 credits

[Level 5]

Formative

1. Case study researching types of IT systems

Summative

1. 2,000 word report [100% of Module Grade]



Vision and Strategy

15 Credits

[Level 5]

Formative

1. Analysis of case study.

Summative

1. 2,000 word written assignment [100% of Module Grade]





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Stage Three


[360 Credits]


Assessment





60 credits

(Level 6)

Formative

1. Activity

Summative

1. 8,000 – 10,000 Project Report [100% of Module Grade]

Compulsory 25% Honour’s Degree

Business Planning & Business Proposals

15 credits

(Level 6)

Formative

1. Activity

Summative

1. 2,000 word report. [100% of Module Grade]

Compulsory 6.25 % Honour’s Degree

Ideas Generation 15 credits

(Level 6)

Formative

1. Activity

Summative

1. 2,000-word Project Report.


Managing Projects

15 Credits

(Level 6)

Formative

1. Comparison of project management approaches

Summative

1. 2,000 work report on Managing Projects [100% of Module Grade]



15 credits

(Level 6)

Formative

1. Activity

Summative

1. 2,000 word report. [100% of Module Grade]



Those who successfully complete 360 credits (120 at level 4, 120 at level 5 and 120 at level 6) will be awarded Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons).


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SECTION 3: LEARNING, TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGY This section describes how the programme has been designed to make your learning effective and engaging.

Modules

The programme is composed of modules, and these modules are linked to different levels of the National Framework for Higher Education Qualifications set by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. This document provides a module outline for every module undertaken during the programme. To identify which modules you take in each stage please see the Diagram of Outcomes Leading to Award in this Handbook.

Aims

Aims are what we intend to deliver and cover in each module, section or programme.

Learning Outcomes

A learning outcome is a statement of what you should be able to do as a result of studying the module or programme. Learning outcomes are extremely important because the assessment for each module is based on requiring you to demonstrate that you have achieved all of them. It is therefore worth spending time becoming very familiar with them as they are key drivers of each module.

Overall Learning and Teaching Principles

Our overall aim is to enable and encourage you to become an independent, self-directed learner who sees tutors as supporters and facilitators rather than 'teachers' as such. To achieve this we have designed activities that will build your confidence and help you become more self-reliant over the course of the programme. It is important from the outset that you understand that we expect you to engage actively and proactively in your own learning rather than sit in a classroom in which a teacher gives out a lot of information which you write down without joining in or trying to research it yourself. This programme may feel very different from other programmes of study that you have taken in the past. This approach will particularly help you to develop key professional and transferable skills such as time management, group work and information literacy which employers look for.


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Programme Design and Delivery

Possessing qualifications alone does not automatically confercompetence and capability, or necessarily give experience; equally, purely being able to demonstrate a skill may not mean that you have sufficient depth of conceptual knowledge to be able to take action in complex situations that you have not come across before. This programme’s design has therefore been informed by a desire to bring together an appropriate balance of academic and vocational elements to equip you with the right blend of skills and knowledge to meet the demands of the 21st century workplace. A large part of your programme is therefore made up of a suite of short knowledge-based modules. These modules represent the knowledge and concepts that underpin the programme as a whole. Their size matches what we know working you want: small, manageable chunks of learning to fit the time available and to give you a sense of progress and achievement. In normal circumstances, you will have ten weeks to complete one of these knowledge modules, but you have a high degree of flexibility in organising your workload within that time. The larger Professional Practice modules run alongside the 15-credit modules and are designed to engage you in highly practical work-related activities and experiences in which you will deal with real work problems and have opportunities to apply your knowledge. Further information about the Professional Practice modules is given in section 5. The programme is delivered online, with optional face-to-face contact, through a specially designed Virtual Learning Environment and will include tutor-led online sessions, which will be recorded to enable you to view at a later date. You will be able to speak with and hear other students, see each other and/or the tutor, use instant messaging, share documents, visuals, and work in groups. You will have access to online journals and bespoke audio visual resources. You will be able to go to a local learning centre where optional events will take place such as collaborative group sessions and presentations. The Virtual Learning Environment includes a special 'dashboard' element incorporating a function which provides support on demand when you need it. You will be able to see how you are progressing against the goals you set for yourself and how your competencies are developing. You can track the skills that you have mastered. You will receive instruction on using all these facilities at the start of the programme.

Course materials

Unlike many other degree courses, we include all essential core text books in our course fees. These will be in e-book format, delivered through the VLE.

The Student Journey

It is a requirement of the programme that each Stage is completed within two years, although it can be quicker and in practice it may take you 18 months or less, particularly if you have Accredited Prior Learning. As a guide, you should normally be able to complete the programme in about 4-5 years if you can set aside around 15-20 hours per week for studying in most weeks of the year. Under University regulations, the course duration is subject to a maximum length of 7 years, or any time restrictions imposed by a sponsoring employer if this is less than 7 years.


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Pathways through the programme

Within each Stage, modules will run in a set order. You will be informed of this order and implications for your studies before starting the Stage. If you wish to vary the order of your modules, there may be opportunities to switch between cohorts, although this may delay your completion of the Stage. Following completion of the knowledge modules, you will have time available to complete and write up your Professional Practice activities, although it makes most sense to complete them alongside your knowledge modules as far as possible, so that you are immediately applying concepts from your studies. In Stage One, all knowledge modules are compulsory. You may select any combination of Professional Practice activities to complement them, or adapt existing ones in conjunction with our team. In Stage Two, there are a number of elective knowledge modules and you need to select six in order to earn the necessary credits. Please note that modules will run according to demand and not all of them may be available at any given time. You need to think about which modules most closely fit your interests and career aspirations. For example, if your target role requires a detailed knowledge of marketing, you may want to study Marketing Research, or if you will be managing technology projects you could consider studying Technology at Work. Again, we would recommend that you complete the Professional Practice activities alongside the knowledge modules. In Stage Three, the four knowledge modules are compulsory. They can be completed in any order but must be completed before or concurrently with the Professional Practice 3 module. The order in which you attempt modules may be subject to restrictions at certain times, or your employer may impose restrictions. Your tutor or support staff can advise you on this. They can also provide any guidance necessary about the order in which it would be best for you to attempt your modules. Each stage must be fully completed before you begin the next one.

Accreditation of Prior Learning

You may apply for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) in line with BPPUC policies and procedures as set out in General Academic Regulations (GARs/F/24-29) and Manual of Policies and Procedures (MOPPs/F/6). If successful, you will be exempt from studying and sitting the assessment for the relevant module or modules. In addition, if you believe you have already undertaken activities that may be classed as Professional Practice, and can provide suitable evidence, we may accept this as contributing towards your Professional Practice module. If you wish to submit an activity in this way, please contact your module tutor. Clearly, accelerating your progress in any of these ways will reduce the amount of time you will take to complete the programme.


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Progress through modules

A typical student would study one 15-credit module alongside a 30-credit Professional Practice module. A typical week’s study could include:

Watch an e-briefing that outlines the unit content

Click on the reading tab on the platform to find out what background reading you need to do.

Post your initial contribution on the online discussion forum and respond to other students’ postings. The discussion forum is based around a pre-determined topic.

Take some multiple choice questions to test your knowledge of the unit reading material

Research topic areas to share knowledge with other students through discussion postings, or prepare for webinars

Case studies that seek to apply your learning to real life situations

Webinars – a chance for you to work with other students and the tutor in solving problems using concepts, theories and models

Start planning your assignment. This is typically a short piece of work that you will send to the tutor via the learning platform. The assignment will draw upon readings, learning activities and discussions to demonstrate knowledge and understanding. Where applicable, you may be asked to link assignments to relevant workplace experiences.

Carry out research for a Professional Practice assignment, such as interviewing managers to understand their requirements for information.

Each module outlines gives indicative content to show the type of activities you will undertake while studying them.

Module Completion

Knowledge modules consist of eight units, with each unit comprising what we would consider a “normal” week’s work for a student. You will have deadline of ten weeks to complete this. Professional practice modules comprise a number of discrete tasks with each project typically carrying 60 credits. You may choose which tasks to complete, but you must earn the required number of points to complete the module. Within two weeks of completing your module you will be given a provisional mark pending the meeting of the Examination Board. Your Talent Coach will contact you about progression to your next module.


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Assessment

This section provides a short description of the various ways in which your learning will be assessed and how you should act on the feedback you will receive during the Programme. If after reading this programme handbook you have any further queries about assessment please contact the appropriate Module Leader or the Programme Leader.

Overview

Your work is assessed using both formative and summative assessments. The summative assessment determines your grade for the module as a whole. Formative assessments are undertaken to help your academic progress and have no bearing on your final grade. At the beginning of each module we explain the learning outcomes for the module, which are tested in the summative assessment. Formative assessments may be undertaken throughout the module. It is important that you understand this process as the marks you are given for each unit of assessment determine your grade for that module and ultimately your degree classification. When we set an assignment we provide specific marking criteria so that you know what we are expecting from you and ensure transparent and consistent marking of student work. The marking criteria can be found alongside your summative assessment. You should normally receive feedback and marks for assessed work within two weeks of submission. This will be preliminary and subject to the approval of the Examination Board.

Types of Assessment

We have prioritised you and your future employment needs in deciding how to assess your achievement of the learning outcomes. We are particularly keen for you to demonstrate how you apply your knowledge, understanding and skills to tasks and situations that you would typically come across in the workplace. We also aim to give you opportunities to demonstrate work-related competencies and to allow you to monitor your progress and achievement against your past performance. This will enable you to see the progress you have made and the value that has been added by studying this programme. Such 'self-referencing' will enable you to identify and plan for your future development needs as a professional practitioner. You will have the opportunity to undertake a comprehensive skills and competencies assessment at the outset of the programme which will identify your strengths and areas for development in relation to the key employability competencies which underpin the programme. You will have support and guidance in using the outcomes of this assessment to draw up personal goals and a study path which will be entered into the dashboard section of the Virtual Learning Environment and used by you to set your pace for studying and to measure your achievement and progress along the way.


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Each module will include assessments which offers you an opportunity to practice and learn without counting towards your overall module grade (known as formative assessment). These can take various forms, such as:

Multiple choice questions

Short answer questions Discussion activities

Interactive quizzes and tasks These formative assessments don’t count towards your final grade for the module and are there to aid your understanding of the unit material. Summative assessments count for your module grade as well as being a learning and development opportunity. These are defined pieces of work where you will draw upon readings, lectures and discussions to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of intended learning outcomes. The nature of the assignment and your response will depend upon the nature of the module and the intended specific or generic learning outcomes for that module. Summative assessments will generally take the form of written assignments but may also include mathematical calculations. You will find a variety of different types of assessment within the programme such as writing reports, considering a given business scenario and advising on it, or producing business plans. These assessments have been designed to:

Encourage you to develop both academic skills (such as reading wider around an issue) and practical skills and competencies (such as communication skills)

Enable you to build a body of knowledge and tools which will act as a resource for you to draw on in the future when making decisions and dealing with issues that arise in your workplace

Provide a range of opportunities for you to undertake more practical assessments (such as devising a marketing campaign) relevant to, and requiring interaction with, the world of work

Provide opportunities for you to work in groups in order to develop interpersonal skills and skills in collaboration

Focus on current business issues. The first two Professional Practice Modules (at Stages 1 and 2 of the programme) are assessed by means of an online portfolio. You will build the portfolio as you go through the module and at the end you will be interviewed on the basis of what you have submitted. The portfolio will contain items of evidence of your achievements together with your overall commentary on how these meet the learning outcomes for the module and what you have learnt as a result. The Professional Practice 3 module in Stage 3 of the programme will provide you with an opportunity to consider a work-related issue in depth that will showcase your work and add value to your employer. You will provide a substantial report of your project and will be interviewed on the basis of this.


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Assessment Criteria

We will use carefully defined assessment criteria for your work, which will be available to you in advance of attempting the assessment. For knowledge modules, your report will be assessed against criteria including:

Appropriate structure

Consideration of different approaches Identification of key points and items of evidence

Demonstration of depth of knowledge in subject matter Clarity of document

Information on assessment for Professional Practice modules is given in section 5.

Feedback

After each assessment you will receive written and/or oral feedback on your performance. This will particularly focus on identifying areas where you have done well and areas for improvement. Acting on feedback received in itself is a key way to learn. It is therefore very important that you take time to consider the meaning and implications of the feedback you receive and decide how you intend to act on it in your next assessment.

Interview

At the conclusion of each stage, you will be required to attend an interview (sometimes referred to as a viva voce), which forms part of your assessment.This interview will draw upon all disciplines within the stage and address its learning outcomes. The viva will be held in the presence of two examiners and will be filmed so that it can be reviewed at a later date. You will be expected to discuss work undertaken during the stage and reasons for decisions made. It will feel similar to an interview for a new job, or for a promotion. The outcome of the viva may have an impact on your overall result for that stage. Your tutor will be able to guide you on this as you prepare for your viva.

Failing a module

Unfortunately there isn’t a guarantee that you will pass a module. Throughout the module we will alert you if your performance gives us cause for concern. If you are in danger of failing you will be told at the earliest opportunity and we will speak to you regarding the best course of action. If you fail a module, we will provide appropriate feedback. You will then be required to resubmit your assignment or portfolio before progressing any further. You will be allowed a total of two further attempts at each summative assessment. However, a resubmission mark will be capped at a pass mark.


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Final Award and Graduation

You will receive a percentage mark for each module. Certificates will be graded as pass if you have scored at least 40% in each component module (Stage 1). Diplomas will be awarded where you have scored at least 40% in each component module (Stages 1 & 2). If your overall mark according to the credit weightings of each module is 70% or above, you will be awarded a Diploma with Distinction. Your overall percentage mark for the degree will be calculated according to the credit weighting s of each module undertaken at Stages 2 and 3. Modules undertaken at Stage 1 will not count towards the overall percentage mark. Degrees will be graded according to the following scale: Degree mark Class 70% and over First class honours 60%-69% Second class honours upper division 50%-59% Second class honours lower division 40%-49% Third class honours BPP University’s rules governing assessment, awards and other matters are set out in the General Academic Regulations and Manual of Policies and Procedures. These are available via Blackboard or on request from any member of staff.

Academic Conduct

It is important to ensure that you, your employer and the public at large have confidence in the quality of the programme and the value of this degree award. The programme has therefore been designed to ensure that academic quality and standards are maintained. In the interests of fairness for all you, we believe it is important to make all assessments engaging and relevant in order to avoid situations which may facilitate or encourage taking shortcuts or cheating. Wewill provide you with guidance on how to avoid plagiarism,a form of academic misconduct,by using referencing correctly. We ask you to make a formal declaration that the content of all assessments you submit is authentic and your own work, that is for example, that the contents of your portfolio reflects work that has genuinely been carried out by you and that all assessment submissions are your own work. We will also use anti-plagiarism software such as Turnitin as an additional safeguard.


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SECTION 4: STUDENT SUPPORT

The Role of Your Employer

An important aspect of supporting you in this programme is the three-way relationship between ourselves, as the providing institution, you and your employer.

Your employer has an important part to play in supporting your learning and encouraging you to complete the programme. Depending on the circumstances, this could include, for example:

Making a contribution towards the cost

Allowing you time off to study and/or permitting annual leave to be taken at key points in the programme, such as when you are submitting assessment

Giving you guidance on which electives to choose, for example, which are most likely to facilitate your career progression

Providing you with access to relevant resources such as case studies, records and other information

Giving you access to facilities such as computers and printing Providing you with additional coaching and mentoring

Identifying particular work issues and problems to use as the basis for your Professional Practice modules and/or other assessments.

We will assign a point of contact to your employer and undertake to provide regular reports on your progress. We will take into account any particular needs your employer has in terms of the curriculum, and are particularly keen to involve employers in providing real issues to be addressed in the Professional Practice modules in order to tailor the programme to their particular requirements.

Learner

BPP Employer


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We expect employers to respect and differentiate between your role and needs as a learner and those as an employee and to appreciate our duties towards you and other learners. We expect you to respect and appreciate that both you and your employer are our customers and that we may have contractual obligations to each of you. We particularly expect you to be sensitive to issues of confidentiality. It is a requirement of entry to the programme that you are in employment. If you should later become unemployed the Business School will seek to support and encourage you to continue in the programme by providing appropriate careers guidance as well as giving access to pastoral care. For example, we will recognise the work experience that you have already had up to the point when you leave your employment so that you can include it in assessments. In the event that circumstances such as illness or maternity leave mean that you are unable to work for a period of time, the flexible nature of the programme means that we can agree a formal break in your studies, which can be resumed later.

Getting Started

Prior to orientation, you will have an opportunity to take your competency assessment, and have a full debrief with your Talent Agent. The course will then begin with your orientation, which may be held face-to-face or online, to mark your transition into the programme. This will be an opportunity to meet fellow you and staff, ask questions, and receive an introduction to the VLE. During orientation, you will complete a self-contained module to introduce you to the programme and blended learning study, while being facilitated by a tutor and the centre staff. This will make the start of your Professional Practice 1 module and you will begin earning academic credit for it.

The role of the local centre

The programme content is delivered online, but you also have the option to use one of our state-of-the-art learning centres. These include social space, presentation areas and meeting rooms equipped with technology that makes sharing and collaborating as easy as possible. Depending on your location, you may find attending the centre valuable to, for example: • Meet face-to-face with the Student Experience Team • Meet with fellow students to collaborate on group work • “Attend” scheduled webinars, using our display screens for a better experience • Attend optional live events such as presentations • Work in a quiet environment as needed • Socialise with other students. You are welcome to attend the centre at any time, but if you wish to meet a member of staff or use a room it would be helpful if you could book this in advance, by contacting the Student Experience Team. The centres will be open and manned during evenings and weekends for your convenience – you will be advised of exact opening times.


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BPP Staff Support

We are here to help you. Whatever your question or problem, whether it is related directly to your studies or to anything affecting your studies, we will try and work with you to find a solution. So don’t hesitate to contact us if you are at all worried about anything related to your studies. The key members of staff supporting you are as follows:

The Programme Team

The programme team deal with all matters related to content and your formal studies.

The Head of Programmes

The Head of Programmes has overall responsibility for the quality and content of the programme. They will manage the strategic development of the programme and will be a key point of contact with internal and external stakeholders.

Module Leaders

Each module has a designated Module Leader who is responsible for determining, developing and updating the content of that module and may also be involved in delivering it. Module Leaders work as a team headed by the Head of Programmes. Tutor/Practitioners Tutor/practitioners deliver the content of each module, including managing forum discussions, responding to queries, facilitating live discussions via webinar, interviewing and marking assessments. They have considerable business experience as well as having been trained in facilitation and are able to provide you with examples and approaches taken from contemporary business practice. Some continue to be practising professionals, while others have moved from commercial roles into full-time academic work. You will have a dedicated tutor/practitioner for each module and they will be in regular contact with you throughout the course. In particular you will have tutor contact through:

Discussion forum participation Webinars

Feedback on your work

Responsesto your questions by phone or email. You will be given your tutor’s contact details and be able to contact them on an ad hoc basis by email as necessary. The Student Experience Team The Student Experience Team are responsible for day-to-day support and career skills development. Talent Coaches The role of the Talent Coach is to support you throughout each module – they will normally be your first point of contact for any queries about the programme.


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You can contact your Talent Coach in person at the centre, by phone, or by email. The Talent Coach will:

Welcome you onto the programme of study and conduct a welcome session in person or online to include advice on how/where to access help and support.

Contact you at regular intervals to establish a close rapport with you and ensure that you are comfortable with all aspects of the programme.

Consult with you on your progression and enrol you on course modules. You will be assigned to a dedicated, named Talent Coach who will provide you with a contact telephone number and an email address. The Talent Coach will be your primary point of contact throughout the programme and their role will include those referred to as Personal Tutor and Student Support in other BPP University programmes. Talent Agents The Talent Agent is responsible for helping you to develop the skills that will enhance your career. This will include working with you and your employer to ensure a clear understanding of the skills and qualities they are looking for in future managers and leaders, and ensuring that you develop through the course of the Programme. The Talent Agent’s role will include that undertaken by a Careers Advisor in other programmes, although their role is significantly larger, reflecting the importance of career skills development in this programme. The Student Experience Team will work under the day-to-day direction of the Student Experience Manager, who has overall responsibility for the quality of service delivered to students on all non-academic matters IT support If you have a technical problem with the learning platform you should contact the technical support team (you will be supplied with their contact details in your welcome pack) or your Talent Coach. Whilst we will try to help you with a range of technical IT problems that are affecting your ability to study, our primary expertise is supporting the VLE. Library services BPP you have access to a range of online materials, via the Blackboard site. The library services offered are to allow you access to additional resources such as on-line journals, databases and eBooks. You will be advised throughout your module as and when these resources are required for your studies, and how to access them. Please note that the Blackboard is different to the VLE you will normally use in your studies. You will also have access to the physical library resources at your local centre.


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Your fellow students and student representation

You will be encouraged to form links wherever possible with fellow you and will be given opportunities to interact either in person or online. Formal student representation and input into the programme is channelled through the Staff Student Liaison Committee. This will comprise of the academic team and elected student representatives, and meet three times a year. Student representatives will be expected to gather feedback from their fellow you and speak on their behalf at the meeting. The programme team will respond formally to all issues raised. In addition, informal meetings may be held with groups of you from time to time.


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SECTION 5: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Overview

‘Professional Practice’ is our term for three modules that help you develop as a manager in a way that adds value to your organisation. There is a Professional Practice module in each Stage of the Bachelor of Business Administration Programme.

Professional Practice is a journey. As you work through the three Professional Practice modules, you complete taught activities and work-related Professional Practice projects. The purpose of these taught activities and projects is to:

Help you develop specific skills.

Add some immediate value for your employer.

Help you learn how to use knowledge and theory at work.

Help you learn how to be effective in the way you work with other people.

Help you acquire the habit of developing by reflecting on what you do, how you do it,

and what other people think of you. This is called reflective practice.

These five themes run through the entire Professional Practice journey.

Each Professional Practice (PP) module focuses on a different aspect of your development as a manager. The emphasis in PP1 is on your skills and competencies, and your ability to evaluate these. The emphasis in PP2 is on developing your professional social network and understanding how you fit into it. In PP3 you will combine and integrate all your skills, competencies and knowledge to identify and deliver a single project of your choice.


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During your Professional Practice journey you will become increasingly independent in your learning and you will tackle increasingly complex and challenging projects. The key to your development throughout the journey is reflective practice.

The Professional Practice modules complement the knowledge modules by giving you the opportunity to use theories and concepts in a real-life workplace situation.

The language of Professional Practice

Don’t worry if at first you are confused by the language and concepts of Professional Practice. All will become clear as you work through your Professional Practice journey.

Practice

The notion of practice comes from the Greek ‘praxis’. Aristotle distinguished praxis (practice) from theoria (knowledge) and poiesis (production). Praxis involves action, experience, learning and – invariably in management – communication. It involves doing.

As much as 'praxis' is distinct from 'theoria', we use theoria (knowledge) to inform how we practise. Equally, practices have a 'poiesis' (production) element. They need to add value. Practices are usually repeated over time, even if their specific goal changes. We need to practice them to improve them.

Cycles of Inquiry

A cycle of inquiry is a way of learning by thinking, doing and reflecting – then deciding what to do next time you encounter a similar situation.

A cycle of inquiry starts with a moment in time when you stop – before you act – to consider what you are about to do, how you are going to do it, or what you are seeking to achieve. Often a mixture of all three!

You wonder whether you should do something differently this time. You might re-read something that you think will help you decide what to do. You might revisit some stakeholder feedback that feels relevant to your task. You might look on the internet for information about how other people approach situations similar to yours.

Taking all this into account, you then act in a way that is different from the way you have acted before. The difference might be small, big, or something in between. The important point is that by doing things differently this time, you intend to add more value than you did last time.

Then you make sense of what has happened by reflecting on it. This helps you work out whether, how and why you did add more value. When you have worked this out, you can decide what you will do next time you are faced with a similar task, issue or situation.

A cycle of inquiry is not:

A group decision on how to do business – it is far more personal.

A huge sudden change in your career – although cycles of inquiry together can achieve

this over time.

Behaving in a way that is disruptive – unless this is intended and well thought through.

A change that ignores how others perceive you and your actions – it must take account

of the way others view you and what you do.


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Something you can do every time you act – no manager has that amount of time.

During your Professional Practice journey, we expect you to describe your cycles of inquiry as evidence of your development as a manager.

Reflective Practice

“We do not learn from experience but from reflection on experience.” (John Dewey, 1933)

Reflective practice is a process of slowing down and thinking deeply about what you do and the way you do it. The purpose of reflective practice is to give you ideas and insights that will change the way you do things in the future. Like anything else, you need to practice reflective practice to become good at it.

Reflective practice can include:

Analysing an experience and making sense of it.

Using theory to understand an experience.

Thinking about different perspectives, especially those of other people.

Replaying an experience in your mind to deepen your understanding.

Considering feelings you and others experienced.

Evaluating what happened.

Improving your understanding.

Drawing conclusions.

Deciding what you will change as a result of your improved understanding.

There are several academic models of reflection that can be very helpful in developing your reflective practice habits. A commonly used model is one developed by Gibbs (1988).


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Primary and Secondary Reflection

Throughout your Professional Practice journey, you will be expected to reflect in two stages.

Primary reflection is the first stage of reflection in a cycle of inquiry. It usually takes place during or soon after the activity or experience you are reflecting on. It involves recording precisely what you did, what happened,and (from different stakeholder perspectives) what value you added through your actions.It can also include a description of any differences between what you achieved and what you intended to achieve, and your initial feelings and reactions.

Primary reflection is descriptive. It is a way of capturing your experiences so you can return to them later. Primary reflection broadly maps on to the Description and Feelings stages of the Gibbs model.

Secondary reflection follows primary reflection and involves much deeper thinking. It generates high-quality insights and ‘aha!’ moments that make you want to do things differently in the future.

Secondary reflection is explanatory. It is the personal process of making sense of what has happened, your role in what has happened, and what you intend to change next time. Secondary reflection broadly maps on to the Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion and Action Plan stages of the Gibbs model.

Taught Professional Practice activities

To get you started on reflective practice, using knowledge and working effectively with other people, each Professional Practice module starts with some taught activities.

These activities introduce you to the concepts you will apply in your projects, and give you an opportunity to practice using them.

Professional Practice Projects

Professional practice projects are the learning vehicles for your development as a manager. At the start of your journey, you will choose a mini-project so that you can practise reflecting, applying knowledge and working with other people.

When you have completed your mini-project in PP1, you will choose three further projects to complete the first Professional Practice module.

Each project is an opportunity for you to add some value to your organisation. To start with, you will probably choose from a bank of predefined projects. By PP2, you will define at least some of your own projects. The projects you choose will be relevant to you and to your organisation.

When you get to the third Professional Practice module, you will define and carry out a single, large project that focuses on an issue of significant importance (and therefore value) to your organisation.

Learning Journal

To facilitate reflection, it is important that you keep a learning journal where you record thoughts, feelings, ideas and events ‘as they happen’ so you can reflect on them later.

Your learning journal can be public or private. You do not need to share anything from your learning journal unless you want to. You might choose to include extracts from your learning journal in the materials you submit for assessment.


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How Professional Practice modules are assessed

Professional Practice modules are assessed mainly on what you learn and how you develop .

At the end of each Professional Practice module you will submit:

Evidence for each project you have completed. This includes project-specific

deliverables and stakeholder feedback.

A Reflective practice report for each project you have completed.

An overall Professional Practice report in which you reflect on the whole module: what

you have learned, how you have changed, and what further changes you intend to make

to the way you are and the way you work.

The evidence part of your submission helps you, BPP and your employer understand what you are doing to add value. It also gives you the opportunity to earn skills badges. Skills badges are awarded against specific criteria for the skills associated with your project. If you meet the criteria, your skills badge will show on your VLE dashboard.

Skills badges allow you to track your skills development and progress, and can be shared with your employer if you choose. They are not part of the academic assessment of your work. Skills badges can be helpful in annual appraisals, or as the basis for a discussion about a promotion.

Academic assessment

The Reflective practice and overall Professional Practice reports you submit at the end of each module are assessed against four academic criteria:

Written quality

Primary reflection quality

Secondary reflection quality

Intention to change

These criteria are based on what is known about effective, career-enhancing reflective practice.

Written quality applies to all the materials you submit. The other criteria are applied to the reports you produce. This is explained further in the following sections.

As a guide, each report should be about 2,000 words. In your Reflective practice reports, we expect the longest section to be your secondary reflection.

When your submission has been assessed, you will be awarded a provisional grade for the Professional Practice module you have just completed. This grade is subject to a viva and to confirmation by an Exam Board.

On completion of each Stage of the Programme you will have an interview, sometimes called a viva voce or simply viva. The viva will focus on the Professional Practice element of your work but can cover any of the work you have done in the Stage you have just completed.

The viva is an opportunity to discuss your Professional Practice experiences and how you have developed. It is carried out so that we can verify your understanding of your work and test your ability to explain your ideas in person as well as in writing.


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Your viva will be assessed on a pass or fail basis. If you pass the viva, your provisional grade for the Professional Practice module will be unaffected. If you fail the viva, you will have failed the relevant Stage of the Programme and will be able to repeat it in accordance with BPP regulations.

When you are approaching the end of a Stage, we will provide advice and support to help you prepare for the viva.

References for this section

Dewey, J. (1933) How We Think, Boston MA: D C Heath & Co.

Gibbs, G. (1988) Learning by Doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods, Oxford: Further Education Unit, Oxford Polytechnic.


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SECTION 6: MODULE OUTLINES

Introduction

To gain a degree you require 360 points. Each knowledge module is worth 15 points - some are compulsory and some are optional. The first two Professional Practice modules are worth 30 points each and Professional Practice 3 is worth 60 points – these are compulsory. Unlike a conventional undergraduate degree, which is organised into three years, our fully flexible degree is organised into three stages, which you may study at a pace that suits you. The modules and elements described below are subject to more detailed briefing papers and bibliographies issued at appropriate points throughout the programme. In some instances information regarding content of a module is indicative, and actual module content will be determined according to considerations (for example, regarding opportunities for work with specific external partners or developments in the field or contemporaneous events) which are taken into account closer to the point of delivery.

Activity Types

On this programme activities are grouped into a number of specific types, which are as follows:

Reading You will be guided to read certain parts of your core text, or other relevant books/journals.

Listening An audio recording will be supplied to you to listen to, covering matters such as key concepts and case studies.

Watching This involves watching a video either delivered through the VLE or from an external site such as YouTube.

Formative Assessment

This will be a test which does not count towards your final grade. Usually, this will consist of questions to test your understand of material you have read, seen or watched.

Webinar

This is your opportunity to interact live with your tutor and fellow you over the internet. You will be expected to carry out prework and attend the webinar ready to present or discuss your results. You will have a choice of webinar times so will be able to select one which is convenient. You can attend webinars from any location with an internet connection or you can attend it at the learning centre, taking advantage of the screen and sound facilities there.

Discussion Forum

For these activities, you are required to post the results of your work to a discussion forum within the VLE. You will have the opportunity to view postings from other students and may be required to reply to them.

Discovery Learning

For these activities, you will be required to find resources on the internet or elsewhere which you can use to improve your understanding of a certain concept, or apply it to a case study.

Simulation This is your chance to apply your knowledge in a setting similar to real life. This may mean using materials supplied to you on the VLE, or external links.

Journaling

Reflection is a key aspect of learning and in these activities you will be required to write personal reflection on some aspect of the course. You do not need to share this unless you choose. You can use any format for your reflections including a word document, hard copy journal, or a public or private blog.


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Writing

For these activities, you are required to write a piece of work and submit it for review by your tutor. Usually, this will be an outline of what you propose to submit for your summative assessment

Summative Assessment

This assessment must be submitted for marking via the VLE and will determine your grade for the module. It will usually take the format of a report, although other formats may be used.

Professional Practice

These activities form part of a separate module and consist of applying your knowledge to real world situations, usually in your workplace. The activities may be undertaken individually or as a group. Each activity will involve generating outputs, which are gathered into your portfolio and will then be assessed to determine your grade.


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Module List


Stage 1








Exit award: Postgraduate Certificate in Bachelor of Business Administration

Stage 2













Business Planning & Business Proposals Compulsory 15 Credits 612

Ideas Generation Compulsory 15 Credits 652

Managing Projects Compulsory 15 Credits 694


Compulsory 15 Credits 733

Exit Award: Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons.)


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STAGE ONE

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 1

General Information

School Business School

Level Level 4

Credit Value 30 credits

Contact Hours 30

Programme(s) Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons)(Compulsory Module)

Module Leader Daniel Clark

Related Modules

Pre-requisites None

Co-requisites None

Post-requisites None

Excluded Combinations

None

External Accrediting Body None

Introduction

The Professional Practice module runs alongside your other modules and is designed to ease your transition into Higher Education, give you the skills you need to study for a degree and to engage you in a number of highly practical work-related experiences enabling you to consider and provide solutions to real work problems. This will ensure that your current and future employability is constantly at the heart of your degree. The module is assessed by a portfolio which will enable you to provide evidence of your achievements, such as the various Bachelor of Business Administration skills which you have developed, which are in turn aligned to employability competencies. Competencies are 'measurable' characteristics of a person related to success at work’. These include behavioural skills, technical skills, attributes (such as intelligence), or attitudes (such as taking a proactive approach). The combination of ability to demonstrate skills, competencies and appropriate academic knowledge and critical thinking skills will make you a graduate who can demonstrate a range of outcomes recognisable by potential employers as desirable and rare. As well as being knowledgeable you will be an ‘experienced student’ which is exactly what employers want.


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Educational Aims

This module aims to:

Equip you with the skills needed to become an effective independent learner in higher education

Provide you with opportunities to experience work-related activities

Enable you to develop practical business and professional skills

Introduce you to working collaboratively in teams

Enable you to achieve employability competencies

Enable you to build up a portfolio of professional achievement

Learning Outcomes

After studying this module you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate relevant practical, professional and study skills 2. Recommend appropriate approaches to address work-related issues 3. Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively in a team 4. Demonstrate achievement of appropriate employability competencies 5. Compile and present a portfolio of professional achievement

Learning Outcome 1

Learning Outcome 2

Learning Outcome 3

Learning Outcome 4

Learning Outcome 5

Knowledge and

understanding

Cognitive (thinking) skills

Professional skills and

attributes

Transferable

skills

Mode of Assessment

This module is assessed through the completion of one (1) independent task [the Summative Elements]. In addition to the summative elements, the module contains two (2) tasks to assist you in evaluating your progress in the module [the Formative Elements]. Formative Elements Please Note: These elements do not count towards your final module grade.

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