2013-2014

MBA/MScIB Program

Student Handbook

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Dean’s Welcome

On behalf of the Faculty of Management, I would like to welcome you to Vancouver Island

University’s Master of Business Administration program.

Our innovative MBA program is provided by a highly qualified and experienced faculty. The

program integrates a creative core curriculum with opportunities for application through the applied

project and/or the business internship.

The MBA program is designed to cover a broad range of topics which will allow you to integrate

your knowledge and experience in an applied setting. A capstone of the program is the internship

where you will work in a business setting on real problems.

Students in the program can expect to have a challenging and worthwhile educational experience.

The MBA program will provide you with the skills to be successful in today’s very competitive

business environment.

Our business programs are accredited with the Accreditation Council for Business School Programs

(ACBSP). Accreditation means that VIU has satisfied international quality standards for our business

programs. These standards are the same ones used in business to recognize excellence.

I encourage you to immerse yourself in your studies and to embrace the opportunities to develop new

friendships and working partnerships with your peers. I wish you the very best.

David Twynam, PhD

Dean

Faculty of Management

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Director’s Welcome

Welcome to the MBA/MScIB program at Vancouver Island University. The dual degree program

was approved by the Degree Quality Assessment Board of the Province of British Columbia. The

VIU School of Business is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business School Programs

(ACBSP) which “is the leading specialized accrediting agency for business education supporting,

celebrating, and rewarding teaching excellence” www.acbsp.org. We take quality seriously and are

confident that you will find your experience challenging but very rewarding. You will be studying

together with students from around the world who will introduce you to new perspectives on thinking

about business and life. You will be doing this in the lovely setting of Vancouver Island University

and the city of Nanaimo. Make sure that you make some time to explore Nanaimo and Vancouver

Island.

Your professors will challenge you to learn about global business issues, business techniques and

skills, to improve your personal skills and tools and to learn about managing and leading in the 21st

Century. Your success in the program depends on your ability to focus on the tasks at hand and to

work hard on improving any areas of weakness. However, you are not alone in this journey; the

faculty and staff members of the MBA/MScIB program are here to help you progress to a higher level

and to start you on the career path that you desire. Make sure that you take advantage of learning

from the feedback that your professors provide and use it to do better in the next assignment or in

your career. Aim to be the best that you can possibly be and you will not be disappointed; you will

learn more and be better prepared for your next challenge.

We wish you the best in the program and trust that each of you has a rewarding time completing your

MBA/MScIB. All of the faculty and staff are looking forward to getting to know you over the next

year. I personally look forward to meeting you all and helping you on your journey.

Brock Dykeman

Director

MBA Program

Tiffany McLaughlin

Program Assistant

MBA Program

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MBA/MScIB Student Handbook

Table of Contents

1. Assistance during the program ........................................................................................... 7

1.1 Administration .................................................................................................................... 7

1.2 Desire2Learn ...................................................................................................................... 7

1.3 Additional Academic Support ............................................................................................ 7

1.4 Student Representatives ..................................................................................................... 8

1.5 Culture Shock ..................................................................................................................... 8

1.6 English Language Support ................................................................................................. 8

2. Program Schedule (2013/2014) .......................................................................................... 9

2.1 Management Foundation Program ..................................................................................... 9

2.2 MBA/MScIB Program ....................................................................................................... 9

3. Coursework (Assignments) .............................................................................................. 10

3.1 Assignment Assessment Form ......................................................................................... 10

3.2 Formatting Assignments ................................................................................................... 11

3.3 Penalties for Late Submission and Assignment Extensions ............................................. 11

3.3.1 Extenuating Circumstances ........................................................................................ 11

3.4 Attendance ........................................................................................................................ 11

3.5 Section (cohort) Assignment and Selection ..................................................................... 12 3.6 Group Work ...................................................................................................................... 12

3.6.1 Group Projects and Presentations .............................................................................. 12

3.6.2 Individually-Assessed Pieces of Work ...................................................................... 12

3.7 Textbooks ......................................................................................................................... 12

3.8 Student Feedback ............................................................................................................. 13

4. Grading ............................................................................................................................. 13

4.1 Grading scheme ................................................................................................................ 13

4.2 Grading Criteria ............................................................................................................... 13

4.3 Scholarships ..................................................................................................................... 15

4.3.1 Entrance Scholarships ................................................................................................ 15

4.3.2 Top Student Awards .................................................................................................. 15

4.3.3 Student Citizenship Award ........................................................................................ 15

5. Examinations .................................................................................................................... 15

6. Academic Integrity and Misconduct ................................................................................ 16

6.1 Plagiarism and Collusion (further information based on UH Regulations) ..................... 17

6.1.1 Plagiarism .................................................................................................................. 17

6.1.2 Collusion .................................................................................................................... 18

6.1.3 Assessments to be Undertaken Individually .............................................................. 18

6.1.4 Assessments Where Group Work is Involved ........................................................... 18

6.2 Procedures for Dealing with Plagiarism and Collusion.................................................... 19

7. Progression and Probation ................................................................................................ 19

7.1 Failure in a course ............................................................................................................ 19

7.2 Probation and Suspension from the Program ................................................................... 20

7.3 Continuation to Internship/Project ................................................................................... 20

8. Graduation and Awards .................................................................................................... 20

8.1 Determination of Awards (Vancouver Island University MBA) ..................................... 20

8.1.1 Distinction ............................................................................................................... 20

8.1.2 Dean's Honour List .................................................................................................. 21

9. Transcripts ........................................................................................................................ 21

10. The Marking Process ........................................................................................................ 21

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10.1 Publication of Grades and Degree .................................................................................... 22

11. Academic Appeals ............................................................................................................ 22

12. Assessment Regulations ................................................................................................... 22

13. Internship and Applied Project ......................................................................................... 23

Appendix A – MBA course descriptions .................................................................................... 26

Appendix B – Faculty and Administrative Staff ......................................................................... 33

Appendix C – How to access your Timetable and Student Record ............................................ 35

Appendix D – Fees and other expenses ...................................................................................... 36

Appendix E – University of Hertfordshire Rules and Regulations ............................................. 38

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Master of Business Administration and Master of

Science (International Business)

Program Information

1. Assistance during the program

1.1 Administration

A number of staff within both the MBA Program and Student Services of the University can help you

with academic issues.

The MBA Program Director is responsible for the Master of Business Administration (MBA)

program and is the University of Hertfordshire’s nominated representative for the Master of Science

in International Business program. The Director’s office, located in the Faculty of Management

building (B250), is the first point of contact for most program-related problems such as personal or

course issues, advising, examination results, academic references, career counselling, et cetera. If you

have issues pertaining to specific coursework or examinations, see your instructors first. The MBA

program is a cohort program; therefore you cannot change sections without the permission of the

MBA Director.

The MBA office is normally open from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm Monday to

Friday. However, as there are only two of us in the office, it will be closed at times when we both

must be away from the office. You are expected to make an appointment through the MBA

Administrative Assistant before meeting with the director, but you may try to see if he is available for

a drop-in appointment.

The personnel in the International Student Services (ISS) office, in the International Education

building (B255), provide assistance with admissions, health insurance, accommodation, university

services and visa issues. ISS can also provide general information on living in Canada and services in

Nanaimo, including transportation, sports and recreation, and banking.

If you have personal problems, counselling services are available through Student Support Services.

You can make an appointment by calling 740-6416.

It is the responsibility of students with documented disabilities to identify themselves to Student

Support Services, Building 200, upon acceptance to the MBA Program.

1.2 Desire2Learn

Desire2Learn (D2L) is Vancouver Island University's learning management system for online

courses. Some MBA faculty use online courses to supplement your classroom experience and run

quizzes and tests. The MBA office will include a D2L introduction session during orientation, but you

can find additional information at http://www.viu.ca/iel/online/.

1.3 Additional Academic Support

Students will have the opportunity to attend workshops or tutorials during the orientation program,

and as part of the internship program, on various topics useful for your studies and career. English

writing assistance is available on an ongoing basis and students can sign up for writing assistance at

the D2L site. Student tutors are available to assist with Accounting and Economics.

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1.4 Student Representatives

Student representatives (2 from each section of the MBA Program) will be elected by the class during

the first semester in the MBA Program. These representatives will:

meet with the director on a regular basis;

bring student concerns to the director;

plan and organize social events; and

pass on important information to the class from the director.

Two of the class representatives will sit on the MBA Program Committee, an advisory board that

discusses program structure, policies and procedures.

1.5 Culture Shock

Many international students, especially those who have not lived in Western countries before,

experience some degree of culture shock. This is usually due to differences in methods of classroom

instruction, particularly in the areas of classroom interaction, teamwork and what is expected in an

academic paper. Other differences may include food, customs, dealing with multiple cultures, and the

English language. If you feel that any element of “culture shock” is affecting your studies, make an

appointment with an International Student Advisor, in the International Education Building, to

discuss those concerns.

Some domestic students also experience culture shock when learning to interact with international

students in the program. Students should take advantage of the opportunity to learn about different

cultural norms from around the world and recognize the validity of different approaches to work and

learning. If students need additional support in this environment, they are encouraged to make an

appointment with any of the advisors in Student Services or with an International Student Advisor.

1.6 English Language Support

You can receive one-on-one private assistance (in ½ hour appointments) with the written component

of your courses or business project from ESL instructors dedicated to the MBA Program. You can

book an appointment with these instructors online by accessing http://www.rich37.com/mala/.

Students are expected to cancel, in advance, any appointments that they have signed up for but cannot

attend.

When students come for their appointment, they must bring a copy of the assignment they were given

by the instructor. Students can discuss the requirements of the assignment with the ESL teacher as

well as bring assignments that have been already written (or partially written) so that help can be

given with the organization of the paper, grammar, quotations and citations, etc. However, it should

be noted that this is not a proofreading service.

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2. Program Schedule (2013/2014)

2.1 Management Foundation Program

Some students are required to complete the Management Foundation Program as an entrance

requirement to the MBA program. The Management Foundation is designed to provide foundational

knowledge in subject matters that will help students with a limited educational background in

business subjects to be more successful in the MBA/MScIB Program.

In general all of the policies in this Handbook apply to the Foundation program as well as the

MBA/MScIB program unless there is a specific policy for the Foundation.

The following table is a general schedule for the Foundation Program offerings in 2013. You can

print a detailed version of your own course schedule from your student record.

Foundation Schedule (Summer and Fall)

Summer Semester 2013

Orientation June 24 – 28

First day of classes July 2

Last day of classes August 23

Fall Semester 2013

Orientation September 16 – 20

First day of classes September 23

Last day of classes December 2

Examination Period December 5 – 16

No classes on July 1, August 5, September 2, October 14 and November 11 (Public Holidays)

2.2 MBA/MScIB Program

Classes are scheduled throughout the week. You can print a course schedule from your student

record. The term schedules for the fall 2013 and January 2014 cohorts are as follows:

Fall Semester (2013 - Term A)

Orientation Aug 26 – 30

First day of classes September 3

Last day of classes December 2

Examination Period December 5 – 16

No classes September 2, October 14 and November 11 (Public Holidays)

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Spring Semester (2014 - Term A or B)

Orientation January 2 – 3, and during first week of classes

First day of classes January 6

Reading Week February 24 – 28

Last day of classes April 14

Examination Period April 17 – 30

No classes February 10, April 18 & 21 (Public Holidays)

Intersession and Summer Semester (2014)

Term B May 5 to August 1

Term C1

Term C2 (Finance/Marketing Options only)

May 5 to June 20

June 23 to August 8

Internship and Applied Project (Term D1) July through October – due date Oct 31

Internship (Finance/Marketing Options) September through December

No classes on May 19, July 1 & August 4 (Public Holidays)

Fall Semester (2014)

Term C1

Term C2 (Finance/Marketing Options only)

September 2 to October 17

October 20 to December 5

Internship and Applied Project (Term D)

Internship (Finance/Marketing Option)

November to February – due date Feb 28

January to April 2014

No classes on September 1, October 13 & November 11 (Public Holidays)

3. Coursework (Assignments)

It is the student’s responsibility to submit all coursework by the deadline date specified in the course

outline and to comply with the assessment regulations of both your program of study and the

University of Hertfordshire (where applicable). If you fail to submit work for assessment without

good cause, you may fail the assignment(s) concerned. Four of the courses in terms 2 and 3 are

franchise courses from the University of Hertfordshire. These courses will follow University of

Hertfordshire regulations which are summarized in Appendix E.

3.1 Assignment Assessment Form

Before submitting coursework, such as case studies, research papers, et cetera, students should

complete an “Assignment Assessment Form” (available on Moodle or in the MBA Office) unless the

Professor has indicated that it is not required, and attach it to the front of the work. Your course

outlines will indicate whether assignments are to be handed in to the instructor or to the MBA

Program drop box. The MBA Program’s drop box is located at the 1st floor entrance to the Faculty of

Management Building.

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3.2 Formatting Assignments

All assignments should be submitted with a title page that includes the following information (unless

your course instructor provides alternate instructions):

Assignment name or title

Course name and number

Instructor’s name

Date

Student’s name

The statement: “I have read the Student Academic Code of Conduct and this assignment

complies with the Code.”

As well, all written text should be in 1.5 line spacing and typed in Times New Roman 12 point font,

and the pages should be numbered. Each assignment you submit must be printed on 8½” x 11” paper,

stapled once only in the upper left corner of the document (unless your instructor provides

alternate instructions).

3.3 Penalties for Late Submission and Assignment Extensions

Penalties for late submission are determined by each faculty member and will be detailed in the

course outline for each course. Ensure that you have read the course outline and complied with all

requirements specified. Some instructors may not allow any late assignments, in which case you will

be automatically assigned an F unless you have made prior arrangements with your instructor.

3.3.1 Extenuating Circumstances

Assignment extensions can be granted only where there are extenuating circumstances, and only by

the course instructor. If you have a condition that will affect your ability to hand in assignments

across multiple courses, you should consult with the MBA Director.

Although it is not possible to list all extenuating circumstances, serious medical problems, the death

of a close family member, the serious ill health or injury of a partner or child will fall into this

category. Pre-existing, long-term medical conditions should be brought to the attention of the Director

of MBA Programs as soon as they occur and medical certification must be provided to cover

coursework deadlines.

Minor illnesses (such as colds and sore throats), financial pressures, work pressures, emotional

pressure, matters of personal preference (such as religious observance) that clash with Vancouver

Island University’s timetable, last minute computer failure and other similar situations would not be

considered as grounds for extending coursework submission dates.

Any medical certification must be dated no more than 5 days prior to the date of submission or

must cover the relevant date of submission.

3.4 Attendance

The MBA program is a professional program designed to prepare you for a career in management. As

such, we expect you to act as a professional throughout the program. You should attend all classes in

the program unless your absence is unavoidable due to a medical emergency or similar reason. If you

will be unable to attend a class, you should notify your instructor, providing a valid reason. For

extended absences (more than one class), you need to notify the Director and your various instructors.

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If you are going to be absent for reasons other than medical emergencies or a death in your immediate

family, you need to seek permission to do so from the Director.

Absences from class without valid reasons or consistently arriving late are considered unprofessional

behaviours and could result in you being withdrawn from the class or the program.

3.5 Section (cohort) assignment and selection

You will be assigned into a section (cohort) at the beginning of the program. Normally students will

continue to take all of their core courses with the same cohort throughout the program. If you wish to

change your cohort or the section of one course you need to request permission of the Director. You

should make this request by email to the Director at brock.dykeman@viu.ca and site the reason for

your change request. These requests will be accommodated where possible, generally on a first come

first serve basis. Section changes will not be allowed after the first week of classes.

3.6 Group Work

As an MBA student you are encouraged to work in groups and to share experiences, knowledge,

thoughts, and ideas with others. This is seen as the most constructive part of the MBA and will help

to develop your thoughts and arguments. This process will also enable you to see the way in which

similar problems are tackled in other cultures. There are two assessment-based reasons for working in

groups within the MBA. In some instances, you will be asked to work in a group with the aim of

completing a group project or presentation, and the other is to develop your ideas and expose them to

critical appraisal before the completion of an individual piece of work.

3.6.1 Group Projects and Presentations

When working on a group project or presentation, it is important to utilize the skills that you learn by

working in a team – the creation of a cohesive team, which exploits the strengths and compensates for

the weaknesses of individuals. Compensating for an area of lack of skill implies that these skills need

to be developed, and that the team can help in this process. It is critical that the team meet early and

determine the strengths and weaknesses of team members and develop a plan accordingly.

3.6.2 Individually-Assessed Pieces of Work

Group discussion may be used to clarify your ideas and refine your thoughts and arguments about a

topic. You will then be able to produce an individual piece of work prepared completely on your

own. It is essential that after any group discussion you write up your own account of the arguments

based on the notes you made at the time. You should not interpret this to mean that you may

continue working together with another student, as the work you produce may constitute

plagiarism or collusion, a very serious offence. (See Section 6.1.1 for more information about

plagiarism and collusion.)

3.7 Textbooks

Textbooks are an integral part of the resources that you need to successfully complete the MBA

program. Textbooks are expensive, but if you try to get by without buying them this will inevitably

impact your ability to learn the course materials. Where available you can reduce your costs by

buying used copies. However, please note that it is illegal and unethical to make photocopies of

textbooks. If you wish to read up on this matter, please feel free to review the Copyright Act of

Canada. You are expected to purchase legal copies of the required textbooks. Students caught

with photocopied textbooks will be dealt with accordingly.

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3.8 Student Feedback

Students have the opportunity to give feedback on all aspects of the program. Two students from each

section will be elected as Student Representatives to the Student Committee. The Committee will also

include the Director. It will be the responsibility of each student representative to meet regularly with

the students that he or she represents, bring student concerns to the Committee meetings, and report

back to the students. The Director will report back to the faculty and to the Dean.

In addition, at the end of the program, students are given the opportunity to complete a Student

Satisfaction Survey.

4. Grading

The following is the grading system used for the MBA program.

4.1 Grading scheme (effective September 1 2010)

Grade Level Numeric

Value

Description

A+

A

A-

90-100

85-89

80-84

4.33

4.00

3.67

First Class: Work of an excellent standard.

B+

B

B-

76-79

72-75

68-71

3.33

3.00

2.67

Second Class: Work of a very good

standard.

C+

C

C-

64-67

60-63

55-59

2.33

2

1.67

Pass: Work of a satisfactory standard.

D Referred Pass 1 Reserved for referred passes only.

F Failure to meet the minimum

pass criteria

0 Eligible for referral (unless score is less than

20%.

4.2 Grading Criteria (adapted from UH Regulations)

A Grades Work of an excellent standard. An ‘A’ grade will count towards a Distinction on the program as a

whole. An A+ indicates work upon which it would be difficult to improve within the constraints of

the course.

A Grade work:

Will frequently be characterised by a degree of originality.

Should demonstrate a thorough understanding of key concepts within the subject.

Will, where appropriate, be characterised by the application of theoretical concepts to

empirical issues with appropriate reflection.

Requires that all of the elements of the question set will have been addressed.

Will usually show evidence of reading beyond that specified by the instructor, reflecting a

broad literature review.

Will show an ability to approach reading with a critical understanding.

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Will show evidence, where required, of an ability to evaluate contrasting viewpoints and

draw conclusions.

Will demonstrate a degree of independence of thought, rather than relying simply on the ideas

of others, perhaps as contained in the prescribed reading for the module.

Will demonstrate an ability to analyse and synthesise information.

Will always be written in a clear and concise manner, will be well constructed and the

argument of the work will flow smoothly.

Will include an appropriate range of references using the recognised protocol.

Will normally be presented to a high standard.

B Grades Work of a very good standard.

B Grade work:

Will demonstrate an ability to integrate theoretical concepts with business or management

practice, where appropriate.

Will address the key elements of the question set.

Will provide evidence of a good grasp of prescribed literature.

Will show evidence, where required, of an ability to evaluate contrasting viewpoints and

draw conclusions.

Will demonstrate evidence of independent thought.

Will generally be written in a clear and concise manner with a good structure and a logically

developed argument.

Will normally be well-presented.

Will include references using the recognised protocol for academic work.

C Grades Work of a satisfactory standard.

C Grade work:

Will demonstrate attempts to integrate theory and practice, demonstrating some

understanding of both.

Will demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of prescribed literature.

Should demonstrate an awareness of the existence of alternative viewpoints, where these exist

or where required by the question.

May incorporate evidence of independent thought.

Will be generally coherent, though some weaknesses in structure or clarity may be evident.

Will be presented to a satisfactory standard.

Will include an indication of literature consulted, using the prescribed referencing protocol.

D Grade The Grade of D will only be used when a student has been required to rewrite a course evaluation

item and has successfully passed this referral.

F Grades Work of insufficient quality to achieve a Pass standard. It may be eligible for referral.

F Grade work may suffer from some or all of the following defects:

Fails to address the question set.

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No attempt to integrate theory and practice.

Little or no understanding of relevant theory and/or business and management practice.

Little or no reference to appropriate literature.

Little or no evidence of independent thought.

Little or no evidence that the candidate has grasped key ideas.

Is incoherent or has severe faults in its construction.

Fails to cite works consulted.

Makes unsubstantiated statements or assertions.

Is unduly descriptive and/or lacks analysis.

Is badly presented.

Is late without having gained permission through the Business School procedures.

Is unduly derivative of (while acknowledging) the work of others, for example, quoting or

copying large tracts from published works.

4.3 Scholarships

4.3.1 Entrance Scholarships

There are a number of scholarships awarded each year to incoming students who are deemed by the

Admissions Committee to be excellent candidates. These scholarships are generally rewarded with a

credit towards tuition of $1,500 for international students and $1,000 for domestic students.

4.3.2 Top Student Awards

For the MBA Foundation and Semesters A and B and upon program completion there are two

scholarships awarded. One award for $500 is for the student with the top GPA for the term. The

second award is for $300 and is given to the top domestic student if an international student won the

$500 award and to an international student if a domestic student won the $500 award.

4.3.3 Student Citizenship Award

Upon graduation one student will be awarded a $500 prize for citizenship. This award will be based

on the value added to the program and to fellow students’ learning and enjoyment in the program by

the voluntary actions of this student. The winning student will be selected by the Program Director.

5. Examinations

MBA coursework is assessed either through coursework, tests, or formal examinations. The course

assessment strategy is in the course outline given out in the first class and instructors will advise

students of the dates of any tests. Final exam schedules will be posted on the Vancouver Island

University website, except for seven week semesters when the exams are scheduled by the instructor.

All tests and exams must be written at the scheduled time. If a student is seriously ill and cannot

take an exam at the scheduled time, he/she must inform the instructor prior to the exam and bring

medical documentation to the MBA office within 5 days of the missed exam. Students will have to

contact the instructor to determine if and when the examination may be taken again.

Although all coursework will be returned to the students, examinations may be reviewed but will not

be returned to the students. All examination booklets will be kept on file for a period of one year

before being destroyed.

The four franchise courses from UH (MBA 521, 522, 540, 541) will follow University of

Hertfordshire rules as outlined in Appendix E.

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6. Academic Integrity and Misconduct

Student Academic Code of Conduct (policy 99.01)

Statement

Integrity in academic work is a central element of learning and is the basis of intellectual pursuits in

an academic community. The purpose of this policy is to outline:

standards of academic integrity,

responsibilities of students, and

violations of academic integrity.

Standards of Academic Integrity

Students are expected to meet the standards of academic integrity as indicated in this policy.

Standards of academic integrity include, but are not limited to:

independently producing work submitted under one’s own name;

properly and appropriately referencing all work;

identifying all collaborators in work;

completing examinations without giving or receiving assistance, excepting those students

requiring assistance due to a documented disability;

respecting the integrity of examination materials and/or the examination process; and

respecting the integrity of computer security systems, software copyrights and file privacy of

others.

Academic Misconduct

Violations of academic integrity, including dishonesty in assignments, examinations, or other

academic performances, are prohibited and will be handled in accordance with the Student Academic

Code of Conduct Procedures.

Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following acts:

Cheating Cheating is an act of deception by which students misrepresent that they or others have

mastered information for an academic exercise.

Fabrication Fabrication is the intentional use of false information or the falsification of research or other

findings with the intent to deceive.

Plagiarism Plagiarism is the intentional unacknowledged use of someone else’s words, ideas, or data.

When a student submits work for credit that includes the words, ideas or data of others, the

source of that information must be acknowledged through complete, accurate, and specific

references, in a style appropriate to the area of study, and, if verbatim statements are

included, through quotation marks or block format as well. By placing their names on work

submitted for credit, students certify the originality of all work not otherwise identified by

appropriate acknowledgments.

Facilitation of Academic Misconduct Helping or attempting to help another to commit act(s) of academic misconduct as outlined

above.

Non-attendance Non-attendance, where attendance is deemed to be mandatory, is not acceptable. Absences

due to personal illness, family illness, death of an immediate family member, religious

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ceremonies, or sports events in which the student represents Vancouver Island University are

allowed and must be approved by the appropriate instructor or coordinator. Non-attendance

must be for valid reasons and not falsified. Some departments have specific attendance

requirements, and details may be obtained from the instructor, department chair, or program

coordinator.

Disciplinary Action

Every reasonable effort should be made to deal with student conduct concerns at the instructional

and departmental level. Formal discipline is designed for serious intentional academic

misconduct.

Acts of academic misconduct may make a student subject to a range of disciplinary action,

including failure for a course assignment or a course, or possible suspension by the President.

No student shall be allowed to withdraw from a course, or the University, to avoid receiving a

failing grade based upon academic misconduct. A withdrawal under such circumstances shall

result in an “F” grade being recorded on the student’s transcript for the course(s) in question.

6.1 Plagiarism and Collusion (further information based on UH Regulations)

There are two kinds of cheating: plagiarism and collusion. Both are serious offences and can

ultimately lead to expulsion from the university.

6.1.1 Plagiarism

Plagiarism is representing another person’s work as being your own, or the use of another person’s

work without acknowledgement by:

importing into your work phrases from another person’s work without using quotation marks

and identifying the source;

making a copy of all or part of another person’s work and presenting it as your own by failing

to disclose the source;

making extensive use of another person’s work, either by summarizing or paraphrasing the

work merely by changing a few words or altering the order in which the material is presented,

without acknowledgement of the source; and/or

the use of ideas of another person without acknowledgement of the source, or the presentation

of work as your own, which substantially comprises the ideas of another person.

Plagiarism as described above is no more acceptable in the context of an open book examination than

it is in relation to an assignment completed in your own time.

Students should note that increasingly sophisticated software is now being made available to

universities for the detection of plagiarism.

Another person’s work includes any written work (including lecture handouts), original ideas,

research, strategies, arts, graphics, computer programmes, music or other creative expression.

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Plagiarism will amount to an assessment offence when:

the extent of the plagiarism is such that, in the view of the academic staff responsible for the

assessment, any of the work presented is not the student’s own work. The Faculty of

Management Academic Integrity Committee will make a judgement and decide on the

penalty.

If you want to use another person’s words, you should:

put the words in quotation marks and quote their source.

If you want to use another person’s ideas, you should:

quote the source; the term ‘source’ includes published work such as a book, journal or

newspaper and includes information obtained from instructors’ notes, websites, photos, plays

and any visual arts such as paintings and drawings.

Correct use and acknowledgement of all sources will prevent the assessment offence of plagiarism

from occurring. (Refer to Quote, Unquote for proper methods of citing sources). You should,

however, be aware that even where materials are acknowledged, or put in quotation marks where

appropriate, extensive copying is unacceptable and will result in a poor grade. Only by using your

own words can you demonstrate your understanding.

6.1.2 Collusion

Collusion is working together to produce assessed work in circumstances where this is forbidden. The

University of Hertfordshire’s Regulations define collusion as ‘the representation of work that has

been undertaken jointly with another person(s) as being work undertaken independently of that other

person(s).’

6.1.3 Assessments to be Undertaken Individually

It is an important part of the learning process for students to discuss with one another the academic

issues arising out of their studies, including assessed work. Care, however, needs to be taken when

working on assessed coursework. Clearly, under examination conditions, any form of conferring

between students will amount to cheating. Outside examination conditions when work is being

undertaken in your own time, it is normally acceptable to discuss, in general terms, the issues raised

by a particular piece of coursework. However, structuring, sharing notes or actually writing up an

answer using the same words as another student(s), will amount to collusion.

It is obviously very unwise to make assessed work that you have produced on your own available to

other students for any reason. It may be difficult, if not impossible, for you to establish that your own

work was the original source and that it has been copied.

6.1.4 Assessments Where Group Work is Involved

You may of course be asked to work together to produce work that is ultimately assessed. In this

event you need to check carefully with your instructions to ascertain whether you are being required

to produce individual or group reports at the end of your group work. In either case, you should

state clearly at the end of each piece of coursework submitted for assessment, the name(s) of

any other student with whom you have worked.

Where there has been an assessment offence involving collusion and/or plagiarism, the normal

minimum penalty for a first offence is a ruling that the result of the assessment is null and void. This

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means that you will be awarded a mark of zero for the assessment and this may result in your failing

the course.

If plagiarism is found in a group report and can be attributed to individual students, only those

students are penalized. If the plagiarism cannot be attributed to “individuals”, the entire group will be

penalized. It is strongly advised that one group member read the entire report to ensure that no

plagiarism is present.

6.2 Procedures for Dealing with Plagiarism and Collusion

Where the instructor suspects that the assessment offence of plagiarism and/or collusion has occurred,

the evidence will be provided to the Faculty of Management Academic Integrity Committee. The

Committee will review the facts as presented by the instructor and normally will meet with the

student(s). The committee will determine whether the case has been proven and what penalty to

apply. When the committee finds that a student has committed academic misconduct, and

assesses an ‘F’ for the course, a referral will not be allowed and the student will be expected to

re-enrol in the course.

One final word

By signing that you agree to abide by the University Regulations at registration, you have

acknowledged your understanding of the regulations relating to plagiarism and collusion set out

above.

7. Progression and Probation

This section will cover progression from one stage of the program to the next and probationary status

for students who have poor program results. It will also cover the procedure regarding failure in a

course.

7.1 Failure in a course (referrals)

If a student receives an F grade in a course, they will generally be given a referral opportunity with

some exceptions noted below. A referral is an opportunity to retake those elements of the course

evaluation previously failed. If the student passes the evaluation element(s) on the second (referral)

attempt they will be awarded a ‘D’ grade. This is a grade used solely to designate a pass on a second

attempt (referral). A referral letter/email will be sent to all students who have failed a course within

30 days of the start of the subsequent term setting out which evaluation(s) the student must retake for

referral purposes. Students must register for the referral opportunity by completing the Referral

Registration from at the MBA Office and must pay the applicable referral fee at Student Services

(Cashier – B200). Once the student is registered and has paid, a second email will be sent which will

set out which evaluation(s) the student must retake for referral purposes and will provide a due date

for projects, essays and similar items, an examination date for exams and a presentation date for

presentations.

If a student fails to register for the referral within 30 days of the date of the original referral letter or

hand in the essay or project by the due date or fails to show for the examination or presentation

without arranging for a deferral with the Director, they will be deemed to have waived the referral

opportunity. If the student needs a deferral of the referral opportunity, they may apply for one under

the circumstances set out in Assessment Regulations.

If a student’s final grade in a course is less than twenty percent, they are not eligible for a referral and

will have to retake the course. If a student waives the referral or fails one or more of the referral

evaluations for a course, the final grade for the course will be ‘F”. The student will then be offered

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the opportunity to retake the course when it is next available or, if a willing faculty member is

available, to take the course by directed studies.

For all courses except the four University of Hertfordshire franchise courses and your elective course,

this third attempt will be the final attempt allowed. In other words, if you fail a course that you are

taking for the second time, you will not be offered a referral opportunity and you will not be able to

graduate with an MBA or MScIB degree.

For the four University of Hertfordshire courses you will be offered a referral opportunity if you fail

the course on the second attempt. For elective courses, you may choose to retake the same elective

course or a different elective course to complete the elective requirement. You will be offered a

referral opportunity on this second elective attempt if you fail the course.

7.2 Probation and Suspension from the Program

At the end of any term (including the Foundation) in which a student has a GPA below 2.0 (a ‘C’

average), that student will be placed on probation status. Students on probation who achieve a GPA

of 2.0 or better in the subsequent term will be placed back on regular status. Students who do not

attain a GPA of 2.0 or better in the subsequent term will be suspended from the program. Students

who fail three courses in the Foundation program will also be suspended. A student who is suspended

may, after one term and the successful completion of all outstanding referrals, apply for re-admittance

to the program. Re-admittance will not be automatic, but will be dependent on space being available

and the Director’s determination that the student has a good chance to successfully complete the

program.

7.3 Continuation to Internship/Project

After Term C and prior to the commencement of the Internship/Project term, any student who has

three or more courses with an “F” standing will not be allowed to commence their internship and

applied business project. A student in this situation will have to successfully complete referrals or

successfully retake the courses in question, so that they have no outstanding F grades on their record

before they can commence the internship/project. When the student is ready to commence the

deferred internship/project timelines and due dates will be set by the Director in consultation with the

project supervisor and the Internship office.

8. Graduation and Awards

8.1 Determination of Awards (Vancouver Island University MBA)

Students must have completed all program requirements successfully (including the MBA Foundation

program if they were required to take it) in order to graduate. A cumulative Grade Point Average

(CGPA) will be calculated for each student by aggregating the individual grade value for each course,

weighted by the number of credits for each course. The CGPA is calculated by dividing the total

aggregated GPA by the number of credits in the program.

8.1.1 Distinction

The notation “With Distinction” shall be used on the degree parchment, the convocation

program, and transcript for those students whose graduating averages are equal to or higher than

the minimum distinction GPA calculated as: the 90

th percentile of the pooled graduating GPA from all the graduates in the same degree

program since September 2010 or the previous five years, whichever is most recent

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8.1.2 Dean’s Honour List

Students with outstanding scholastic records are given special recognition when their names are

added to the Deans’ Honour List. The Deans’ list is produced at the end of the spring semester. To

qualify, a student requires a GPA of 3.67 ("A-") or higher, and a minimum of 12 credits accumulated

over the previous summer, fall and spring semesters.

9. Transcripts

Official transcripts are produced by the Registrar’s office. Students can obtain unofficial transcripts

within four (4) weeks of the last day of class by going to the following website:

http://www.viu.ca/registration/transcripts/. You will need your nine-digit student card number and

your birth date (in YYYY/MM/DD format) in order to access your student record.

10. The Marking Process

Step 1 – Students

Students are to hand in their assignment in the format requested in their course outline and by the

deadline set out. Students should have completed and, attached to it, an Assignment Assessment

Form (with the shaded area completed). (The Assignment Assessment Forms are available through

your instructors or at the MBA Office.)

Step 2 – Course Instructor (Marker)

The course instructor is responsible for collecting the assignments or getting the assignments from the

MBA office (if they requested hand in at the drop box) and insuring that they are marked, including

both first and second marking. (First and second marking should normally be completed within 17

days from the due date of the assignment).

Marking includes: (1) writing detailed comments/marks on the actual assignment so that the student

understands the rationale for the grade; (2) writing summary comments on the Assignment

Assessment Form; and (3) entering the grade for the assignment and the date in the appropriate box at

the bottom of the Assignment Assessment form.

Upon completion of these steps by the course instructor, a sample of marked assignments and

answers is given to a second instructor for moderation. The sample size is to include one paper from

each of A, B and C letter grades and all F papers), where there is at least one paper in each letter

grade category, and should include no fewer than 10 papers.

Step 4 – Second Marker

The task of the second marker is to read the sample of assignments with the objective of confirming,

or not, the grade assigned by the course instructor and to return the sample to the course instructor.

Step 5 – Course Instructor

Your course instructor will return your assignments to you in class.

Step 6 – Course Grade

Your instructor will submit your final course grade for entry into your student record. Some courses

require that you complete all evaluation assignments successfully. For those courses, failure of any

one element will result in a failing grade. Whether grades are rounded is up to each faculty member

22

and if they do round the method used is up to each faculty member. The software that we use does

not round grades automatically.

It should be noted that for purposes of the University of Hertfordshire MScIB any course grades are

not final until the course marks have been moderated in the UK and accepted by the University of

Hertfordshire module board (see below).

10.1 Publication of Grades and Degree

Within thirty (30) days of the last day of class, course instructors will normally provide final grades

for all non-franchise courses and provisional grades for the franchise courses.

Final grades for the franchise courses will be provided within six (6) to eight (8) weeks of the meeting

of the Module Board of Examiners. The Module Board of Examiners from the University of

Hertfordshire will meet two or three times a year, normally via video-conference.

MBA Degrees are awarded at convocation, normally held in late January or early June for all MBA

students.

The MScIB Degree will be awarded following the meeting of the Program Board which meets once

all of the grades for the program have been finalized.

11. Academic Appeals

The policies and procedures related to academic appeals are set out in the Vancouver Island

University’s Policies and Procedures website at www.mala.ca/policies/. The appeal procedures for the

University of Hertfordshire are available at www.herts.ac.uk/secreg/upr/. A further appeal of UH

decisions is possible through the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (UK) at

www.oiahe.org.uk.

12. Assessment Regulations

This section contains elements extracted from the MBA/MScIB Dual Degree Administrative

and Operational Policies, from Vancouver Island University Policies and Procedures and from

the University of Hertfordshire Policies and Regulations (UPR 11.1)

(University of Hertfordshire Policies and Regulations can be accessed on-line at:

www.herts.ac.uk/secreg/upr)

Deferral: An instructor may decide that a student who has valid reasons for requesting a deferral of

one or more assessments may be permitted to undertake deferred assessment at a later date. In this

case the grade recorded for the student is not constrained in terms of the grade which may be

awarded. A deferral will only be granted for valid medical reasons or if there is a death in the

immediate family. For medical reasons a physician’s letter explaining the impact of the illness on the

student’s ability to perform academically must be provided. In the event of the death of an

immediate family member you will be required to provide proof of the death.

Immediate family is defined as a student’s parent, wife, husband, common-law spouse, child, brother,

sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandparents, grandchild, and any relative who has been residing

in the same household, or any other relative for whom a student is required to administer bereavement

responsibilities.

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Referral: Defined as a reassessment opportunity for students who have been unsuccessful at their

first attempt. Students are not required to re-enrol for the course. The grade that will be assigned for a

referred ‘pass’ is D. Students can elect to re-enrol in the course directly without attempting the

referral.

Re-enrolment: Students are given the opportunity to repeat a course or courses, which they have

previously failed at first and usually, second attempt. Normally, students can re-enrol only to repeat a

course they have failed. Students achieving a passing grade as their first attempt may not repeat a

course to improve the grade, nor may they be required to repeat the subject to qualify for an award.

Repeated courses are not constrained in terms of the grade which may be awarded.

It is important to note, however, that students who repeat a course will not be offered further

referral opportunities unless it is a UH course. Students who repeat a course must pass the

course on that second enrolment opportunity. (The University of Hertfordshire’s policy in this

regard differs slightly from Vancouver Island University’s. Please refer to UH Policies and

Regulations, as noted above.)

Students are expected to attend the University for referred/deferred examinations if granted, at the

appointed date(s) and time(s) and to hand in any required course work by the deadline(s) given.

Failure to do so will result in a failing grade.

13. Internship and Applied Project

The internship is designed to enable students to gain supervised practical experience through a

placement in a professional business setting. Students who are not in the Finance or Marketing option

will be assigned responsibilities to complete in conjunction with the requirements for the Applied

Business Project (MBA 581). The Internship will be organized through consultations with the

student, the organization and the MBA Internship Office/Campus Career Centre.

The applied business project is a substantial piece of research-based work which will provide students

with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills through the investigation and analysis of a

complex business problem, management issue or situation that will form the basis of their internship.

The aim of this project is to enable students to link the business knowledge gained throughout their

study in the program to relevant issues in the general business environment. Each student will be

guided through the design, implementation and evaluation of the applied business project by the

supervision of a faculty member. Students completing the Finance or Marketing option will take two

additional courses instead of completing the Applied Project.

Internship Structure

The Internship has three elements:

1. MBA Internship Preparation I and II (MBA 578, 579: 1 credit each)

2. Internship Work Term/Experiential Learning component (MBA 580 or 582: 7 credits)

MBA Internship Preparation Courses (MBA 578, 579) The critical workplace skills required by the typical MBA employer include academic,

communication, and personal management and teamwork skills. These skills will be developed by

students during MBA 500 - The Effective Manager and through the Internship Preparation courses.

The Internship Preparation Courses (covering 24 hours over the first two semesters) are intended to

introduce students to the knowledge, skills, attitudes, real world strategies and tools required for

seeking and succeeding in the world of work for future employment and career success. Attendance at

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these workshops is mandatory and non-attendance or lack of participation may result in a student

losing their right to apply for an internship. These courses are graded on a pass/fail basis.

25

Classes will cover:

Career self-assessment and development

Networking techniques

Resumes and cover letters

Portfolio development

Interview skills

Labour market profiles

Business and personal management skills

In addition to the twelve hours of class time per semester, students will be required to participate in

other activities that support the development of employability skills.

Internship Work Term/Experiential Learning Component (MBA 580 or 582)

A typical Internship Work Term will occupy sixteen weeks in the final semester of the program, and

will provide students with:

the opportunity to utilize concepts, skills and theories learned in the classroom.

exposure to individual sectors of the business field and an understanding of the day to

day work of an organization

the opportunity to acquire an understanding of how the overall goals of the organization

are operationalized through policies, procedures, and the development and deployment of

resources.

an opportunity to assess their abilities and interests within a business environment.

practical experience in an employment situation.

an experiential learning component to enhance their career development and job-search

and employability skills.

an organizational environment within which they can conduct the work necessary to

complete the Applied Business Project by analyzing and evaluating a business problem or

issue

the opportunity to assist and make recommendations to businesses based on research

findings

Applied Project Learning Outcomes:

Provide students with a knowledge and understanding of:

how to investigate a specific organizational or business situation and communicate the

outcomes of such investigations in a rigorous manner through the application of

appropriate research strategies and design;

relevant theoretical perspectives that support the analysis, exploration and explanation of

the situation of focus;

the strategic context of the situation of focus whether internal and/or external.

Successful students will have the ability to (skills and attributes):

plan, implement and evaluate an applied business project that meets established

deadlines;

develop and present a well-supported argument as a result of applying an acceptable

research process;

present their investigation and results in the appropriate format.

The VIU MBA internship model is somewhat different from the traditional one, where the experience

with the employer is almost exclusively focused on the completion of everyday tasks associated with

26

a particular employee position (e.g. working as an analyst in a marketing department for three

months) An internship in our model may include some aspects of “working in a marketing

department” (to use the above example), but an essential focus would be a specific project within that

employment context that would form the basis for the completion of an Applied Business Project

report. This report is itself worth 6 credits over and above the credits for the internship, and would be

between 12,000 - 15,000 words in length. The internship will provide the student with valuable

hands-on work experience, help the development of job skills and networks, and build personal

confidence and professionalism.

Pass/Fail criteria re MBA 578, 579, 580, 582

Completion of agreed work/projects;

Student attendance and participation in the Internship Preparation Workshops;

Meeting of minimal work place standards – punctuality, communication skills,

attendance, and time management;

Achievement of learning objectives established at the outset of the internship;

Student internship journal;

Student report on personal learning and achievement of learning outcomes;

Employer report on internship deliverables.

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Appendix A

MBA Course Descriptions

Management Foundation Program

PMBA 501 Management and Strategy This course is concerned with the nature of management, the external and internal corporate

environments, and the development of strategies through which organizations engage their

environment. The role of the global manager and the integrated nature of managing is examined

based on the functions of management: Planning, Organizing, Leading and Controlling. The course

further examines the dynamics of environmental and firm-specific factors necessary for the

development of complex, future-directed strategic decisions. The environment, industry, firm, and its

competitors are assessed using a number of frameworks and analytic techniques. Competitive and

cooperative strategic options and their implications are considered at both the corporate and business

levels. Updated cases and websites are used extensively as the basis for analysis and discussion.

Students will be expected to apply the framework of ideas provided by the course to their knowledge

of particular industry sectors and organizations.

PMBA 502 Foundations of Marketing A broad theoretical and practical introduction to Marketing and the application of theory and effective

practice to building and maintaining successful relationships with customers and suppliers. Topics

include the marketing function, the marketing mix, buyer behaviour, market research, marketing

strategy and customer management.

PMBA 503 Foundations of Economics A broad theoretical introduction to economics and how economic agents make decisions. Topics

include consumers, producers, managers, and all levels of governments and span core concepts in

both microeconomics and macroeconomics.

PMBA 504 Basics of Accounting and Quantitative Methods An introduction to the use of accounting information and statistical techniques in business decision-

making. Topics include the basic tools needed to understand and use accounting information and an

overview of statistical techniques used in business decision-making.

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MBA/MScIB Program (54 credits)

First Semester (Start Date 1:September-December, Start Date 2:January-April) [16 credits]

MBA 500-The Effective Manager (3 credits)

MBA 502-Establishing the Global Context (3 credits)

MBA 503-Management Decision-Making: Financial Analysis (3 credits)

MBA 504-Management Decision-Making: Managerial Economics (3 credits)

MBA 523-International Marketing (3 credits)

MBA 578 Internship Preparation I (1 credit)

Second Semester (Start Date 1:January-April, Start Date 2: Summer) [16 credits]

MBA 501-Managing the Networked Enterprise (3 credits)

MBA 505-Management Decision-Making: Operations and Decision Analysis (3 credits)

MBA 506-Research Methods and Consulting Skills (3 credits)

MBA 521-Financial Performance Measurement (3 credits) (UH)

MBA 522-International Business Strategy (3 credits) (UH)

MBA 579 Internship Preparation II (1 credit)

Third Semester (Start Date 1:May-June, Start Date 2:September-October) [9 credits]

MBA 540-International Human Resource Management (3 credits) (UH)

MBA 541-Corporate Social Responsibility (3 credits) (UH)

One of the following electives: (3 credits)

(note: normally three or four elective choices from this list will be offered to each cohort)

MBA 520-Applied Human Resource Management

MBA 532-Marketing Communications Strategy

MBA 560-Small Business Management

MBA 561-Business Strategies for Sustainable Development

MBA 562-Tourism Management

MBA 563-Marketing Technology

MBA 564-Business Forecasting

MBA 565-Special Topics in Management (various topical courses may be offered)

MBA 566- Strategic Marketing Management

MBA 567- Real Estate Investment

INTEGRATIVE PROGRAM

Fourth Semester (Start Date 1:July-October, Start Date 2: November-February) [13 credits]

MBA 580-Internship (7 credits)

MBA 581-Applied Business Project (6 credits)

FINANCE/MARKETING OPTIONS

Students in these options will take one related course as their elective in the third semester and will

take two more related courses in a fourth seven week semester instead of doing the applied project.

They will take MBA 582 Option-Focussed Internship running September to December or January to

April.

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MBA 500-The Effective Manager (3 credits) Using an applied learning approach, this course aims to provide students with the opportunity to

improve their management practice through an increased understanding of the skills required to

undertake managerial work in organizations. The course explores the changing context of

management in today’s organizations and examines the impact of organizational structures and

systems on human behaviour at individual, group and organizational levels. The course also focuses

on the strategic role of managers in the application of varied organizational business models to

maintain competitiveness in today’s global economy.

MBA 501-Managing the Networked Enterprise (3 credits)

This course addresses the ways in which managers use modern business information systems and

networks to enhance the management process and promote business outcomes. Building on core

concepts of the role and function of information systems in the organization, the course will focus on

the key areas of management decision making related to investment in and strategic management of

information technology resources. The impact of digital network and communications technology on

modern business activities and strategies will be a core theme of the course.

MBA 502-Establishing the Global Context (3 credits)

The course integrates the perspectives of markets, cultures, economies, governmental structures and

forms of business organization in the present context of globalization. In its coverage of markets and

cultures, the course will build on fundamental knowledge and practice of marketing to give students

the ability to apply marketing theories and frameworks in the identification of problems and

generation of options to solve problems in a global context. In its coverage of economies,

governmental structures and forms of business organization, the course aims to develop a critical

awareness of competing theories that seek to explain these forces and factors of globalization,

competitive advantage, differentiation and integration.

MBA 503-Managerial Decision-Making: Financial Analysis (3 credits)

Managers for any organization from small to large, local to international require an understanding of

financial and operational accounting techniques in order to make effective decisions. This course will

examine financial reporting issues and operational accounting practices in the context of problem

solving and decision-making in organizations.

MBA 504-Managerial Decision-Making: Managerial Economics (3 credits)

This course blends microeconomics and statistical tools such as forecasting in order to answer

questions relevant to managers in their decision-making process with regards to an organization’s

scarce resources. Topics to be covered involve demand, production, and cost estimation using

regression analysis, and forecasting. Emphasis is on learning-by-doing where data from the business

sector and computer software are used to generate forecasts for managerial decision purposes.

MBA 505- Management Decision Making: Operations and Decision Analysis (3 credits)

This course builds analytic skills used in business by exposing students to a range of quantitative and

financial problem-solving and decision-making tools and techniques for use by the non-specialist

manager. Its context will be the intra- and extra-organizational processes related to the systems that

provide services and/or produce goods within the enterprise, and their contribution to business

effectiveness.

30

MBA 506-Research Methods and Consulting Skills (3 credits)

This course is designed to provide students with the necessary research and consulting skills to

complete the Internship and the Applied Business Project requirements for the program. The first

part of the course focuses on developing students’ ability to recognize the need for research,

understand where and how to gather data and convert it into reliable information for business

decision-making. The course will have a practical orientation with an emphasis on various issues

students would face in the workplace. The second part of the course focuses on developing students’

ability to apply consulting skills and processes in a variety of situations from working with internal

clients, to cross-functional teams to external clients and vendors. This part of the course will prepare

students for their internship by developing skills such as those required to make presentations,

interview clients, write reports and work in groups.

MBA 520-Applied Human Resource Management (3 credits-elective)

This course is designed to reflect the active leadership role required of Human Resource practitioners.

The course positions the function within a strategic context that requires informed assessment of

operational priorities with which human resource practices are aligned. A focus of the course is on the

assessment of organizational practice and approaches to intervention to sustain and or to initiate and

implement change. At the graduate level, the course is intended to develop the perspective and role

required and expected of a senior Human Resource professional.

MBA 521-Financial Performance Measurement (3 credits) [UH Course]

The aims of this course are to enable students to examine the contribution that financial theory and

practice plays in the financing, internal financial control and the enhancement of value within

organizations from the viewpoint of non-financial managers. It will focus on the ways in which the

organization is funded, the internal financial control of the organization and the ways in which

economic value is both measured and enhanced.

MBA 522-International Business Strategy (3 credits) [UH Course]

The aims of this course are to enable students to examine transnational organizations and explore

their motives for and methods of developing business internationally. The course will also

examine the complexities of the international business environment in addition to evaluating the

strategic issues surrounding transnational business expansion and operation.

MBA 523-International Marketing (3 credits)

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the broad differences between

domestic and international marketing. It looks at the international perspectives of the elements of the

marketing mix and the external environments including economic, cultural, political, legal and other

influences that affect international marketing decisions. Entry strategies are considered as are the

organizational choices involved in cross-border marketing. This course will enable students to explore

the nature of marketing management decisions in an international context.

MBA 532-Marketing Communications Strategy (3 credits-elective)

The aims of this course are to enable students to understand the various aspects of marketing

communications from initial analysis of the market through to the development of strategies

incorporating an expanding range of promotional techniques. The subjects covered are

communications theory, account planning, management of the marketing communications mix,

promotional planning, implementation and evaluation.

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MBA 540-International Human Resource Management (3 credits) [UH Course]

The aims of this course are to enable students to critically explore the management of people from an

international perspective, analyzing the complex HRM and employment relations policies, strategies

and practices that organizations pursue in the context of globalization.

MBA 541-Corporate Social Responsibility (3 credits) [UH Course]

The aims of this course are to enable students to become familiar with the issues facing corporate

decision makers while identifying the wide-ranging responsibilities these executives bear towards

stakeholders inside and outside the organization. The course will also focus on understanding the

relationship between board responsibilities, corporate social responsibility and governance structures

in addition to examining recent issues on corporate governance and social responsibility.

MBA 560-Small Business Management (3 credits-elective)

This course aims to provide students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the context and

range of management issues found in small businesses. It explores the importance of the small

business sector in Canada in addition to the wider international economy. The course also introduces

a range of techniques and knowledge relevant to the effective management of a small business.

MBA 561-Business Strategies for Sustainable Development (3 credits-elective)

This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to champion

sustainable development at the organizational level. Students will be introduced to the three pillars of

sustainability including economic, environmental and social perspectives. The rationale for

integrating sustainable practices is provided by analyzing the benefits and costs to businesses.

Stakeholders involved in sustainable development are covered with particular emphasis on the roles

and responsibilities of businesses.

MBA 562-Tourism Management (3 credits-elective)

The course seeks to enable students to understand the nature and structure of the tourism system and

to appreciate the impact of past and present developments in tourism planning and development.

Successful students should be able analyze the problems inherent in developing and managing

tourism.

MBA 563-Marketing Technology (3 credits-elective)

This course is built on the premise that the technologies that comprise the Internet are impacting

traditional marketing and business relationships in fundamental ways. Beginning with a survey of the

range of tools and solutions available, it will critically examine the ways in which marketers can

leverage new technology to achieve functional efficiencies and to devise powerful marketing

strategies.

MBA 564-Business Forecasting (3 credits-elective)

This course seeks to enable students to demonstrate the use of IT methods to investigate

cyclical influences and their inter-relationships in the world economy, and their effects on

international business. The course provides students with an understanding of the application

of a wide range of forecasting/planning procedures and models in order to integrate the

contributions of economics, quantitative methods and decision sciences in this area.

MBA 565-Special Topics in Management (3 credits-elective) The aim of this course is to provide a forum for the study of important contemporary concepts, trends

and challenges in the field of management. Selected topics may be drawn from a variety of

disciplines, but will represent management problems that have strategic significance or current

importance for organizations.

32

MBA 566 Strategic Marketing Management (3 credits-elective)

Investigates marketing from a managerial perspective, including critical analysis of the functions of

marketing opportunity assessment, marketing planning and programming, marketing leadership and

organization, and evaluating and adjusting the marketing effort.

MBA 567 Real Estate Investment (3 credits-elective)

Broad topics, aiming to stimulate student's interest in real estate investment and management, are

covered. These topics include real estate economics, property and contract laws, government land use

control and tools, ownership and property rights, investment risk factors and analysis, property

taxation, appraisal approaches, brokerage, and mortgaging. MBA 567 was formerly called MBA

565B; credit will not be granted for both courses. (3:0:0)

MBA 570 Global Financial Institutions Management (3 credits-elective)

This course studies risk management approaches in global financial institutions. Regulatory mandates

requiring specific monitoring, reporting and reserve actions will be examined from leading national

examples and emerging global agencies. Methods for monitoring and managing particular types of

risks within particular institutional settings will also be studied. (6:0:0 for 7 weeks).

MBA 571 Mutual Funds Industry in Canada (3 credits-elective)

A study of the principles of securities markets and portfolio management in general and mutual funds

in particular. Topics covered will include preparing for and taking the licensing exam for the

Canadian Investment Funds Course. (6:0:0 for 7 weeks)

MBA 572 Global Investment Management (3 credits-elective)

An examination of the management of financial asset investments globally, from initial public

offerings to the international cross-listing and global issuance. Topics include methods of valuation,

portfolio construction, and risk management will be covered. Best practices for diversification and

risk management will also be covered. (6:0:0 for 7 weeks)

MBA 573 Equity Security Analysis (3 credits-elective)

An examination of methods of analysis and valuation of equity securities, including issues of

international accounting standards affecting the comparability of financial ratios, and valuation

models. Topics include a working knowledge of the analysis of equity risk and return relationships

among industries and companies. (6:0:0 for 7 weeks)

MBA 574 Fixed Income Security Analysis (3 credits-elective)

Examines the analysis and valuation of fixed income securities. A detailed study of modeling the term

structure of interest rates, various yield measures, volatility, duration and convexity. Topics include

global best practices of ratings agencies, standards of research objectivity, and research analysts will

be studied. (6:0:0 for 7 weeks)

MBA 575 Derivative Instruments and Markets (3 credits-elective)

A study of the management and valuation of derivative securities. Topics include the major use of

derivatives as a means of risk reduction against uncertainty, hedging strategies. The structure of

derivative exchanges will be explored. (6:0:0 for 7 weeks)

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MBA 576 Multinational Financial Management (3 credits-elective)

An investigation into aspects of corporate finance, international financial markets, financing

(including cost of capital), capital structure, and multinational cash management in a multinational

context. Topics include international risks such as foreign exchange risk, international investment risk

and political risk are covered. (6:0:0 for 7 weeks)

MBA 578 Internship Preparation I (1 credit)

A course designed to prepare MBA students for their internship experience. Topics include self-

examination, transferability of skills, attitudes, competencies and experiences required to succeed and

contribute to the business labour market. Students also develop a resume, covering letter and skills

portfolio. (3:0:0 for 4 weeks)

MBA 579 Internship Preparation II (1 credits)

A course designed to build upon Internship Preparation I. Topics include networking and job search

strategies, informational interviews, interview techniques and business etiquette, which are essential

to succeed in an internship and contribute to the labour market. (3:0:0 for 4 weeks)

MBA 580-Internship (7 credits)

The internship is designed to enable students to gain supervised practical experience through a

placement in a professional business setting. Students will be assigned responsibilities to complete in

conjunction with the requirements for the Applied Business Project (MBA 581). The Internship will

be organized through consultations with the student, the organization and the MBA Program Office

Internship Coordinators. Faculty supervisors will also be consulted throughout the process.

MBA 581-Applied Business Project (6 credits)

The applied business project is a substantial piece of research-based work which will provide students

with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills through the investigation and analysis of a

complex business problem, management issue or situation that will form the basis of their Internship.

The aim of this project is to enable students to link the business knowledge gained throughout their

study in the program to its application to relevant issues in the general business environment. Each

student will be guided through the design, implementation and evaluation of the applied business

project by a supervising faculty member.

MBA 582 Option-Focused Internship (7 credits)

The Internship is designed to enable students to gain supervised practical experience through a

placement in a professional business setting (specifically focused in the area of the Finance and

Marketing Electives Options). Students will be assigned responsibilities to complete in conjunction

with an Internship Experiential Learning Report.

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Appendix B

Faculty and Administrative Staff

Administrative Staff

Name email

TWYNAM, DAVE Dean, Faculty of Management Dave.Twynam@viu.ca

DYKEMAN, BROCK. Director, MBA Program Brock.Dykeman@viu.ca

MCLAUGHLIN, TIFFANY. Program Assistant, MBA

Program Tiffany.Mclaughlin@viu.ca

KELLY, JANE. Director, International Admissions Jane.Kelly@viu.ca

Faculty

Name email

CHUANKARN, PATRICK (PRASIT), B.Sc. (Thailand), MBA

(Kansas), D.BA. (University of Victoria, Australia) patrick.chuankamnerdkarn@viu.ca

DAS, ANUPAM B.Sc. (Chittagong) MBA, Ph.D (AIT) anupam.das@viu.ca

HAIME, COLIN B.A. (Victoria) C.A. colin.haime@viu.ca

HAMMER, KEN B.A. (Alberta), M.A. (Brigham Young), Ph.D

(Minnesota) ken.hammer@viu.ca

HOLYER, GORDON, B.A. (Trent), M.A. (Toronto), C.G.A. gordon.holyer@viu.ca

JACKSON, LAURIE B.Sc., M.Ed. (Alberta) Ph.D. (Victoria) laurie.jackson@viu.ca

JEAN LOUIS, ROSMY, B.Sc. (Haiti), M.Ec. (Mexico), Ph. D

(Manitoba) rosmy.jeanlouis@viu.ca

JENSEN, KEITH B.G.S. (Michigan), M.A., Ph.D. (Simon

Fraser) keith.jensen@viu.ca

KURUCZ, PAUL B.A., M.B.A. (Western) paul.Kurucz@viu.ca

LATULIPPE, JOHAN B.A (Concordia), M.A. (UBC) Ph.D

(Montreal) Johan.latulippe@viu.ca

LANGE, PETER Ind-Kfm., M.A. in Accounting & Financial

Economics (Essex), M.B.A. (Warwick) peter.Lange@viu.ca

LIN, ANDY, B.Sc. (Taiwan), M.B.A. (Cal. State U.), Ph.D. (U.

of Texas) andy.lin@viu.ca

MACCOLL, MICHAEL, B.Sc., M.P.A. (Victoria), Ph.D.

(Toronto) michael.maccoll@viu.ca

MARTENS, MARTIN B.Sc. (Arizona State), MBA (Hawaii),

Ph.D. (British Columbia) martin.martens@viu.ca

MUSTAFA, SAMEER, B.B.A. (Jordan), M. AFIC., D.B.A.

(Cleveland State)

sameer.mustafa@viu.ca

O'SHEA, MICHAEL, B.Sc. (Acadia), B.Comm., M.Sc.

(Manitoba) michael.o'shea@viu.ca

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PAPROSKI, DARREN, B.Comm. (Alberta), MBA (McGill) darren.paproski@viu.ca

PURSE, STEVEN, B.A. (Hons.), (York), M.B.A. (Windsor)

Ph.D (Bradford) steven.purse@viu.ca

RUSSELL, BONITA B.A.(Carleton), M.B.A. (Laurier), M.Ed.

(Toronto), Ph.D. (Simon Fraser) bonita.russell@viu.ca

SACKEY, HARRY B.A. (U Science & Tech, Ghana), M.A.

(Inst of Social Studies, The Hague), Ph.D (Manitoba) Harry.sackey@viu.ca

SCHELL, CHARLES B.A. (Victoria), M.B.A. (Concordia) M.

Phil. (Manchester) Charles.schell@viu.ca

SIMONS, DANIEL, B.A. (Ghana), M.A. (York), Ph.D. (Simon

Fraser) daniel.simons@viu.ca

THEUERKORN, FRANK (FENIX), B.S. (Pepperdine),

M.B.A. (SFU) frank.theuerkorn@viu.ca

THOMAS, BARBARA B.A. (Hons) (Wales), M.I.S (U.B.C.) barbara.thomas@viu.ca

TROOST, WILLIAM B.A. M.A. (USC) Ph.D. (UC Irvine) William.troost@viu.ca

WEAVER, DUANE, B.Comm. (Alberta) M. DistEd.

(Athabasca) Duane.weaver@viu.ca

WILLIS, ROBERT, B.A. (Waterloo), M.B.A. (Alberta), Ph.D

(Calgary) robert.willis@viu.ca

Please consult the online Faculty and Staff Directory at http://www.viu.ca/staffdir.asp for up-to-date

information about office locations and telephone numbers.

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Appendix C

How to access your Student Record and Timetable

Go to Vancouver Island University's home page, http://www.viu.ca and select Current Vancouver

Island University Students. On the left hand side of the next web page, you will see a link to Student

Records/Web Registration. Again on the left side of this page, you will see a section titled Your

Student Record. From here you can, among other things, access your student record, view your

grades, view your timetable, print your T2202A tax forms and apply for graduation.

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Appendix D

Fees and other expenses

Tuition

Management Foundation Program Canadian Students: $2,552.97 (+$135.92 Student Union/Activity fees)

International Students: $4,850.00 (+$228.50 Student Union/Activity fees)

(The full amount of the tuition and the Student Activity fee is due before June 30 or August 31)

MBA/MScIB Canadian Students: $18,870 (+$528.74 Student Union/Activity fees)

(Tuition instalments are due as outlined in your acceptance letter.)

International Students: $31,500 (+$1,174.88 Student Union/Activity fees)

(Tuition instalments are due as outlined in your acceptance letter.)

Refund Policy See International Education Office for the policy pertaining to international students.

Cancelling Registration The University reserves the right to cancel immediately the registration of a student who has paid

tuition with an NSF cheque, invalid credit card, and/or who has failed to pay full fees when due. A

$50 reinstatement fee will be charged in cases where students are permitted to re-register.

Vancouver Island University reserves the right to cancel any courses based on low enrolment or lack

of funding.

Referral The fee for rewriting an exam or essay as a course referral is $250. The fee for rewriting your applied

project as a referral is $500.

Re-enrolment Domestic International

MBA - Per credit $356.43 $546.30

Foundation – Per credit $319.12 $606.25

If you arrive late at the start of the semester, you may not be admitted to the course and will have to

repeat it the next time it is offered and incur the per-credit re-enrolment fee.

Project Extension

In the event that a student is granted a project deferral (no fee) or referral (fee) they will be registered

in MBA 581 or MBA 582, whichever applies, to maintain registration status at Vancouver Island

University. Student Activity Fees for the period of registration will apply.

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Other Expenses

Application Fee (non-refundable): $150

Student Society Activity Fees (Foundation/MBA): $125.46/$376.38

Books (Foundation/MBA, estimated) $500/$2,500 (+ $400 for option sets.)

Housing and Food (based on shared Accommodation): $7,200

Transportation (bus): $540

Medical Insurance (International Students): $550

Extended Medical Dental (Student Union): $278

Laptop Computer** Varies

(Note: some expenses may vary depending on student needs.)

** MBA students are expected to have a laptop computer for use while they are studying at

Vancouver Island University.

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APPENDIX E

University of Hertfordshire rules with respect to the four

franchise courses

1. Grading For the four franchise courses, we will use the Vancouver Island University grading scheme and then

will translate the grade into the equivalent UH grade.

UH Grading scheme

Master of Science in International Business (MScIB)

UH Marks UH

Grades* Description

85 High

Work in the 70+ range demonstrates: an excellent understanding of

specialized/applied knowledge; frequent indications of original thought;

a very high level of ability in analysis and synthesis utilizing applicable

information and data related to the specific discipline/professional

practice; a very high level of skills performance in complex and/or

specialized contexts.

78 Mid

75 Low

68 High Work in this range demonstrates: a very good understanding of

specialized/applied knowledge; some indications of original thought; a

high level of ability in analysis and synthesis utilizing applicable

information and data related to the specific discipline/professional

practice; a high level of skills performance in complex and/or

specialized contexts.

65 Mid

60 Low

58 High Work in this range demonstrates: a good/satisfactory understanding of

specialized/applied knowledge; limited indications of original thought;

good level of ability in analysis and synthesis utilizing applicable

information and data related to the specific discipline/professional

practice; a good level of skills performance in complex and/or

specialized contexts.

55 Mid

50 Low

0 – 49 Fail

Failed work demonstrates: little or very limited understanding of

specialized/applied knowledge; no indications of original thought; a

very low level of ability in analysis and synthesis; an unacceptable level

of skills performance.

* Awarded at the discretion of the University of Hertfordshire Module Board of Examiners.

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Note: The percentage guides reflect the British standard where 80% would be seen as a very high

grade, equivalent to 90% in Canada.

The grading equivalencies at Vancouver Island University will be as follows:

Vancouver Island

University Grade

University of

Hertfordshire Grade

A+ 85 – High

A 78 – Mid

A- 75 – Low

B+ 68 – High

B 65 – Mid

B- 60 – Low

C+ 58 – High

C 55 – Mid

C- 50 – Low

D P (50)

F < 50 - Fail

For the MScIB, Programme Boards can refer students in up to a maximum of 90 credit points in total

in the context of any postgraduate award of which not more than 60 credits can be taught courses.

Note: This means that once a student has been referred in more than 45 credits, the Project must be

passed at the first attempt and cannot be referred.

Where a candidate has been referred in 60 credits for lower awards, no further referral is permitted for

a higher award. Where compensatory credit has been awarded the total of compensatory credit and

referral may not exceed 60 credit points in maximum.

Students who are successful in referred assessments will be awarded an E3.

(Each franchised module, or course, is 15 credits and the project is 30 credits.)

2. Examination Regulations

Examination Policies and Regulations

UH examination rules apply for the four franchise courses. The rules can be found in the

University of Hertfordshire Policies and Regulations (UPR) series, copies of which are

available on-line at http://www.herts.ac.uk/secreg/upr.

3. Examination Boards

The University of Hertfordshire has two different boards that meet to award grades: the Module

Board of Examiners (courses) and the Programme Board of Examiners (completion of program).

Grades of the four franchise courses will have to be confirmed by the Module Board of Examiners at

the University of Hertfordshire. Each student’s record is reviewed by the Programme Board of

Examiners before the MScIB degree can be awarded. If a student has exited part way through the

program they may be eligible for a certificate or a diploma. The awarding of a certificate or diploma

would be determined by the Programme Board.

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Module Boards of Examiners (Subject Boards)

The responsibilities of the Module Boards are as follows:

a) to confirm and report to programme Boards the award of grades for all candidates. In

fulfilling this duty, Module Boards will have regard to making appropriate translations from

percentage marks to grades in the context of overall averages, student performance and

comments of External Examiners;

b) in any case of reported extenuating circumstances or cases of cheating or plagiarism, to report

the grade actually achieved by the candidate (that is, without making any allowance for

extenuating circumstances) and to provide to the Chairperson of the Programme Board details

of the case together with any grade recommendation for consideration by the Programme

Board;

c) to monitor the performance of the various cohorts of students from different schemes

attending a particular course, and to report substantial differences in such performances to the

appropriate Programme Boards and to the appropriate scheme committees for annual

monitoring purposes

Programme Boards of Examiners (Principal Boards)

The responsibilities of Programme Boards are as follows:

a) to receive confirmed grades representing actual achievement as awarded by Module Boards;

b) to consider any communications from staff and/or students relevant to its work, and in

particular submissions from students with any relevant information on personal

circumstances which may have affected their performance and which they wish the

examiners to take into account;

c) to decide on any changes to be made to reported grades in the light of proven cases of

extenuating circumstances or cheating and plagiarism. (Note that Programme Boards must

have available full details of all such cases, together with any comments or recommendations

from Module Boards and the Faculty Assessment Panel);

d) to consider the achievement of students completing programs which may lead to awards and,

exercising discretion as required to uphold the standard of awards and to ensure that justice is

done to individual students, to recommend to the Academic Board the conferment of awards

and the class or grade of such awards.

4. The Moderation and Accreditation Process for the four Franchise Courses

The Vancouver Island University MBA program included four courses that are franchised from the

University of Hertfordshire as part of the dual degree agreement. These courses are MBA

521,522,540, and 541. These courses go through the complete UH moderation process.

Moderation involves a series of steps that Vancouver Island University must complete as part of the

quality control procedures required by the University of Hertfordshire in order to offer the franchise

courses and the dual degree.

The first step in the moderation and quality control process for the four franchise courses involves

approval from the University of Hertfordshire of all course outlines, including examinations and

written assignments that will eventually be completed by the students.

The second step is the marking of the assignments/examinations for all courses as described above.

42

The third step is the moderation of a sample (which would include all “A” and “F” graded

assessments) by a subject specialist in the School of Business at the University of Hertfordshire

(internal examiner) and then by a subject specialist at another British university (external examiner).

These specialists can recommend to the Subject Examination Board that some or all of the provisional

grades be raised or lowered. This recommendation, should it occur, will not be put into place until the

Subject Examination Board meets at Vancouver Island University.

University of Hertfordshire Appeals Process

Appeals related to the four franchise courses or the awarding of the Master of Science in International

Business degree would first go through the internal appeals process at Vancouver Island University as

outlined in the main part of this Handbook. If a student wished to appeal further, they can then avail

themselves of the University of Hertfordshire appeal process. As with the MUC appeals process,

matters of academic judgement cannot be appealed.

UH Appeal Process

The UH appeal process is available at www.herts.ac.uk/secreg/upr.

The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (UK)

This office of the UK government provides a final level of appeal for students who have a complaint

in regards to decisions made by a higher education institution in the UK. The procedures for filing a

complaint can be found at www.oiahe.org.uk.