MSc Human Resource Development

Postgraduate Certificate In HRM Stage (First Term)

The overall objective of the first term is to encourage participants to explore HRM in conjunction with general management disciplines. The central theme is to broaden the HR specialist’s appreciation of a wider range of organisational issues. A residential block of two days duration forms an integral part of this stage.

The units covered in this stage are:

Leading, Managing and Developing People

The main themes of this unit cover:

• The nature of HR and HRD in a range of organisational contexts
• Contemporary developments in HR and HRD
• HR/D practice and ethics, equity and professionalism
• HR & HRD supporting organisational performance and success
• Evaluating HR/D interventions
• Motivation and engagement
• Leadership
• Reward
• Managing performance
• Approaches to career development
• Flexibility in organisations and employment
• Approaches to managing change.

Professional Practice

The main themes of this unit cover:

• The nature of skills required by HR Professionals
• Self awareness and reflective practice
• Approaches to decision making
• Team Working
• Group Dynamics
• Group Decision making and related issues
• Perception and behaviour
• Facilitation skills
• Dealing with difficult issues
• Managing personal change
• Stress Management
• Communication Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Study Skills.

HRM in Context

The main themes of this unit cover:

• Contemporary organisations and their principal environments and the tools for analysis
• The managerial and business environment and its impact on HR professionals
• The differing perspectives of and approaches to HR Strategy
• The changing global economy and the organisational responses
• The globalisation process and the impact of international regulation
• The changing nature of work and employment with particular reference to the diversity in the labour market
• Government policy and legal regulations and their impact on human resources.

Data Analysis and Financial Communications

The main themes of this unit cover:

• Structure, content and interpretation of simple balance sheets, profit and loss accounts and trading statements.
• Ratio analysis
• Basic costing concepts and techniques
• Cash flow and cash budgets
• Budgetary planning and control
• The fundamentals of sampling, questionnaire design and analysis.
• Tabular and graphical methods for data representation
• Descriptive statistics for central location and dispersion
• Application of computer packages for data acquisition, representation and analysis
• Construction and applications of the General Index of Retail Prices and Quantity indices. 

Postgraduate diploma in HRM stage (Second Term)

The units covered in this stage are:

Resourcing and Talent Management

Main themes of this unit include:

• National and international employment markets
• Resourcing and Talent Management Strategies
• Recruitment, selection and socialisation of staff
• Talent planning and Succession planning
• Staff retention strategies
• Exiting the organisation.

Learning and Talent Management

Main themes of this unit include:

• The national and international Training and Development scene
• International perspectives, concerns and considerations
• The link between Business Strategy and International Human Resource Development strategy
• Relationship of Learning and Development with other HR functions and roles
• Learning and CPD, and the management of international careers
• The ‘Learning Organisation’ and international organisational development
• The management of knowledge and change: global and local implications
• The role of the training and development function within the organisation,
• The ‘competence’ movement
• Identification of training and development needs
• Programme design and delivery, including cross cultural awareness
• Assessment and evaluation of training and development initiatives.

Research Methods in Action

Main themes of this unit include:

• Organisation and management of research
• Philosophical issues and research
• Different research methods and their use
• Business project design
• Collection, interpretation and presentation of data.

Leadership & Management Development

Main themes of this unit include:

• Concepts of leadership and management and their application in context
• Leadership and management development needs in differing organisational contexts
• Approaches to the formulation and implementation of leadership and management development strategies to meet current and future organisational needs
• Work collaboratively, ethically and effectively to support a partnership approach to leadership and management development
• The role of leadership and management development in enhancing and developing
• Approaches to the development of leadership and management in international and global contexts.

Masters Stage

Dissertation

The choice of subject for the dissertation will be linked to the interests of the student and, for the award chosen. In the case of the award of an MSc in Human Resource Development the dissertation topic must be within the field of HRD. The dissertation must also be focused on an appropriate area of study and will be subject to the following criteria:

• That the proposed topic contributes to the achievement of the course objectives and aids in the development of the student as an HRD specialist
• The manner in which the work is planned should demonstrate the student’s understanding of strategic issues
• That the resources and information are available to undertake the dissertation in a satisfactory manner
• Whether the proposal displays sufficient potential for the development of the level of analysis required by the course and dissertation
• Development of the skills of critical reflection.

The MSc HRM and HRD are made up of common core modules that reflect the HR profession.These are HRM in Context; Leading, Managing and Developing People; Professional Practice; and Data Analysis,/Financial Communications in the first term. In term two both Resourcing and Talent Management and Learning and Talent Management are seen as essential to understanding of general HR practice. The choice of the Dissertation topic will be negoitiated with tutors to determine the final named award be it either – an MSc HRM or MSc HRD. Those students who wish to gain the HRD award also need to have studied Leadership and Management Development at the Diploma stage of the programme in the second term. This unit is core to the HRD route.

A variety of assessment methods are used on the programme including written assignments, group projects, presentations and, in some subjects, written examinations. The teaching and learning methods are designed to support your progress towards completing the assessment requirements of the programme.

The Business School enjoys a close relationship with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and this programme is fully accredited by the CIPD. On successful completion students will achieve the ‘knowledge elements’ of the CIPD membership qualification.

Normal entry requirements to the certificate stage are:

• An honours degree from a UK university or its equivalent; or
• A mature individual with appropriate work or other relevant experience; or
• A professional qualification or combination of qualifications recognised as being of honours equivalence
• Students whose first language is not English should also have IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.

In the first semester there is a residential aspect to the programme of two days (one night).

In the academic year 2011/2012 the residential is likely to be held on 20th and 21st October 2011.

The cost of the residential is currently charged as a separate item from the course fee and paid for through the University Shop. The fee for the residential is estimated at £150.00 but there are opportunities to reduce the cost by sharing a room.

For further information about fees, scholarships and bursaries please see our Fees & Funding pages.

Fees and Funding

Course Administrator Lincoln
Katie Rushbrook
krushbrook@lincoln.ac.uk  
Telephone: +44 (0)1522 835521

MSc HRM/HRD Programme Leader (Full-time Programme Lincoln)
Jennifer Johnson
jjohnson@lincoln.ac.uk  
Telephone: +44 (0)1522 835599