FdSc Operations Management
Key Information
Part-time Duration: 18-24 Months
School: Lincoln International Business School
Campus: Lincoln Campus [L]
Validation Status: Validated
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Telephone: 01522 835514 | Email: askwbdl@lincoln.ac.uk or Apply Now
Introduction
FdSc Operations Management is a Work-Based Distance Learning (WBDL) degree which aims to bridge the gap between learning at work and learning at university. The programme considers the high level of skills and learning which are demonstrated every day in the workplace and provides a degree framework to support and accredit this learning.
The FdSc Operations Management degree is open to all suitably qualified professionals who have direct responsibility for tasks and resources. Underpinned by research and development, this degree programme provides those without formal higher education qualifications to get started with their management qualification journey utilising their team leadership experience. For example Air Specialists Class 1 with secondary associated duties such as secretary of a sports club could use their rank and experiences to achieve a place on the foundation degree. To get started using your rank alone you will need to hold the minimum of Lance Corporal or Leading Hand.
The University of Lincoln is an Approved Learning Provider under the Armed Forces Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) scheme, and this degree programme is underpinned by twenty years of military student focussed research and development.
Flexibility
Flexibility is a key feature of this programme and University of Lincoln regulations permit military students to formally interrupt their studies, at no extra cost for a period of up to 24 months in light of Out of Area deployments or other such commitments. In effect students can pause on their studies until they are in a position to continue.
How You Study
Students can have up to ten hours contact time with their tutors with the remainder being self-directed study. A range of teaching and learning methods are used on the FdSc Operations Management including using Blackboard which is an online teaching and learning resource. Teaching on the course is through a range of methods such as podcasts, Wikis and blogs with the aim to facilitate a community of practice learners. Blackboard is also used for assessment purposes.
How You Are Assessed
The course and associated assessments are at final year degree level and, applicants should be prepared to offer the commitment and dedication to produce work of an appropriate standard. Throughout the programme, assessment methods are designed to enable you to develop your potential and are based on the development of close working relationships between tutor and individual student. Hence, assessment strategies aim to reflect the focus of the course on independent self-managed learning.
Assessment Feedback
You can receive written comments and a score for summative work, your feedback will be designed to help you develop and improve for the next assessment. The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to you promptly – no later than 15 working days after the submission date.
Methods of Assessment
The way you will be assessed on this course will vary for each module. It could include coursework, such as a dissertation or essay, written and practical exams, portfolio development, group work or presentations.
Duration
Typically, students are expected to take 18 months to complete the programme, but this will vary according to each individual's personal circumstances and work commitments.
Modules
The programme starts, as might be expected, with a traditional study skills module which is aimed at creating the opportunity for the students to build their own body of knowledge. The modules aspiration is to introduce students to the various tools and techniques of study. At the end of this module it is expected that students will have a basic toolkit which they can draw on throughout their academic journey.
Introduction to Operations Management continues to build on the role of the operations manager by looking at tools and techniques supporting the daily delivery of the organisations outcomes. Building on the management of people this module focuses on processes and systems. It introduces the underlying concepts of operations management and how these can be used to develop and deliver the operational outcomes linked to the strategic outcomes of the organisation.
The Managing People module sees the students studying the development of the staff within an organisation. As part of the operational process people will be an important factor in delivering the operation. This module sets the scene for this approach by outlining the theory, practise and individual experiences of supporting and managing people to deliver the operation This module reviews the principles of HRM to understand how people can be developed to meet their own needs and those of the organisation.
Planning and control systems adopts a summative approach in which people and systems are brought together within the operational concept to develop planning and control insight into the delivery of the operation. Although focused on the internal elements of organisations and their operations it does take the first steps in looking beyond the organisation to develop a view of the value chain the organisation sits in.
Academic studies at level 2 returns to the tools and techniques of academic skills. Students, having practised initial learning skills at level 1 now focus on more advanced skills and in particular research skills that arm them with the tools and techniques they will need to explore the capstone module and the Operations Challenge.
The module Developing as a Leader and Manager moves past basic management skills and looks at the role of the individual in leading and managing a team within the operational context. It draws on level 1 study to review the role of the manager as a leader within a team within the operations setting.
The module Digital Technologies begins to draw the study to a close by asking students to reflect on the operational process through the prisms of new technology and how this will impact the management of the process and systems within the operation. Digital technologies are presented as a key tool for the combination of various activities for the manager to use as a dashboard for the design, delivery and improvement of the operational process.
The Degree concludes with a capstone module which requires students to draw on the programme to develop a project for the improvement of a chosen organisation. This module has a pragmatic and practitioner focus offering students the opportunity to apply the learning to a real-life situation echoing the role a student as producer.
Benefits for Students
As prospective students are already employed, benefits of the degree for those individuals are:
- Academic recognition for learning you have already achieved
- Individual learning programmes focussed on job-relevant and industry specific learning
- Direct access to specialist expertise to support work-based projects and extend the scope of activities
- Better understanding and ability to apply theory into practice
- Improved performance and the ability to respond to change, resulting in enhanced opportunities to progress.
Benefits for the MoD
The MOD may benefit from the following features of the course:
- Improved organisational performance, greater expertise leading to increased efficiency and effectiveness of operations
- Increased motivation, confidence, and creativity of the workforce
- Immediate benefits from availability of expertise and advice on work-based projects
- Customised programmes to suit your organisation.
Features
Students may benefit from many aspects of the course including:
- Individualised entry plan based on work experience and previous work experience
- Academic recognition for learning already achieved, allowing the student to potentially start at level 5
- Programme delivery at a pace to suit the student, the potential to work towards the degree when work and personal commitments allow, and to pause the programme when other pressures take over
- Study progression designed with the military student in mind
- Opportunity to progress to a BA/BSc in their specialist subject
- Individual learning programmes focused on work related and relevant learning, allowing you to apply your learning immediately to the workplace
- Direct access to specialist expertise to support work-based projects, apply theory in practice in the workplace
- Improved workplace performance and the ability to respond to change.
Entry Requirements
All applicants will be selected for the programme individually, based on the articulated entry requirements in line with the University policy. It is expected that some students will use a combination of experience and previous qualifications to join the course, applicants who already hold a level 4 qualification may be able to start at Level 5, completing the final 4 modules to achieve the foundation degree.
As this work-based programme is designed for those who are not immediately continuing from Level 3, we consider a wide range of applications, so encourage individual eligibility requests.
Fees
| FdSc Operations Management | 24/25 Tuition Fees |
| OPSMGTUF | £3498 (per level) |
| FdSc Operations Management | 23/24 Tuition Fees |
| OPSMGTUF | £3300 (per level) |
Contact Details for Further Enquiries:
Email: mpg@lincoln.ac.uk
Additional Costs
Optional on-campus days may be available to you. Where these are optional students will normally (unless stated otherwise) be required to pay their own transportation, accommodation and meal costs.
With regards to text books, University of Lincoln provides students who enrol with a comprehensive reading list and our extensive library holds either material or virtual versions of the core texts that students are required to read. However, students may prefer to purchase some of these for themselves and will therefore be responsible for this cost.
Your Future Career
This programme is designed to help students advance their careers by furthering their management competence and general employability. The course is designed can enable students to extend their skills, knowledge and perspective and to provide them with opportunities for personal and career development.
Careers Service
The University Careers and Employability Team offer qualified advisors who can work with students to provide tailored, individual support and careers advice during their time at the University. As a member of our alumni we also offer one-to-one support in the first year after completing a course, including access to events, vacancy information and website resources; with access to online vacancies and virtual resources for the following two years.
This service can include one-to-one coaching, CV advice and interview preparation to help you maximise our graduates future opportunities.
The service works closely with local, national and international employers, acting as a gateway to the business world.
Visit our Careers Service pages for further information https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/campuslife/studentsupport/careersservice/.