FdA Further Education Management

Summary 2012/13

• Study a unique programme designed to meet the needs of staff across Further Education institutions;
• Develop general business skills within the Further Education context;
• Improve your career prospects within your own institution and the Further Education sector.

This Foundation Degree delivers a general business curriculum contextualised to the Further Education sector. You will be introduced to different business units and roles within Further Education institutions. On completion of the programme, you will graduate with a range of transferable skills, a broader awareness of the external context of Further Education and a better understanding of your own institution.

2012 Entry Requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have a Level 3 qualification (eg A level, BTEC, NVQ, Access Diploma, etc) but the course team is keen to receive applications from experienced HE staff without formal qualifications. Before commencing the programme, a work based mentor must be identified.

Details

Who is this course for?

The programme will attract people from a range of jobs within the non-academic part of the Further Education sector. This might include programme administrators, finance or marketing specialists, or those involved in facilities delivery. The course is open to all those who might benefit from it and while the normal entry qualification is an A level or equivalent, applications are welcomed from experienced staff with lower qualifications.

What will I gain from this programme?

On completion of this programme you will be equipped to undertake your role more effectively and be better prepared to seek advancement.

The course will emphasise the development of a range of transferable skills of use both in Further Education and other sectors.

You will be introduced to principles relating to subjects such as marketing, human resource management and finance but will look at them primarily from a Further Education perspective. The assessment strategy will emphasise application and will require you to complete small projects both in your own and other areas of work.

How we will support you

You will be allocated a personal tutor from Edge Hill Business School. In addition, it is an entry requirement that you also have a mentor in your workplace to help your learning and provide support in the assessments.

What will I study?

The programme comprises 120 credits at Level 4 (first year undergraduate equivalent) and Level 5 (second year equivalent).

At Level 4 the focus initially is on skills development and the context of Further Education. The skills and knowledge you will acquire are then reinforced by a consideration of the ways in which Further Education institutions are managed and financed. An introduction to project management provides opportunities to put into practice some of the skills that you have developed.

At Level 5, consideration is given to some of the key functions of managing a Further Education institution. These include marketing and recruitment, student support and human resource management. The course is completed by undertaking a work-based research project.

How will I study?

Each module will be taught via a two day block and supported by web based materials.

Placement

You are expected to be in employment within a Further Education institution.

Who will be teaching me?

Staff teaching on the programme will be drawn from across the University. One of the distinctive features of this course is that classroom delivery is not exclusively by academic staff but is supported by colleagues from service departments. This ensures that there is a good mix of theory and practice.

How will I be assessed?

The assessment strategy is designed to ensure that what is tested is not just knowledge acquisition but application. Projects, business reports and group activities will be used and you will have the opportunity to focus on issues that are most applicable.

What are my career prospects?

If you’re working in a Further Education institution, this foundation degree is designed to help develop your career within your institution and also the wider Further Education sector. The emphasis on transferable skills will also provide a qualification of relevance in other parts of the public sector or in industry.

Professional Accreditation

Successful applicants may enter the final year of the BSc Business and Management degree which may be offered with specific education management modules.

Further study at Edge Hill University

BSc (Hons) Business and Management

Related Programmes

FdA Higher Education Management

A Great Study Environment

Edge Hill Business School is situated in the new purpose built £8m Business and Law building close to the lakeside setting of the Western Campus at the main University site in Ormskirk.

As a member of Edge Hill Business School you will be encouraged to take an active part in the success of the Business School within the business community, throughout your programme of study and beyond.

Based in 160 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Ormskirk Campus is a unique and inspirational place to study. Industry standard resources and cutting edge technology combine to make an interactive and highly advanced teaching and learning environment. Everything you could want is on one site with 25 acres of sport and leisure facilities, more than 1,000 rooms in halls of residence and fantastic modern spaces in which you can study and socialise.

The University library gives you access to thousands of books, journals, online resources and extensive PC and media provision. You'll get all the support you need to succeed, reflected in Edge Hill University being ranked in the top two in England for students' personal development, and the top three in the country for assessment and feedback, in the 2011 National Student Survey. The University is also featured in the top four in England for graduate employment.

How do I apply?

Apply directly to Edge Hill University. Download application form (pdf) and notes for guidance (pdf). See our How to Apply pages for more information on the application process and our Admissions criteria.

Fees and Finance

Tuition fees for part-time study on this foundation degree are £50 per credit for academic year 2012/13; i.e. £500 per 10 credit module, £750 per 15 credit module, £1,000 per 20 credit module and £1,500 per 30 credit module. A total of 240 credits are required to complete a foundation degree.

Eligible students will not have to pay upfront for their tuition. The cost of tuition will be paid by a loan which you will only start to repay once you have finished the course and are earning over £21,000 a year.

For more information on the financial support available for part-time foundation degree students in academic year 2012/13, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/foundationfees2012pt.

Please note, the above information is for UK and eligible EU students only.

Not got the entry requirements?

If you do not meet the standard entry requirements, please contact the Programme Leader to discuss entry to the programme.

Where can I find out more?

If you would like to receive a copy of our prospectus or be kept updated about forthcoming events, contact the Course Information, Advice and Guidance Team by emailing study@edgehill.ac.uk or calling 01695 657000.

If you want to attend one of our open events held throughout the year, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/opendays to book your place.

You will also find Edge Hill University staff at many national careers fairs and UCAS events.

Still want more?

If you have any questions you would like to ask the programme leader about this course, please contact:

• John Vaughan, Edge Hill Business School, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP
• Tel: 01695 657629
• Email: john.vaughan@edgehill.ac.uk

Modules

Please note, you can exit with a CertHE in Further Education Management on completion of the Level 4 modules.

Personal Skills Development for Academic Administrators provides a theoretical and practical approach to personal skills development and enables you to reflect on your learning and develop a plan for further study and/or progression within further education administration.

Financing of Further Education investigates the financing of educational institutions and provides opportunities for the development and application of cost and management accounting tools that facilitate the effective management of institutional resources.

Managing Information will develop your ability to collect, collate and handle numerical information and data. You will learn to use statistical, graphical and algebraic techniques to address business problems using appropriate IT software where relevant.

Managing Educational Institutions introduces you to organisations and their structure, culture and management. Different approaches to management, and the factors influencing them, will also be considered.

Project Management examines the importance of project planning, monitoring and control. It includes the techniques and tools that can be used and also discusses the human factors that must be taken into account when managing projects

The Environment of Post-16 Education. This introductory module is designed for administrators working in Higher Education, Further Education or related academic organisations. It will enable you to locate your own business activity within the economic environment and legal and regulatory framework governing UK further education.

The Further Education Regulatory Framework provides further education administrators with knowledge and understanding of the external regulatory frameworks within which Further Education Institutions (FEIs) operate. You will undertake work-based learning to research and evaluate your own institution’s management strategies and processes with a particular emphasis on accountability, risk management and quality enhancement.

Human Resource Management aims to place your work experience into a practical and theoretical framework in which you will have opportunities to develop and enhance practical, conceptual and transferable skills. A broad perspective is taken in relation to the management of employment relationships in order to enhance and contextualise your understanding of human resource management in the work place. A comparative approach is also undertaken in relation to a range of human resource management practices.

Recruitment and Marketing of Education investigates the principles that underpin the recruitment and marketing process for post-16 educational institutions. It is a broad based module providing a general overview of marketing and recruitment and general marketing principles.

Organisational Research. Research methods are utilised at all levels of the degree programme and employers are increasingly looking for graduates who have specific skills, including those significantly developed through learning in research methods. This module will give you a comprehensive introduction to research methods and prepare you for undertaking your own research.

Supporting Students. In a modern institute of higher learning, with mass education, there is a greater need for more sophisticated support services – able to satisfy the needs of institution stakeholders and students in particular. This module examines the range of support services typically in place.

Work Based Project involves undertaking a research project in which you develop and enhance your existing knowledge and skills. You will participate in a mixture of classroom sessions, e-learning sessions and reflect on your performance in real workplace situations.