MA Management of International Higher Education

Summary 2011/12

• An innovative postgraduate programme delivered by distance and blended learning;
• Uniquely developed for professionals working within the field of international education;
• Enables specialist staff to develop their expertise, build critical skills and enhance their career prospects.

2011 Entry Requirements

Applications are welcome from those holding a wide range of relevant posts within International Higher Education, ideally holding the equivalent of a UK second class honours degree. Current applicants include colleagues from the UK, USA, Finland and the Republic of Ireland. Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is available.

Summary 2012/13

• An innovative postgraduate programme delivered by distance and blended learning;
• Uniquely developed for professionals working within the field of international education;
• Enables specialist staff to develop their expertise, build critical skills and enhance their career prospects.

2012 Entry Requirements

Applications are welcome from those holding a wide range of relevant posts within International Higher Education, ideally holding the equivalent of a UK second class honours degree. Current applicants include colleagues from the UK, USA, Finland and the Republic of Ireland. Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is available.

Details

Who is this course for?

The Management of International Higher Education is a unique programme which provides a cohesive Continuing Professional Development framework. It addresses the needs of a wide range of colleagues from management through to recruitment, teaching, advisory and guidance services in the broad field of International Education.

It has been devised by The Centre of International Education (CIE) at Edge Hill University with advice and encouragement from UKCISA and other experts in the sector.

What will I gain from this programme?

The key objectives of the programme will enable you to:

• Develop a sound theoretical understanding of the issues surrounding international and transnational education and its management, as well as the ability to integrate new knowledge with professional experience;
• Enhance your practical and management skills and provide the expertise to improve the effectiveness of your own organisation;
• Create a community of good practice in the internationalisation of Higher Education and its management;
• Broaden your field of expertise, build on your critical skills and help you prepare for increased responsibilities.

How we will support you

All students will be attached to a personal tutor.

What will I study?

The structure of the MA is credit-based, with progression either from the Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) or the Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) to the MA (180 credits).

The Masters degree consists of six taught modules, a work-based project module and a dissertation.

The development of this programme has been informed by consultation with International Directors and representative bodies. It will build on the professional experience of the participants, with experienced practitioners from all over the world leading teaching sessions.

How will I study?

The programme structure is flexible and will allow completion at your own pace. You may choose to take modules concurrently (although not more than 40 credits at the same time). A three-day residential will be held every trimester.

We recognise that many of our programme members will be employed in roles that require extensive travel. Credit is achieved by successful completion of assignments and, whilst we see attendance at residentials as highly desirable, it is possible to achieve the qualification purely through online learning.

Placement

Diploma students practice a work-based project with the guidance of a mentor.

Who will be teaching me?

The core module is being led by Professor Christine Humfrey, formerly the International Director at the University of Nottingham.

'Managing International Collaborations in Higher Education' will be led by Dr David Law, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students and External Relations) of Edge Hill University, formerly the Director of Warwick International at the University of Warwick.

These, and other modules, will be supported by leading academics and practitioners in the field of international education.

The Chair of the Course Committee is Dr David Law and the Programme Leader is Dr Iona Huang, Head of International Programmes, from the Centre of International Education at Edge Hill University.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through a combination of essays, presentations, discussion contributions, self-assessments and project work.

What are my career prospects?

Successful students will be well placed to expand and enhance their career opportunities as a result of studying this programme.

Further study at Edge Hill University

This programme would be an ideal foundation for PHD research.

How do I apply?

Apply online at www.ukpass.ac.uk.

Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/applyukpass for more information on the application process.

Fees and Finance

Tuition fees are £460 per 20 credit module for UK and EU students joining the programme in academic year 2011/12. This fee applies to full-time and part-time study. Fees for international students joining the programme in academic year 2011/12 are £10,200pa.

Tuition fees for this programme are still to be confirmed for academic year 2012/13. Please keep checking this page for updates.

Not got the entry requirements?

We will admit to the first module on a trial basis with subsequent registrations for a qualification if your work is of the appropriate standard.

Still want more?

We welcome your enquiries and requests for further information. Please contact Dr Iona Huang, Head of International Programmes at Edge Hill University, by emailing iona.huang@edgehill.ac.uk.

Modules

Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)

International and Transnational Education: A Strategic Perspective (20 credits) provides a strategic perspective on issues relating to international higher education at all levels and a strategic management framework for strategy formulation in international business in general, and the international higher education sector in particular.

You will be able to systematically apply a selection of strategic management tools and techniques in the strategy formulation process and critically reflect on the relationship between the theory of strategic planning and your own professional practice.

And 40 credits from:

International Markets and Marketing of Higher Education (20 credits). Universities undertake international student recruitment for a number of reasons, including income diversification and internationalisation. This module develops your analytical and critical skills to enable practitioners in this area to operate most effectively.

International recruitment is primarily a special case of international marketing. Consequently the theoretical framework of this latter discipline is used to develop the analytical and critical skills necessary to enable you to analyse the international student market and develop appropriate strategies for international recruitment. You will also appreciate the potential wider applicability of the skills developed.

Managing Internationalisation and Student Experience (20 credits) develops a critical understanding of the key theoretical perspectives on individual and organisational change. The module will also enhance your knowledge of the models and tools associated with managing change in general.

You will be expected to apply your knowledge and understanding to the context of internationalisation of higher education and student experience. Opportunities will be provided for self-evaluation and critical reflection of your own practice as a change leader/agent, assessing its impact on your own development of change management skills.

Managing International Collaborations in Higher Education (10 credits) will equip you with a critical understanding of the context and modes of international collaborations in Higher Education.

You will also consider the implications of these collaborations in internationalising higher education and assess the full operational process of international business relationship development, identifying the key success factors at each stage of the process.

Opportunities will be provided for you to consider how appropriate strategies and techniques can be applied in developing, managing, facilitating or supporting effective international collaborations in Higher Education.

Cross-Cultural Communication (10 credits). Working in International Offices or a similar environment invariably involves interactions with people from different cultural backgrounds, whether in developing collaborations, managing a diverse workforce in the office or wider institutional context, or in supporting students. Communicating effectively across cultural boundaries is critical to the success of organisations with multicultural interactions.

This module aims to develop a systematic understanding of the impact of cultural differences on the various aspects of management of international higher education. It will also give you the skills to enhance your own professional effectiveness in multicultural settings and enhance your appreciation of cultural diversity.

Research Methods (10 credits) provides you with the knowledge and skills to prepare you to develop a research proposal and undertake a research-based dissertation at Masters level. You will engage with essential considerations in research design, including philosophical basis, developing research questions, literature review, a range of research methods for data collection and analysis, and project planning.

The ability to undertake and evaluate research is a key skill in both academic and vocational contexts. In the academic context of the Masters degree, you are asked to undertake and produce research, for example in work-based learning and dissertation contexts. Furthermore, an understanding of the factors underpinning the production of research (and therefore theory) enhances the ability to critically analyse published research and theory in all aspects of work.

In a vocational context, the ability to apply a critical analytical approach to researching and investigating relevant issues is a key managerial skill which can be developed by an understanding of the main issues and skills surrounding research.

Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)

All of the above six modules plus:

Work-based Project (30 credits) provides you with the opportunity to synthesise what you have learned on the programme and to apply and extend your theory, knowledge and skills into purposeful action with a real life project in an employing organisation.

The project can be undertaken either individually or collaboratively with other course members (of no more than 3) within the context of your own professional practice area. It should address a substantive practical issue in your own employing organisation in the broad area of international education, leading to a new or revised product (e.g. a service, a market plan etc).

If working in groups, the issue should be identified as a common phenomenon in all employing organisations involved. It is expected that the full process of project investigation should be underpinned selectively with appropriate justifications by the theories, tools and techniques developed previously in the programme, including the research methods.

MA (180 credits)

All of the above seven modules plus:

Dissertation (60 credits) allows you to select a topic of your own interest and proceed to deepen and develop your knowledge in that area. The dissertation is an opportunity to develop your skills as an autonomous learner allows you to extend the knowledge gained in the rest of the MA programme and. You will be allocated a supervisor who will be the regular point of contact for all academic advice throughout the dissertation work.