BA (Hons) Business (Professional Development) (Part Time)

This course is designed for a wide range of individuals who will be in full or part-time employment (paid or voluntary), and wish to gain an academic understanding of professional development through project-based change and development. This will provide the participants with flexibility, knowledge, skills and motivation as a basis for future studies and professional development. The course will cover a range of theories and concepts employed in areas such as contemporary business issues and the management of change.

Industrial focus

Tutors are highly experienced in their sectors, offering in depth knowledge of current business practise, including international organisations, start-up companies and professional bodies.

Course content

Six core units, including a final work-based project:

• Work-Based Project Preparation
  In this unit students will produce a coherent plan of work-based learning. This will support learners in their professional situations by developing their awareness of the nature of research. The unit will enable learners to be critical of the nature and value of the research.
• Project Literature Review
  This unit provides an overview of literature reviews and the process involved in conducting a literature review. The review will enable students to gain a greater understanding of the wider context within the realms of their proposed project.
• Work-Based Project Students will have agreed a project proposal within the Work-based Project Preparation unit. The learning outcomes of the project will vary depending on the level of experience and the opportunities available within the employing organisation.
• Current Business Issues This unit examines some of the most important contemporary issues faced by business organisations, raising students’ awareness and preparing them for the challenges which they might face in a decision making role in their career.
• Comparative Business Models The aim of this unit is to develop students’ ability to evaluate the strategy process and its implications for manager in the public sector of the economy in particular.
• Management of Change
  This unit is an introductory overview of change in organisations. Students will be assisted in taking a conscious view of the changes that are either necessary or have been necessary, in a organisation and so transform the experience into a positive aspect for the learning organisation.

Why choose Solent?

• Use of Blended Learning enables you to study part-time while in full-time employment.
• The use of a specially developed virtual learning environment (VLE). Our online platform is not only a repository for the information that you need for the unit, such as access to reading, journal articles and relevant business news, but also offers the opportunity to enter into a study community with your cohort. This will be supported by online group discussion and peer support as well as many virtual opportunities for contact with your course and unit tutor through Skype, forums and feedback exercises.
• Unlike most distance learning schemes, you will have regular class sessions, and frequent tutor contact.
• Formative assessment (opportunity for feedback on assessment/progress which is not formally marked) is built into the design of each subject to provide every opportunity for academic success into each unit studied.

Assessment

There are no examinations. All units are assessed by written assignments or presentations within a work-based context.

Projects/Work experience

Reflecting the University’s focus on employability, units focus on live topics and currents cases, emphasising the need to apply academic learning in the workplace. Students are encouraged to contribute issues and ideas from their experience and personal interests.

Attendance

While not mandatory, it is expected that you attend for four weekends each academic year. You are then supported by our VLE, and our tutors via email, telephone and personal interview. Our course is not designed for distance learning, although we do all we can to support any missed sessions. The weekend sessions run from Friday until Sunday, at periods of 8-10 weeks apart. We can provide information on indicative timetables and scheduled weekends of study for your academic year.

Course length

Flexible top-up – up to 3 years