Welcome to your Business Administration course

The underpinning approach and hence philosophy throughout the MBA is Problem and Practice Based Learning (PPBL). Learning activities are tailored to this approach by engaging with authentic and challenging real problems, allowing students to evolve understanding, and analytical skills; hence facilitating development of key management & leadership competencies.

The focus will therefore be on active learning facilitated through face to face. Active learning is centred on communication, discussion & hence learning based on dialectic rather than didactic learning which replaces more traditional teacher led classroom engagement. F2F class sessions will therefore be an opportunity for teaching staff to demonstrate their enthusiasm and mastery of the subject and hence engaging MBA students in learning.

Many approaches to PPBL will be innovative and novel – pushing the boundaries of learning and knowledge in the MBA subject areas. MBA class sessions aim to be dynamic where students are valued contributors to constructive, collaborative and technology-based learning.

The PPBL philosophy aims to set in context the latest theories, models and frameworks throughout all modules. Each module is designed to develop five key competencies required for effective management & leadership.

The MBA has four pathways:

• General
• Marketing
• Finance
• HRM

 

You need to select your pathway and inform the course leader during the welcome week.

Full-time students will study over 12 months as follows:

• Semester 1: 3 modules (60 credits)
• Semester 2: 3 modules (60 credits)
• Semester 3: Dissertation (60 credits)

Part-time students will study over 24 months as follows:

• Year 1, Semester 1: 2 modules (40 credits)
• Year 1, Semester 2: 2 modules (40 credits)
• Year 1, Semester 3: No Delivery
• Year 2, Semester 1: 1 module (20 credits + Dissertation (60 credits)
• Year 2, Semester 2: 1 module (20 credits + Dissertation (60 credits)
• Year 2, Semester 3: Dissertation (60 credits)

The methods of teaching and learning used will vary according to the nature of the subject matter but will have a wide diversity from more formal lectures to more student-centred activities including tutorials, seminars, case studies, management simulation/exercises, group work, workshops, project work, role play plus virtual learning environments in addition to independent study, desk based/empirical research activity and intensive delivery of research methods.

As business students, you are expected to stay abreast with current affairs and global and corporate news.

The following websites are some of excellent sources for obtaining updated news:

• www.bbc.co.uk/news
• www.theguardian.com/uk/business
• www.timesonline.co.uk
• www.ft.com
• www.economist.com
• www.independent.co.uk
• www.businessweek.com

The following websites are excellent sources of additional learning resources:

• http://www.frbsf.org/education/
• http://www.studyingeconomics.ac.uk/
• http://economics.about.com/
• https://www.economicsonline.co.uk/

You can also learn from movies.

• https://www.mygreatlearning.com/blog/most-relevant-movies-mba-aspirants-should-watch/
• https://blog.utc.edu/business/2020/10/21/10-netflix-shows-movies-every-mba-student-must-see/

You need to inculcate the habit of reading:

• https://www.blog.consultants500.com/consulting/mba-reading-list-according-top-business-schools-world/

Essential equipment and facilities include:

• A laptop computer
• A reliable Broadband internet connection at your place of residence
• Access to Staffordshire University’s Virtual Learning Environment ‘Blackboard’
• Access to your Staffordshire University e-mail inbox
• Access to key Staffordshire University websites
• Access to the Staffordshire University online Library Portal for the Library Catalogue and links to e-Resources (such as subscribed e-books and journals)

Desirable equipment and facilities include:

• A headset for listening to audio content
• A microphone for creating audio content
• A webcam
• Access to Microsoft™ Office 365 products (such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.) which are provided by the university
• Access to remote tutorials and Webinars (primarily using Blackboard Collaborate online videoconferencing)

Software you will need to have on your computer includes:

• Web browser (Google Chrome tends to work best with Blackboard)
• A Word-processing programme
• Adobe Acrobat – for reading on-line documents and electronic journals – this can be downloaded for free

You will need to be a proficient computer user, though technical help will be available if you have trouble with specific applications or tasks. The amount of time you will need to spend connected to the internet per week will be very variable. Most weeks it will be several hours. You can also download all the reading onto your own laptop and safely store it for future use.

Download software