Welcome to your Business Management (Sustainability) course

Hello and welcome to your Business Management (Sustainability) course at Staffordshire University. Starting university can be both exciting and a little daunting, but you will have a team of dedicated lecturers to help you settle in. We will cover everything when you arrive, but there are some things you can do to get a head start on preparing for your course and to help you make the most of your first week. If you do need anything, your course leader (Karl McCormack - k.mccormack@staffs.ac.uk) is only an email message away. We are looking forward to you joining us in September and we are here to help you every step of the way!

Your staff team

We want to make sure you know some of our team before you arrive. Hopefully this will help you recognise us and ensure you know who you can contact if you need any additional help and guidance.

Karl Mccormack

Senior Lecturer

Karl has experience teaching on Apprenticeship and Foundation Degrees, BA accounting programmes, MBA modules. He has also taught as a subject specialist in forensic accounting, computerised accounting and management accounting.

Karl's profile

Kathryn Mitchell

Senior Lecturer

Lecturer in Digital Marketing, specialising in developing strategy in changing and disruptive environments, assessing occupational competency and using technology to increase operational efficiency. Kathryn joined Staffordshire University in 2019.

Kathryn's profile

Jon FAIRBURN

Emeritus Professor

Professor Jon Fairburn is active in teaching, research, bid writing and public engagement. He has incorporated credited work experience into geography and tourism degrees as well as the MSc Digital Marketing Management.

Jon's profile

First activity

In your first few weeks at university, you will be engaging in the following modules that will provide a foundation for your course going forward. The modules are taught alongside each other to allow for connected learning.

Foundations of Management:

This enlightening module explores the theory and research around the field of management. It looks at the social system, impact of change and relationships between the organisation and its environment. The world is increasingly unpredictable, and its challenges are seldom simple enough for a lone business leader or a single organisation to solve, this module starts to address these challenges. Sustainability Development Goals can be mapped throughout the module.

Marketing in the Business Environment:

Marketing plays an important role in developing relationships with the organisation and its wider environment such as customers, communities and other stakeholders. As consumer behaviour is changing, influenced by many different factors including social and situational ones. It is so important for the organisations messages to reflect the principles of the organisation.

Introduction To Management Accounting:

All those who work for, or deal with businesses need to understand accounting. This module aims to look at the nature of accounting, exploring the main concepts underpinning management accounting. Sustainability requires accountants and management to monitor and manage not only financial information but also non-traditional data to guide strategic decisions. Management accountants are ideally placed to fulfil this role. The main branches of cost accounting and decision making as well as cost minimisation and revenue maximisation are explored using a blend of theory and practice.

Course delivery

Studying our Business Management Sustainability programme at Staffordshire University promises to be an exciting and engaging experience. The course relates aspects of traditional Business enterprise but challenges these traditional interpretations of business with broad contemporary themes of sustainability in business. Throughout your course there will be an emphasis on ethical business and sustainable practices with the goal of creating long-lasting value for the organisation. At level 4 our students work with students from other Business Management courses such as Business Management (Events), Business Management (Innovation and Enterprise) and other pathways. We feel this is important as it facilitates a wider understanding of the challenges in Business and it allows you to challenge these business models around corporate accountability and social impact.

Your teaching is delivered in person through lectures and seminars with additional study materials available online via the Blackboard website (our Virtual Learning Platform) for each module. Attendance on campus is compulsory and supports not only your learning but that of the rest of the cohort.

In addition to the module teaching, we provide employability support throughout the course that gets you to consider your potential career paths and prepares you to make the first steps on the professional job market when you leave.

Pre-learning

There are a few activities that are recommended before we start on our journey together.

  1. Consider the following reflective questions:
  • What kind of world do we want to live in?
  • What is the state of the natural environment in that world?
  • How are the societies organised?
  • How do the economies function, and in whose interests?
  • And, importantly, how does that vision compare to our present reality?

It will be interesting to explore your answers over the first few weeks.

  1. Take some time to measure your own Ecological Footprint

Use this online Footprint calculator (desktop computer required, available in several languages) at the Earth Overshoot Day website. The calculator tells you how many Earths would be required if everyone on the planet lived like you, and then suggests ways to reduce your Ecological Footprint. 

  1. For an interesting insight into sustainability practices in a business go onto the Henkle website.

There is a great 3 minute video explaining their vision: What do you think?

  1. Make yourself aware of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals with this less than 2 minute video.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are a universal call to action adopted by over 190 countries to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

  1. Here is a TEDx video from Ray Anderson has increased sales and doubled profits while turning the traditional "take / make / waste" industrial system on its head.

In a gentle, understated way, he shares a powerful vision for sustainable. commerce. A little long at 15 minutes but a really considered talk that should have you questioning traditional business models.

Other resources you may find useful to check out:

Check out these online business focused resources for up-to-date information:

  • Financial Times or the YouTube channel The Financial Times – The Financial Times is an excellent source of news and commentary; it is one of the world's major news organisations, and its credibility, honesty, and authenticity are respected internationally.
  • The Economist – Check out the finance articles published in the Economist's section for the most recent news and stories.
  • BBC Ideas – The BBC Ideas YouTube channel strives to fuel your interest and expose your mind to innovative views, which is significantly more important to an accounting award than you may imagine.

 

Foundation year semester one activities

On the foundation year you will cover modules such as: business performance, communication in the digital age, external business environments and managing for people and profit. You will also undertake a business simulation project.

This year will act as a steppingstone and will provide you confidence by strengthening your academic background. Beyond subject-specific knowledge, the foundation year will emphasise the development of transferable skills such as critical thinking, research, and communication, which are valuable in any academic or professional setting moving forward.

Foundation year pre-learning

The university provides academic resources such as libraries, writing centres, tutoring services, and study groups. Get to know what is available to you and take advantage of these resources to enhance your learning experience.

Reference texts to familiarise yourself with:

  • Porter, M. Competitive Advantage : creating and sustaining superior performance. New York: Free Press
  • McDonald, M & Meldrum, M. The Complete Marketer. London: Kogan Page
  • Paul, D. et al. Business Analysis. 4th edn. Swindon: BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT

Equipment and software

There are a multitude of resources available online for students at Staffordshire University, such as Microsoft Office 365.

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 video conferencing)

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

Groups and societies

There are multiple clubs and societies at Staffordshire University which you can get involved in.

Clubs and societies

Academic skills

Whether you're joining us from school or college, or you're returning to education after some time away, everyone can benefit from the Academic Study Skills resources provided by the University library.

The Academic Skills team is here to support you throughout your academic journey and to help you gain the skills you need to reach your full potential. They can assist with academic reading and writing skills, give advice on how best to plan assignments, and help improve your time management.

The library's Academic Skills Guides offer the key information to make studying easier and give a comprehensive guide to the learning resources and services we offer.

Staffs CampusConnect

Staffs CampusConnect is our student-led community app for new students. Connect with other people from your course, hometown or country, and even those with similar interests.

To register, please ensure you use your Applicant ID (Student Number) that you received in your offer letter, and the email address you used in your application to us.

Register for CampusConnect

Welcome website

Our welcome website will provide you the link to your new student life. It's all about how you find your place at university, including everything from how to meet friends, feel confident in doing your academic work, being a member of your Student Union and getting involved in Union Societies, Academic Societies, Sports, Volunteering or representing your peers in your School.

Part of this Welcome Week - we have an exciting program of University and course level activities planned for you for your first week in September. We are also building an extended program for you to join a series of events throughout the first half of the autumn term. Further details will be shared with you via the Welcome website and Students' Union pages over the coming weeks.

Welcome website

Campus map

Use our campus map to familiarise yourself with our campus before you arrive.

Campus map (PDF)

Check your email

Please make sure you check your personal email account regularly over the next few weeks. We will be sending you lots of information about Welcome Week.

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021