Knightsbridge University

EXECUTIVE MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

PROGRAMME OUTLINE

CONTENTS

1. Programme Structure and Content.

2. Aims and Objectives.

3. Entry Requirements.

4. Teaching and Learning Methods.

5. Methods of Assessment.

6. Assessment Regulations.

1. Programme Structure and Content.

The Programme is designed to be completed within twenty-four months by a student devoting ten to twelve hours a week, working by distance learning. A student wishing to take a longer period to complete the Programme will be entitled to do so, provided that he/she completes the requirement for the Programme within forty-eight months.

Candidates may join the programme at any time of the year. They will be assigned to a supervisor and to a cohort of students.

The Programme currently consists of six compulsory modules. In order to achieve a pass, a Candidate must satisfy the examiners in each module of the Programme. The University reserves the right to vary the number and nature of the modules examined. Currently, they are:

A. Organisational Behaviour,
B. Economics for Business Decisions,
C. Marketing,
D. Finance and Control,
E. Strategic Management,
F. A Dissertation Topic.

2. Aims and Objectives.

The principal aim of the Programme is to expose the practising, experienced manager to the current best practice as it relates to the disciplines outlined in A to E above. Its centre of gravity is the "job of the senior manager", and this will be reflected in the written work required for the programme. As such, it does not seek to produce experts in any of the fields studied. Rather, it seeks to ensure that the manager is equipped with the understanding of these disciplines required by a "senior manager" who needs a generalist overview of the profession of Management. As such it is suitable for both the general manager or for the specialist who seeks to move to a senior position requiring a more general overview of the general managerial functions.

3. Entry Requirements.

The usual minimum requirements for entry to the Programme are as follows:

A first degree in any discipline,
or,
Fellowship of a professional body whose qualification may be deemed to be the equivalent of a first degree,
or,
The possession of a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or its equivalent.

Candidates will normally have attained the age of thirty-two years and have a minimum of eight years' experience in managerial employment. All candidates will be expected to show a proficiency in the English language.

Each application will be considered on its own merits, however, admission to the Programme and all interpretations as to the eligibility for such admission remain at the discretion of the University.

4. Teaching and Learning Methods.

The delivery of the teaching for Programme is by distance learning. The material is designed to give the student maximum flexibility as to the pace of learning. Programme materials will consist of Topic Lists, Software Teaching Packages, detailed directed reading from set texts, reading lists covering background material, Progress Assessment Tests, minor and major assignment topics.

Topic Lists. These will be a summary of the topics or sub-sections that are to be covered in the relevant module. They will include a summary of the topics covered under the module teaching, KEY LEARNING POINTS, (KLPs) and the names of theorists or writers associated with KLPs.

Text books. The second major element of teaching for the Programme is the Text Book. Because of the likely circumstances of students, studying away from access to major libraries, effort has been made to concentrate teaching upon the standard classic texts for each module that provide a sufficient coverage of the topics dealt with in the Programme. Students will be directed to the relevant portions of each text, in the order that these should be tackled against each topic heading in the appropriate sequence. Books are not supplied by the University, but may be ordered through the University, to be delivered by the University's usual suppliers.

Background Reading. A list of general texts, relating to each module will also be presented to the student for further reading, either during the Programme or for follow up work.

Progress Assessment Tests, (PATs). A further component of the learning will be the PATs. These will normally take the form of a series of complex multiple choice questions, designed to test the student's grasp of the major concepts of each module. While they will necessarily be of an "open book" nature, they will require the student, not only to research the literature of the subject presented but to demonstrate understanding and discrimination. While the results of the PATs will not count towards final assessment, and may thus be seen as "non-punitive", a student will be required to have achieved a satisfactory pass,(see Section 5 - Assessment Regulations), in the relevant PATs for each module, before being allowed to tackle the minor and major assignments for that module.

Assignments. The requirements of these elements of the Programme are dealt with in detail in Section 5 - Assessment Regulations. In terms of the teaching philosophy of the Programme, the following outlines apply. The Major Assignment will be in the form of a "portmanteau" question, such that will require the student to demonstrate an awareness of the role that the topics covered in the relevant module play in the wider context of centre of gravity of the programme. The reinforcement and testing here is concerned with the use of knowledge to form the basis of an integrated and critical approach the matter presented.

5. Methods of Assessment.

Each student will be examined in all modules of the Programme - A through F and the MINIMUM PASS (Grade "C" - 50%), must be achieved in each module. There are no traditional "three hour" examination papers, although students will be required to satisfy the examiners as to their suitability to proceed to the Major assessment stages of each module by satisfactory performance at the Progress Assessment Test, (PAT) stage. A failure at this stage may be re-tested on up to two subsequent occasions.

Over and above this requirement, all students will be required to submit a short introductory paper, based upon guided reading, which will assess their capability to deal with later work. A student who fails to attain a satisfactory standard in this paper will receive the appropriate guidance before being invited to proceed with the main body of the Programme.

The assessment for the Programme will consist of two elements - A Portfolio of Assignments and the Dissertation. The Portfolio will account for 70% of the final Grade for the Programme. The Dissertation will account for 30%.

The Dissertation is seen as the student's opportunity to apply the subject matter of the Programme to the REAL WORLD interest of his or her managerial experience. As such, it will be a negotiated process between student and Tutor, in which the former offers suggestions for possible detailed study for "tailoring" to meet the dual needs of academic rigour and the student's personal objectives. Here, suffice it to say that the Dissertation will be written on a topic, agreed between Supervisor and student, that will be worthy of the attraction of 30% of the overall marks for the Programme and will be between 25000 and 30000 words in length, (excluding bibliography and appendices). While the Tutor will offer help on the formulation and execution of the Dissertation, once the Dissertation is submitted, it WILL be taken as the final submission.

6. Assessment Regulations. (Extract from General Regulations).

i. In order to be eligible for the award of the appropriate qualification a candidate must make the submissions as required by the relevant Definitive Programme Document within the prescribed time limit - IN THIS CASE, FORTY-EIGHT MONTHS - subject to any extension granted.

ii. The Examiners shall have the right to award a mark of DISTINCTION to a student who has shown exceptional merit in the examination process.

iii. A candidate for examination may, for reasons adjudged adequate by the University, be exempted from any part of the normal examination or assessment procedure.

iv. If an essay or report is otherwise adequate but requires minor amendment, such amendment may be made, within six weeks of notice to the student.

v. The marking scheme of the University sets the pass mark for the Programme at C = 50%. The mark for DISTINCTION is A = 70%. The range of marks is as follows: A, B+ B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D.