BA Honours Business Administration for Personal Assistants
Programme Specification
1. Programme title / Business Administration for Personal Assistants2. Awarding institution / Middlesex University
3. Teaching institution / Middlesex University
4. Programme accredited by / N/A
5. Final qualification / Bachelor of Arts
6. Academic year / 2011/12
7. Language of study / English
8. Mode of study / Distance Education (DE)
9. Criteria for admission to the programme
Sufficient work based experience and opportunity to undertake work based projects as well as meeting the following criteria.
For year one admission, Middlesex University general entry requirements apply, including GCSE’s (grades A to C) in mathematics and English language. Applicants whose first language is not English are required to achieve 6.0 in IELTS or an equivalent recognised by Middlesex University.
For entry with advanced standing to year 2 (or final year), candidates must have achieved both 120 credits at level one (or 240 credits including 100 at level two) and must have successfully met the relevant learning outcome and syllabus requirements of the programme. This may be determined through the Recognition and Accreditation of Learning process of respective WBS modules for Years 2 or 3.
The equivalence of qualifications from outside the UK will be determined according to NARIC guidance.
10. Aims of the programme
This programme aims to enable students to develop effective business skills, realise the interrelationship of business functions, build essential business skills, and be proficient in addressing current business issues and situations as these relate to the role of the Personal or Executive Assistant. This programme also aims to develop knowledge and skills needed by those students wishing to develop their role and business career.
Specifically, it aims:
- to provide broad access educational opportunities which enables students in (or aspiring to occupy) professional roles as Personal or Executive Assistants to develop knowledge, intellectual opportunities and potential;
- to offer students a comprehensive and effective range of learning support and guidance mechanisms;
- to develop the capacity to communicate effectively in written, oral and other forms of presentation;
- to establish a learning experience through the programme that encourages the development of those personal qualities and skills appropriate to the role of PA and sought after by employers.
11. Programme outcomes
A. Knowledge and understanding
On completion of this programme the successful student will have knowledge and understanding of:
- stakeholders: their expectations and behaviour;
- the environment of business and its impact on strategy;
- products: design, production and distribution
- business resources: acquisition, application and control;
- business processes: planning, improvement and control;
- organisations: their functions, structure and management;
- identify sources of knowledge and use them appropriately.
Students gain knowledge and understanding through guided reading of textbooks, journals and course notes; and exercises.
Assessment Method
Students’ knowledge and understanding is assessed by on-line objective tests, and written assignments.
B. Cognitive (thinking) skills
On completion of this programme the successful student will be able to:
- define, explain and evaluate a range of phenomena, concepts, models, theories, principles and practices;
- apply concepts, models and theories to analyse situations;
- identify, evaluate and construct arguments;
- demonstrate self awareness and sensitivity to others;
- take and defend a decision or position on a given issue, considering commercial, ethical and other factors;
- create and evaluate solutions to given problems;
- engage in self appraisal/reflection on practice.
Students learn cognitive skills through individual and group exercises and case; and online discussions. Feedback on assessments.
Assessment Method
Students’ cognitive skills are assessed by essays, oral presentations and written work, sometimes based on case analysis.
C. Practical skills
On completion of the programme the successful student will be able to:
- locate, categorise, prioritise, and synthesise information necessary for business purposes;
- interpret business reports and evaluate performance;
- select and apply business monitoring and control techniques;
- set objectives for business change & plan implementation;
- identify and demonstrate interpersonal skills appropriate to a given business situation;
- apply learning and use resources effectively.
Students learn practical skills through simulations, individual and group case analysis and problem solving.
Assessment Method
Students’ practical skills are assessed by individual and group exercises, individual assignments and tests.
D. Graduate Skills
On completion of this programme the successful student will be able to:
- clarify career objectives & develop plans to achieve them;
- learn flexibly and effectively from diverse opportunities;
- communicate persuasively using a range of media;
- contribute positively to team performance;
- use ICT to improve personal productivity;
- collect, analyse and critically interpret numerical data.
Students acquire graduate skills through on-line exercises and embedded class activities embedded in a level one module. Subsequently, tutor guidance and feedback on assessment is deployed.
Assessment method
Students’ graduate skills are assessed by highlighting graduate skills within assessments for relevant modules. Career plans are developed as part of an on-line PDP, but given their idiosyncratic nature are not subject to summative assessment.
12. Programme structure
12. 1 Overall structure of the programme
Level 4 (Middlesex level 1)
Level 5 (Middlesex level 2)
Level 6 (Middlesex level 3)
* includes optional RAL element for direct entrants
12.2 Levels and modules
Level 4 (1)
COMPULSORY / OPTIONAL / PROGRESSION REQUIREMENTS
Students must take all of the following:
MGT1200
MKT1115
STX1126
ECS1130 / 90 credits
Level 5 (2)
COMPULSORY / DESIGNATED OPTION / PROGRESSION REQUIREMENTS
Students must take all of the following:
ACC2010
HRM2010
MBS2311
WBS2831/2 / None / 180 credits
Level 6 (3)
COMPULSORY / DESIGNATED OPTION / PROGRESSION REQUIREMENTS
Students must take all of the following:
MGT3124
MGT3500
MBS3211 / ALL - Module 4 WBS3831/2 Work based project (30 credits) ORMGT3196 Business Simulation (30 credits)
12.3 Non-compensatable modules
Module level / Module code
N/A
13. Curriculum map
See Curriculum Map attached.
14. Information about assessment regulations
Middlesex University Assessment Regulations apply to this programme.
15. Placement opportunities, requirements and support
Placement is not offered on this programme. Students completing this programme are in employment and complete work based learning modules within the programme.
16. Future careers
This programme has been designed for Personal Assistants to develop and enhance their skills and career progression opportunities. The University provides a Careers Service which will be available to support students on this programme. Graduates from this programme will be able to progress onto the MA Management for PA programme.
17. Particular support for learning
In addition to Middlesex University’s campus student advisers, learning resources staff and counsellors, there are some forms of support particularly relevant to this programme: online materials; English language and numeracy support; programme web-site and on-line discussion board.
Middlesex University is committed to breaking down any barriers which might prevent a disabled person from actively participating in the academic life. This extends to the provision of learning support and support in relation to assessment for people with disabilities.
18. JACS code (or other relevant coding system) / N100
19. Relevant QAA subject benchmark group(s) / General Business & Management, 2008
20. Reference points
- QAA Guidelines for Programme Specifications
- QAA Subject Benchmark: General Business & Management
- Middlesex University Regulations
- Middlesex University Learning Framework – Programme Design Guidance,
- Middlesex University Learning & Quality Enhancement Handbook,
- Middlesex University Business School Teaching, Learning & Assessment Strategy
BA Business Administration for Personal Assistants 2011/20121
Curriculum map
The highest level at which each programme outcome is to be achieved by all graduates is Level 3. Programme learning outcomes are mapped against the modules in which they are assessed.
A1 / A2 / A3 / A4 / A5 / A6 / A7 / B1 / B2 / B3 / B4 / B5 / B6 / C1 / C2 / C3 / C4 / C5 / C6 / D1 / D2 / D3 / D4 / D5 / D63 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3
Level / Module Title / Module
Code / Programme Outcomes
A1 / A2 / A3 / A4 / A5 / A6 / A7 / B1 / B2 / B3 / B4 / B5 / B6 / B7 / C1 / C2 / C3 / C4 / C5 / C6 / D1 / D2 / D3 / D4 / D5 / D6
1/4 / Economic and Financial aspects of Business /
ECS1130
/ / / / / / / / Business Environment /
MGT1200
/ / / / / / / / / / Marketing /
MKT1115
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / Business Statistics /
STX1125
/ / / / / / / / / / / 2/5 / Introduction to Work Based Learning /
MBS2311
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / Human Resource Management /
HRM2010
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Financial Performance Analysis for PAs /
ACC2010
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / Work Based Learning Project /
WBS2831/2
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / 3/6 / Learning Review and Development for PAs /
MBS3211
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Business Simulation /
MGT3196
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Process Management /
MGT3500
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Management of Projects /
MGT3124
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Work Based Learning Project /
WBS3831
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Programme learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding / Practical skillsA1 / Stakeholders: their expectations and behaviour / C1 / Locate, categorise, prioritise and synthesise information necessary for business purposes
A2 / The environment of business and its impact on strategy / C2 / Interpret business reports and evaluate performance
A3 / Products: design, production and distribution / C3 / Select and apply business monitoring and control techniques
A4 / Business resources: acquisition, application and control / C4 / Set objectives for business change & plan implementation
A5 / Business processes: planning, improvement and control / C5 / Identify and demonstrate interpersonal skills appropriate to a given business situation
A6 / Organisations: their functions, structure and management / C6 / apply learning and use resources effectively
A7 / Identify sources of knowledge and use them appropriately
Cognitive skills / Graduate Skills
B1 / Define, explain and evaluate a range of phenomena, concepts, models theories, principles and practices. / D1 / Clarify career objectives & develop plans to achieve them
B2 / Apply concepts, models and theories to analyse situations / D2 / Learn flexibly and effectively from diverse opportunities
B3 / Identify, evaluate and construct arguments / D3 / Communicate persuasively using a range of media
B4 / Demonstrate self awareness and sensitivity to others / D4 / Contribute positively to team performance
B5 / Take and defend a decision on a given issue, considering commercial, ethical and other factors / D5 / Use ICT to improve personal productivity
B6 / Create and evaluate solutions to given problems / D6 / Collect, analyse and critically interpret numerical data
B7 / Engage in self appraisal/reflection on practice
BA Business Administration for Personal Assistants 2011/20121