PG Certificate in IT Management Handbook - cohort 2
Contents
1. / Introduction to the Programme / 22. / The Programme Team / 3
3. / Programme Structure - including
Programme Schedule / 4
4. / Assessment / 5
5. / Coursework Regulations / 7
6. / Guidance specific to Essay type Assignments / 11
7. / Plagiarism - including
Plagiarism Detection Service / 14
14
8. / University Library / 16
9. / Practical Arrangements
Central Support Services
Health Services on Campus / 17
18
19
Appendices / 20
Postgraduate Certificate in IT Management
1. Introduction to the Programme
Welcome to the Postgraduate Certificate in IT Management. This programme is intended to provide professional development for people who want to develop into the area of managing information systems and technologies within their organisations.
The programme is practically focused, with emphasis on the application of theories that represent good practice. This means that you will need to engage with texts: reading, understanding and seeking application within workplace contexts. Throughout the programme, there will be tutorial support and guidance to help with this engagement, though you will be expected to manage your own learning and development process.
There are six modules that must be completed in order to obtain the Postgraduate Certificate. Five of these modules cover separate but sometimes overlapping topics. They run sequentially between the first and fourth residential sessions, taking about 11 months in total to complete. Further information about these modules is provided overleaf.
The sixth module (called Professional Development) runs in parallel with the other five, expecting you to apply your learning from these other modules within your work and collect evidence of this application for a portfolio. You can consider this to be similar to a portfolio that would be created by an artist or photographer as a collection of their artwork. For you, it will more likely be a collection of documents, such as reports, charts and emails. This portfolio can be used outside the programme as evidence for professional associations, job/promotion opportunities and/or appraisals.
Unlike “ordinary” training courses, there will be some formal assignments to complete for each module. It is your success in these assignments that will constitute the award of the postgraduate certificate. The programme is designed so that as you work through activities within each module, you will be constructing your assignments, step-by-step. More information about module assessment is provided overleaf.
The programme is presented as a blend of on-line and face-to-face learning opportunities. The main content is provided by on-line materials, supported by specific activities within each module to encourage personal engagement with the material. There are also a number of group discussion forums that allow sharing of ideas and experiences.
There are four scheduled face-to-face residential sessions at Lancaster, totalling 15 days. You will need to arrange your own travel and accommodation for these sessions, though lunch and refreshments will be provided. The schedule for these residential sessions is shown in section 3. In summary, the first session provides an introduction to the programme and a chance to meet your fellow students. Residential sessions 2 and 3 provide activities to help integrate and apply ideas from previous modules. The final residential session brings together the whole programme by building academic scaffolding for your portfolio to support the final assignment.
More information about modules, assessment and face-to-face sessions will be provided on-line as the programme progresses. It is worth reading the Code of Practice at appendix 1, which provides guidance about how to engage with the programme.
2. Programme Team
Programme Secretary
Based at Lancaster University, the Programme Secretary deals with all matters regarding administration. The secretary acts as your first point of contact for programme administration, queries and information – from registration through to graduation. All assignments must be submitted to the programme secretary along with any extension requests that may be required.
Programme Director
The Programme Director has overall responsibility for the Programme. He will guide you through the course of your programme and is available to discuss any academic issues relating to the course. The Programme Director acts as mediator for any appeals or disputes that may occur during the duration of the programme
Programme Manager
The Programme Manager deals with financial matters and also oversees any quality issues on the content of the programme.
E-Facilitator
The E-Facilitator will be the continuity between modules and, as such will facilitate on all modules. They will be responsible for overall delivery of the programme on a day to day basis and will fine-tune timetables and organise tutorials at mutual convenience. They also will support you between modules while you are writing assignments with the precise method of this being negotiated between you. Your E-Facilitator will also be responsible for second marking your assignments and will work with you to apply your learning.
Title / Contact Details: / /Programme Secretary / Jackie Gaskell / 01524 510734 /
Programme Director and E-facilitator / Steve Barron / 01524 593092 /
Programme Manager / Marilyn Clarke / 01524 510727 /
Module Tutors
Each module is delivered by a subject expert, who will provide a new perspective and different viewpoints throughout the programme. Module Tutors act as first markers for your assignments.
3. Programme Structure
Programme Schedule
Event: / Date: / Notes:Induction Phase / 6 Sep 2010 – 25 Sep 2010 / Socialisation, introduction to academic practice and study at Postgraduate level
Introduction / 27 Sep 2010 – 15 Oct 2010 / Introduction to the Programme
Residential Session 1 / 4-5 October 2010 / 2 days at Lancaster
Module 1:
Leadership & Personal Skills Development / 18 Oct 2010 - 3 Dec 2010 / On-line.
Module 2: Problem Solving / 6 Dec 2010 – 4 Feb 2011 / On-line.
Residential Session 2:
Problem Solving in Groups / 7-11 Feb 2011 / 5 days at Lancaster
Module 3: Design & Development / 14 Feb 2011 – 1 April 2011 / On-line.
Module 4: Project Management / 4 April 2011 – 10 June 2011 / On-line.
Residential Session 3:
Project Application / 23-27 May 2011 / 5 days at Lancaster
Module 5: Management of Change / 13 June 2011 – 29 July 2011 / On-line.
Residential 4:
Portfolio Development / 1-3 August 2011 / 3 days at Lancaster
Portfolio development (module 6) / 1 Aug – 2 Sep 2011 / On-line.
Module 6: Professional Development / Sept 2010 – Sept 2011 / Runs throughout the programme and completes with submission of the portfolio.
4. Assessment
Module 1 / 3,000 words / 10 / 6th December 2010
Module 2 / 3,000 words / 10 / 7th February 2011
Module 3 / 3,000 words / 10 / 4th April 2011
Module 4 / Casebook assessment component x 3 / 10 / 23rd May 2011
Module 5 / 3,000 words / 10 / 1st August 2011
Module 6 / Portfolio of evidence / 10 / 2nd September 2011
Assessment Regulations
The Board of Examiners is constituted by the internal board of examiners and the External Examiner.
Dealing with marks containing fractions
When adjusting percentage marks awarded for assignments, module totals and awards, it is intended that fractions of one percent will be rounded in a fair and consistent manner. The following rule will be applied: less than 0.5% will be rounded down to the previous whole percentage and 0.5% and above will be rounded up to the next whole percentage; though the final decision for such rounding will remain at the discretion of the Exam Board.
Requirements for the awards of PG Certificate:
· Requirement to Pass: The overall pass mark for the Postgraduate Certificate programme is 50%. A minimum mark of 50% is required in each module.
· Requirement for Pass with Merit: To gain a pass with merit a participant must achieve a minimum average programme mark of 60% with 65% or more in 50% of the weighted scheme of study.
Resubmission of Assignments:
Assignments marked at less than 50% may be re-submitted subject to the following conditions and approval by the Exam Board:
· If any participant fails to achieve the minimum pass mark of 50% for any assessment, they shall be eligible for one opportunity for re-assessment in each failed assignment/ examination, provided that the total number of failed resubmissions is equivalent to no more than 50% of the weighted PG Certificate and item (3.2.4.2) below. Within this condition, the Programme Director, in consultation with Module Leaders will retain discretion about which assignments should be resubmitted to maximise learning opportunities across the programme.
· After successful resubmission of assignments receiving a pass mark, the module mark will be capped at 50%. This prevents students who have received fail marks gaining advantage over other students through resubmission opportunities.
· On-line assessment (i.e. group discussion and learning journal) cannot be resubmitted. However, in extenuating circumstances and in accordance with items (3.2.4.1) and (3.2.4.2) above, the Module Leader may set an alternative assessment at the same weighting. These circumstances will be initially agreed with the Programme Director and approved at the discretion of the Board of Examiners.
Rules for compensation/condonement:
At the discretion of the Board of Examiners, candidates shall be eligible for an award by compensation/condonement in respect of up to and including 20 credits provided that no single module mark falls below 40% and the candidate’s weighted mean is 50% or greater.
Mitigating Circumstances
Mitigating Circumstances (e.g. ill health or severe personal difficulties) may be taken into consideration by the Board of Examiners only when supported by documentary evidence (e.g. a doctor’s certificate).
The above requirements form the basis for discussion at the Board of Examiners where the authority resides to recommend to Senate the award of the PG Certificate.
Contribution to On-line Activities
Within each module, there are online activities: taking the form of individual and group contributions, online discussion and the maintenance of a reflective journal. Participants are expected to contribute to each of these regularly, a minimum of at least once per week. In some cases, this engagement can contribute to the assessment for each module. The marking criteria for each module will be provided in the module brief.
5. Coursework Regulations
These regulations are made available to students to comply with the requirements of Senate and are subject to the University’s general regulations governing the award of the Postgraduate Certificate.
Submission of Assessed Work
Submission of each assignment asserts that it is solely the student’s own work and is submitted within the rules of the University. Work not following the rules for submission or submitted late will be subjected to penalties as outlined below.
Two paper copies and an identical electronic copy of assessed work must be submitted to the Programme Secretary (or handed to programme staff) before 4pm on the submission date for each assignment indicated in the Programme Timetable. The hard copies should be sent (or hand delivered) by the published date in A4 envelopes. The electronic copy should be saved as one file and submitted by e-mail to the Programme Secretary.
All hard copies of assessed work must be accompanied by a signed Assignment cover sheet (see Appendix) so that appropriate records can be kept.
Paper copies must be submitted on A4 size white paper, though some appendices can be included on A3 size for diagrams and charts, if necessary. Coloured paper can be used as separators between sections and appendices to assist the reader. All text must be typed, preferably using the Aerial font or equivalent, unless brief content from a handwritten document (e.g. learning journal), included as supporting information, is scanned in. Font size should be a minimum of 10pt Aerial for all text, including text within diagrams and charts. Text must be clearly readable, considering contrast with any coloured background, aligned and formatted for ease of reading.
It is important that each page must be sequentially numbered and include your name/library card number, module and assignment name in the header. If you are unsure how to do this, please ask.
Your assignments must be simply bound, either using a single staple in the top corner or using “treasury tags” through punched holes in the margin. Please do not use plastic covers/folders, ring binders or lever arch files.
The electronic copy should be submitted on-line in a form that can be read by either MSWord or Adobe Acrobat. Content must be identical to the submitted paper copies. The minimum number of files must be submitted, for example, MSWord-style appendices should be collated into the same file as the main text. All file names must indicate:
· your name and/or library card number
· module number
· assignment name
We are unable to accept or load any work from a data stick or receive assignment copies on discs.
Assignments are allocated a specific length, usually in terms of the number of words or pages expected. An assignment that is too short will not likely have sufficient content to attract a substantive mark. If the assignment significantly exceeds the expected limit, it suggests that insufficient effort has been invested to prioritise important content. Assignments that do not closely match the expected assignment length may be subject to penalties noted below.
Plagiarism and Copying
Plagiarism and copying the work of others is not permitted under any circumstances. Please note work submitted will be automatically checked for copying and plagiarism. If plagiarism or copying is detected the university regulations will be applied to their full extent. Please also see section on Plagiarism later in this Handbook.
Assignment Submission Deadlines
The Programme Timetable or module brief gives a submission date for each assignment, the submission time shall usually be 4pm. These are scheduled to allow time to concentrate on completing each assignment and to relieve the workload associated with multiple submissions at the same deadline. You should not leave working on assignments to the last minute.
Assignments submitted after the time/date given in the Programme Timetable will be deemed late and will be subject to the penalties indicated below. The only exceptions will be for students who have been granted an extension in advance of the submission deadline.