PROGRAMMESPECIFICATION

Name ofProgramme:MasterofBusinessAdministration(MedicalManagement andLeadership)

Final award(BSc, MAetc.):MBA

Awardinginstitution/body:

University ofBuckingham

Teachinginstitution:

University ofBuckingham

SchoolofStudy:TheBusinessSchoolParent

Department:(thedepartmentresponsiblefor theadministration ofthe programme)

Length oftheprogramme:

(pleasenoteanyperiodsspentawayfromBuckingham,e.gplacements)

4 years6months(maximum)

Methodof study:Full-time/Part-time/Other

Part-time

FrameworkforHigherEducationQualifications(FHEQ) Level

(seeGuidancenotes,sectionD

–ExternalReferencePoints)

Professionalbodyaccreditation

(if applicable):

Level 7Relevantsubject

benchmarkstatement (SBS)(see Guidancenotes,sectionD–ExternalReferencePoints)

MasterofBusinessAdministration (2007)

Criteriaforadmissiontotheprogramme:

UCASCode

Academic:MBChB;

WorkExperience:7yearsclinical workexperience(minimum);

Language:IELTS7.0.

Cohort(s) towhichthisprogrammespecificationisapplicable:

(e.g.from 2012intakeonwards)

From September 2015

SummaryofProgramme

  • The MBA(MedicalManagement andLeadership)hasbeendesigned withclinicians, for clinicians;
  • Theprogrammeprovidesexperiencedclinicianswiththeopportunity toacquire considerablespecialisedandgeneralmanagementknowledge, to enablethem to playan enhancedrole intheadministrationandleadershipofhealthcareorganizations;
  • Theprogramme isexplicitlypractice-based,blendingcutting-edgemanagement andorganizationalresearch in 11areas(modules)ofstudy withanexperientialapproach toteachingandlearning;
  • Moduleson theprogrammearedesignedandwillbetaughtincollaborationwithhealthcareprofessionals(‘expertpractitioners’) whowillhelptoprovidereal-lifeexamples and contextualiselearning.
  • Theprogrammedevelopscompetenciesinthefive coreareas identified by the NHSLeadershipAcademy (personal effectiveness,workingwithandmanagingothers, managingservices,improvingservices,strategyanddecisionmaking);
  • Theprogramme isaligned guidelinesproducedbytheFaculty ofMedical Leadership andManagement–‘Professional StandardsforMedical Leadership andManagement’.
  • Throughout, the programmedrawsoncuttingedgeresearch andpracticesfrom otherindustries–inparticular, ontheUniversitiesworld-leadingexpertsinleanenterprise;
  • Theprogramme isdeliveredinshort intensiveteaching‘blocks’andisassessedusingarange ofdifferentassessment strategiesincludingwrittenessays,reflectivelearningjournals, roleplaysandpresentations;
  • Studentshave a maximumof4years6months tocompletethe programme.

EducationalAimsof theProgramme

  • Todevelopstudents’knowledge andunderstandingofhealthcareorganisations, their administration,improvement andthechanginginternalandexternalcontextsinwhichtheyoperate;
  • Toimprovestudents’effectiveness inleadershippositions(medical andmanagement)and/or topreparethem forfurther research(specialisation) inappliedmanagement disciplines(e.g. DBA);
  • Todevelopstudentscapacityto actasmedicalmanagersandleaders who can contribute abalancedoutlookwhichincorporates an understandingofeconomic, environmental,social andethicalconcerns;
  • Toenablestudents to developenduringprofessionalskillsand theunderstandingthat thesecanbeenhancedthroughlife-longlearning.

Programme Outcomes
Knowledgeandunderstandingof:
1.Accounting andFinance;
2.Governance, AuditandAccountability;
3.HealthcareStrategy andPolicy;
4.HealthCommunicationandMarketing;
5.ManagingPeople in Healthcare;
6.Leadership;
7.ProjectandChangeManagement;
8.QualityImprovement Methodologies;
9.HealthInformatics;
10.Critical EnquiryandOrganizationalAnalysis;
11.Howto applybusinessresearchmethodstoenhanceunderstandingofcomplexorganizationalproblems(MBAProject Module). / Teaching/LearningStrategy:
  • Eachmodule (with theexceptionofthe ProjectModule)willcompriseof 4 daysofdirectpedagogical contact;
  • TheProject Module has noformallytaughtsessions,but studentswillworkon a1:1basiswitha supervisory teamcomprisedofan academicandan ‘expert-practitioner;
  • Teachingwillnormallybesplitinto2 x2dayblocks;
  • Eachteachingblockwillbe dividedinto 3x3hrsessions(day 1)and2 x3hrsessions(day2).Dependingontheteaching,learningandassessment requirementsthesestrategiesmaydiffer slightly(e.g.1x2dayteachingblock+1day
+1day);
  • Coreknowledge andunderstandingisacquiredthroughlectures, seminarsandworkshops.Thesewillhave astrongpractical and/or experientialorientationachievedthroughtheuse ofgroupwork,healthcarespecific casestudies, DVDs,YouTubevideos, etc.,andpresentationsbyindustryexperts;
  • Wherepossiblelecturers willutilisedlive/‘real-life’case studiesdrawingoncurrent/proposedprojects.Students will be encouragedtocontributetheirownmaterial to helpcontextualiselearning;
  • In additiontothetaught material,students will beexpected toundertakeguidedself-studytoincreasethe depth andbreadth oftheirknowledgeandunderstandingofcoretheories;
  • TheProjectmodule willprovide aforumforstudentsto applytheirknowledgewithin apracticalcontext. Itwillsimultaneouslyuse and developreflectiveskills,and theabilityto independentlyidentify, investigateanddemonstrateanenhancedunderstanding(throughprimaryor secondaryresearch)ofacomplexorganizationalproblem.
  • TheUniversitiesVirtualLearningEnvironment(Moodle)will be usedtoprovidesupport materialsto students, andasan additional mediumforcommunication.

AssessmentStrategy:
Coursework (e.g. writtenessays, reports,) will beusedassess:
1.Knowledge and understandingofcoursematerial;
2.Abilityto applytheoreticalknowledgeto practicalorganizationalproblems;
3.Abilityto evaluatethe efficacyoftheory inrelationto bothwideracademicdebatesandtheirexistingpractical workexperience;
4.Abilityto construct clear,concise and well-reasonedwrittenarguments.
LearningJournals willbe usedto assess:
1.Improvementsinlearning and development;
2.Capacityforpersonal, critical, reflection;
3.Abilityto articulatereflectionson learningandprogress,identifyandmakechangesthatimprovepersonal performance.
Groupprojects andpresentationswill be usedtoasses:
1.Ability toform task-orientatedworkgroups;
2.Abilityto workwithotherson aspecifictasks/projects;
3.Abilityto workwithotherstoconstruct clear,concise and well-reasonedwrittenand/or verbalarguments.
Writtenexaminationswill be used toassess:
1.Knowledge and understandingofcoursematerial;
2.Abilityto applytheoreticalknowledgeto practicalorganizationalproblems;
3.Abilityto evaluatethe efficacytheory inrelation tobothwideracademicdebatesandtheir existingpractical workexperience;
4.Abilityto construct clear,concise and well-reasonedwrittenargumentsintime-constraintconditions;
Roleplayexercisesinvolvingprofessional actorsplayingout‘real’scenarios(e.g. atribunal,performancemanagement review,etc., )will be usedto assesstudents’:
1.Abilityto ‘act out’howtheywouldperformintheparticular management scenariotheyarefacedwith,potentiallyatshortnotice;
2.Knowledge and understandingcoretheoreticalconcepts,and howto applythisinpractice;
3.Abilitytoleadandhandleeffectively,the specificscenariotheyarepresentedwith(includingtheirabilityto make livedecisionsinpressurisedenvironments).
Cognitive(thinking) skills:
1.Theabilitytoaccess, understand,evaluateandapplycomplexsocialtheory;
2.Theabilityto undertakequantitativeandqualitativeresearch,apply thatresearchtocomplexorganizationalproblems anddrawlogicalconclusions;
3.Theabilityto evaluatequalitative andquantitative data(bothprimary andsecondary)inwayswhichsupportorganizationaldecision-making;
4.Theabilityto communicateeffectivelyacrossarangeofdifferent media,andpresentquantitative andqualitativedatato bothspecialistand non-specialistaudiences;
5.Theabilityto performeffectivelyas anindividual and aspartofamulticultural, interdisciplinaryworkgroup. / Teaching/LearningStrategy:
Theacquisitionofskillsinareas1-3 will be achievedthroughatutor-ledpedagogicalmodel(lectures,seminars andworkshops)whichpromote thecriticalscrutiny oftheory,discussionanddebateaboutapplication(s) tocontemporary organizationalproblems.
GuidedIndependent studyandassignments(includingpreparatory reading, writtenessaysandindividualandgroupprojectand presentations) willplayaformativerole in supporting the developmentandacquisitionofskillsinallareas, but specificallyinareas4 and5.
Learningwill be aidedthroughwrittenfeedbackonperformance(provided aspartofthe assessmentprocess) andexercisesdesignedto promoteindividualandgroup reflexivity (e.g.learningjournalsandreviewingvideorecordings ofpresentations– ‘videoreflexivity’).
AssessmentStrategy:
Writtencoursework (essays,reportslearningjournals) will be used toassessintellectualdevelopmentinrelationtoareas1-3where thecognitiveskillsbeingtested arecomplexinnatureandareprincipallyarticulatedthroughthe productsofsustainedintellectualengagement (e.g. writtenessays).
Groupandindividual projects and presentationswill be used toassessskillsassociatedwithcommunication(area4)andeffective groupworking(area5). Thesestrategiesenable theassessment ofskillsthat are primarilypractical innature(e.g. verbalpresentationskills; groupworkingskills),as well asotherssuchasthe abilitytotranslatecomplextheoretical informationintosimplemessagessuitablefor non-specialist audiences.
Practical/Transferableskills(ableto):
1.Theabilityto makedecisionsincomplexorganizationalenvironments;
2.Theabilitytoperformeffectively aspart ofagroup, andwherenecessary,to actasaneffectiveleader;
3.Theabilityto communicatecomplexinformationclearlyandconcisely tospecialistandnon-specialistaudiencesacrossarangeofdifferentmedia; / Teaching/LearningStrategy:
Theacquisitionanddevelopmentofallpracticalandtransferable skillswill be embeddedintoallofthemodulesontheprogramme.
Skillssuchastheabilitytocriticallyanalysequantitative and qualitative data areintegral totheMBAproject module and will be developedthroughinitial researchmethodstraining, anddevelopedfurther bydirect 1:1tutor interaction(projectsupervision)andguidedself-study.
Skillssuchas academicreportwriting aredevelopedthroughout the programme– initially duringthepersonal effectivenessmodule,but also onallmoduleswithwrittenassessmentcomponents.
4.Theabilityto criticallyanalysequantitative and qualitative data (bothprimaryandsecondary);
5.Reportwriting. / AssessmentStrategy:
Groupandindividual presentationsareusedthroughout the programmeto assessskillacquisitionanddevelopmentinareas1-3– particularlyonthepersonal effectivenessmodule.
Writtenessaysandreportsare usedto assessskillacquisitionanddevelopment inareas1and 3-5(decisionmaking,communication,critical analysisandacademicreportwriting).
External ReferencePoints
Thefollowingreferencepointswereused indesigning the programme
  • Faculty ofMedical Leadership and Management-Professional StandardsforMedical LeadershipandManagement
( professional-standards-of)
  • FrameworkforHigherEducationQualifications(
  • RelevantSubjectBenchmarkStatement(s)(

Pleasenote:Thisspecificationprovidesaconcisesummaryofthemainfeaturesoftheprogrammeandthelearningoutcomesthatatypicalstudentmightreasonablybeexpectedtoachieveanddemonstrateifhe/shetakesfulladvantageofthelearningopportunitiesthatareprovided.Moredetailedinformationonthelearningoutcomes,contentandteaching,learningandassessmentmethodsofeachcourseunit/modulecanbefoundinthedepartmentalorprogrammehandbook.TheaccuracyoftheinformationcontainedinthisdocumentisreviewedannuallybytheUniversityofBuckinghamandmaybecheckedbytheQualityAssuranceAgency.
ProgrammeDirector(s) Name(s):
Dateof Production: / October2014
Dateapproved bySchoolLearningandTeachingCommittee
Dateapproved bySchoolBoardof Study
Dateapproved byUniversityLearning andTeachingCommittee
DateofAnnualReview: / September2016

Programmenotes:

1.MBAStudentsmust completeall 12moduleswithin 4years;

2.Allmoduleswill run at least twice peryear;

3.Studentscanselectanymodule in anyorder, butmust completeallthe stipulatedmodulesfromagivenprogram inorder toqualifyforformalcertification(e.g. Certificate,Diploma,Masters);

4.It isanticipatedthat studentswill take upto 18monthstocompletea Certificate,36monthstocompleteaDiploma, 54monthstocompletea Masters;

5.Whilst exacttutor contact times willvary betweenmodules, most moduleswillinvolve 30 hoursofcontact time, splitover 2x2 dayblocksinvolvingmorning, afternoonandeveningteaching;

6.Moduleswill run with aminimum of8students,maximumof20;

Module / Certificate(60Units) / Diploma(120Units) / Masters(180Units)
1 / Accounting andFinance(15 Units) / CORE / CORE / CORE
2 / HealthcareStrategyandPolicy (15 Units) / CORE / CORE / CORE
3 / ManagingPeople in Healthcare(15 Units) / CORE / CORE / CORE
4 / CorporateGovernance,AuditandAccountability(15 Units) / OPTIONAL / OPTIONAL / CORE
5 / QualityImprovement (15Units) / OPTIONAL / OPTIONAL / CORE
6 / Leadership (15 Units) / OPTIONAL / OPTIONAL / CORE
7 / HealthCommunicationandMarketing (15Units) / OPTIONAL / OPTIONAL / CORE
8 / ProjectChangeManagement (15Units) / OPTIONAL / OPTIONAL / CORE
9 / HealthInformatics(15Units) / OPTIONAL / OPTIONAL / CORE
10 / Critical EnquiryandOrganizationalAnalysis(15 Units) / CORE
11 / Project (30 Units) / CORE
ProgrammeRequirements / 3 x Core
1 x Optional / 3 x Core
5 x Optional / Allmodules
September Start
Year1
ModuleTitle / UnitValue / Schedule
Accounting andFinance / 15 / Autumn
HealthcareStrategyandPolicy / 15 / Autumn
ManagingPeople in Healthcare / 15 / Winter
CorporateGovernance,AuditandAccountability / 15 / Winter
Leadership / 15 / Spring
HealthCommunicationandMarketing / 15 / Spring
Year2
QualityImprovement / 15 / Autumn
ProjectChangeManagement / 15 / Autumn
HealthInformatics / 15 / Winter
Critical EnquiryandOrganizationalAnalysis / 15 / Winter
Project / 30 / Spring/Summer
JanuaryStart
Year1
ModuleTitle / UnitValue / Schedule
Accounting andFinance / 15 / Winter
HealthcareStrategyandPolicy / 15 / Winter
ManagingPeople in Healthcare / 15 / Spring
CorporateGovernance,AuditandAccountability / 15 / Spring
Leadership / 15 / Autumn
HealthCommunicationandMarketing / 15 / Autumn
Year2
QualityImprovement / 15 / Winter
ProjectChangeManagement / 15 / Winter
HealthInformatics / 15 / Spring
Critical EnquiryandOrganizationalAnalysis / 15 / Spring
Project / 30 / Summer/Autumn