Proposal for a New Programme

This proposal is in Strategic Phase 4

Operational Phase 4

1. Name of Department and Departmental contact

Business School; Dr D G Johnson

2. Award and Title of proposed new programme

MSc Business & Management Research

3. Month and Year of first intake to the programme

October 2004

4. If the proposed new programme is a revised version of an existing programme, state how this will be phased in, i.e. - year(s) that Parts B, C, D will commence; pathway for students currently on placement/leave of absence and resit students

The programme is new. It is, however, based on 6 existing modules from the Department of Social Sciences MSc in Social Research (75% of the taught element) and the Business School’s well-established PhD training programme (25% of the taught element).

5. List any new modules proposed.

Some of the material taught on the Business School’s existing PhD training programme has been re-structured into the following two modules:

Research in Business & Management (15 credits)

Intra-Disciplinary Research Issues (15 credits)

If new modules are proposed the following declaration should be completed.

I have searched the database and in my opinion:

4 No existing alternative modules are available

Existing alternative modules are unsuitable (Please explain in Section 7 below)

Signature: _____________________________

6. Is it intended that any modules will be available by full/partial Distance Learning? 4 Yes

4 No

Is it intended that the programme will be fully Distance Learning? 4 Yes

4 No

Guidelines on full/partial DL provision are available on the intranet at:

https://internal.lboro.ac.uk/admin/registry/uniwide/

7. Reasons for the proposal: its purpose and relevance; how it will enhance calibre of teaching and learning; implications for existing programmes and modules in the department

The Business School’s strategic plan has as one of its major targets the development of its research activity to a level at least equivalent to grade 5 under the current RAE assessment process. A major part of this objective is to continue the recent increases in research student numbers, particularly full-time students, and to achieve ESRC recognition as part of the ongoing development of research student training. The reasons for the proposed programme are therefore both strategic and pedagogic. The ‘strategic’ stems from the need for ESRC recognition to encourage more and better applications for PhD study in the Business School, and the ‘pedagogic’ arises from the need to develop and make more efficient the training of research students across the faculty.

At the present time, the Business School runs its own research training programme involving about 80 hours class contact with a group of (currently) about 15 full-time students. This group is augmented by the inclusion of a small number of part-time students who attend on an occasional basis in line with their needs for specific research training in topics directly related to their research. Many of the topics and issues covered in the training programme are common to most social science disciplines, particularly the management of research, general research methodologies and commonly used qualitative and quantitative research techniques. As such, they are probably being taught to similar groups of research students across most departments within the faculty. Arising from this, a number of similar MSc programmes have already been agreed from other departments within the faculty, building mainly on the programme originally proposed by the Department of Social Sciences. The model is to take a number of core modules provided by the Department of Social Sciences, augmented by a small number of additional modules particular to the department concerned. These MSc programmes form the first year of a standard “1+3” PhD programme, as proposed by ESRC.

In addition to providing 30 credits on the MSc, the two proposed new modules on research in business and management, involving a total of about 40 hours teaching, will also provide the basis for a re-structured training programme for traditional 3-year research students as part of the first 6 months of their doctoral research. This training programme will now comprise the two new modules, augmented by an introduction to research methodologies, as well as qualitative and quantitative techniques of research.

The impact on existing programmes will be minimal as the proposed programme will be entirely distinct from the Business School’s existing MSc programmes, all of which are designed as ‘conversion’ courses to introduce students from non-business and management backgrounds to management principles and techniques.

8. Expected student numbers

As described above, the programme is designed to attract ESRC funded “1+3” research students to the Business School, as well as “+3” students. Expected additional student numbers are about 5 per year.

It should be remembered, however, that the modules taught by the Business School will also involve non-“1+3” Business School PhD students (currently about 15-20 per year), and the Social Sciences modules will involve students from other departments within the faculty.

9. Staffing implications - adequacy of existing departmental resources; net increase/reduction in staff teaching effort or demands on support staff

There should be little or no additional teaching effort required due to the use of existing modules from the MSc in Social Research, and the saving of some of the teaching currently provided for the PhD training programme. There will be a modest increase in academic staff time for the supervision of dissertations, perhaps about 40 hours per year in total.

Demands on support staff will be minimal and will be accommodated within the planned continuing increase in PGR recruitment generally.

10. Additional Library requirements

The library is already well stocked in the areas covered by the programme. No extra materials are envisaged in the short term, over and above the routine acquisition of any relevant, newly published texts.

11. Additional Computing Support required

The programme will require the provision of a small amount of additional hardware, to be located in the PhD student rooms, which can be met from existing and anticipated departmental resources.

Network/Software (please elaborate):

Lab Space (please elaborate):

12. Other resource implications, e.g. - lecture room, lab and other space requirements; equipment, materials; timetabling constraints (block-teaching for example); any special residential requirements

The department will have to increase its provision of space for research students, equivalent to one extra small room. Accommodation for research students is already tight, and any projected increase in numbers will exacerbate the situation. Space is becoming a major constraint for the Business School and additional numbers brought about by the proposed programme will be factored into the space plans generally.

13. Implications for other departments both providing and receiving

The major implication for other departments is the extra students feeding into the six modules provided by the Department of Social Sciences. This form of ‘joint provision’ has been encouraged within faculty planning for research training, and it is assumed that the small numbers from the Business School can be accommodated without undue difficulty.

The two dedicated Business School modules are designed to be self sufficient, so they might conceivably be usable by similar MSc students in other departments whose research has a business orientation.

14. Evidence of demand and suitability; views of lecturers; current/prospective students; external examiners/ assessors, professional/industrial bodies etc.

This proposal is part of a strategic move towards achieving “1+3” recognition for the Business School, and mirrors similar developments elsewhere in the faculty. Evidence from the ESRC and other departments within the faculty indicates that a coherent, faculty wide provision of this type is likely to generate considerable interest, and should result in the modest numbers built into this proposal. It is also likely that, in the short term, there could be a significant demand from non-UK students, particularly from developing countries such as Malaysia, where there is a move towards offering more PhD work locally but where they do not, at present, have sufficient well-trained staff.

15. Implications for employability

The main justification for the programme is to increase the numbers of high quality PhD students within the Business School, particularly those with ESRC funding. Students from “1+3” programmes will be increasingly in demand as more universities, both UK and overseas, aim to recruit new lecturing staff who are solidly trained in research methods and who can quickly be self-sufficient and productive researchers.

16. Any other relevant information

STRATEGIC PHASE

Financial Statement attached........................................................................................................... 4

Head of Department Signature:…………………………………………………………….

Date: …………………………………..

This proposal has been discussed with the Department and is approved for submission to the Faculty Directorate and Operations Sub-Committee.

Associate Dean (Teaching) Signature: ………………………………………………………..

Date: ……………………………………

Forms not including both the Head of Department's and Associate Dean (Teaching)'s signature will not be accepted.

OPERATIONAL PHASE

Programme Regulations attached (with any Distance Learning Modules identified)....................... 4

Programme Specification attached............................................ .................................................. 4

New Module Specifications (CIS versions) attached .................................................. 4

Evidence of External Support attached..................................... 4

Consultation forms attached and considered:

........... Other Academic Departments............................................................................................... 4

........... (Please list)............................ Social Sciences

........... Library....................................................................... .................................................. 4

........... Careers Service ......................................................... .................................................. 4

........... Computing Services................................................... .................................................. 4

........... Media Services........................................................... .................................................. 4

........... Learning and Teaching Development (where appropriate for the development,

........... support and provision of distance learning)

Quality Assurance Statement attached (for collaborative proposal only)

Head of Department Signature:…………………………………………………………….

Date: …………………………………..

This proposal is approved for submission to Curriculum Sub-Committee

Associate Dean (Teaching) Signature: ………………………………………………………..

Date: ……………………………………

Forms not including both the Head of Department's and Associate Dean (Teaching)'s signature will not be accepted.

(August 2002)

WHEN SUBMITTING OPERATIONAL PROPOSALS please forward an electronic copy of the proposal form and the programme regulations/specification as an email attachment to J.E.Elliott

LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY

REGULATIONS FOR THE POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMME IN BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH

These regulations refer to the content of the course in the session 2004-2005 but are subject to change from time to time. Notice of change will be given in subsequent editions to these Regulations. Students should enquire as to the up-to date position when they need to know this.

These Programme Regulations should be read in conjunction with the General Regulations for Modular Postgraduate Awards (GRMPA), the Assessment Regulations for Modular Postgraduate Awards (ARMPA) and the relevant Module Specifications.

1. STRUCTURE

1.1 Administrative responsibility for the programme rests with the Business School.

1.2 The minimum and maximum periods of study for the awards covered by these regulations are specified in GRMPA.

1.3 The Programme leads to the award of: Loughborough Postgraduate Certificate (LPC) Loughborough Postgraduate Diploma; Postgraduate Diploma with Distinction (LPD) OR postgraduate MSc in Business and Management Research, or Postgraduate MSc in Business and Management Research with Distinction.

2. CONTENT

CODE TITLE MODULE WEIGHT

SSP401 Research Design I 15

SSP403 Qualitative Methods and Analysis I 15

SSP404 Qualitative Methods and Analysis II 15

SSP405 Quantitative Methods and Analysis I: 15

SSP406 Quantitative Methods and Analysis II: 15

SSP407 Effective Management of Research I: 15

BSP460 Research in Business and Management 15

BSP465 Intra-Disciplinary Research Issues 15

BSP450 Dissertation 60

3. ASSESSMENT

3.1 Each module in the programme will be assessed, and credit will be awarded, in accordance with the levels of achievement specified in GRMPA.

3.2 In accordance with GRMPA, but with the exclusion of module BSP450 (Dissertation), candidates who have a right of re-assessment in a module may choose to be re-assessed at an earlier date than that of the next routine assessment of the module.

4. AWARDS: SPECIFIC PROGRAMME PROVISIONS

As provided for in GRMPA, candidates must fulfil the following requirements in order to be eligible for an award:

4.1 Eligibility for the awards of LPC and LPD will be based on candidates' performance in modules other than BSP450 (Dissertation).

4.2 To be eligible for the award of LPC, candidates must fulfil the requirements specified in GRMPA.

4.3 To be eligible for the award of LPD, candidates must accumulate at least 105credits and achieve a minimum of 40% in one further module.

4.4 To be eligible for the award of MSc, candidates must accumulate at least 165 credits and achieve a minimum of 40% in the remaining module.

4.5 To be eligible for the award of LPD or MSc with Distinction, candidates must fulfil the requirements specified in GRMPA.