What you will study
The course is designed to build knowledge of current HR approaches and to explore, challenge and consider the future of each through various lens. With modules delivered by both academic and practitioners from industry, students are able to immerse themselves in how research and practise work together to find innovative and creative solutions to HR challenges today.
Modules
Student will take all the compulsory modules and select one optional module. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year or between teaching blocks.
Core modules
Organisational Strategy and the Purpose of HR
15 credits
This module introduces the connection between the organisational strategy and the HR function presenting a variety of views from different lens within the organisation. The module provides an understanding of the academic, strategic, and practical concepts to support this and specifically looks at the strategic role HR has in organisations today, and the opportunities they have to influence and shape success through the function and its roles.
HR Analytics
15 credits
This module provides an understanding of data and its use within HR functions today to provide insights and support business decisions. Starting the journey of identifying how and why data can help us, we then actively take a variety of data, analyse and present solutions in formats that support HR business cases and provide answers to workforce focused questions. It introduces a variety of quantitative and qualitative analytical methodologies and techniques that show in practice how data analytics can add value to an organisation.
Talent Acquisition
30 credits
This module provides an understanding of the importance of the candidate journey in today's global talent market. Starting with the way we plan our talent requirements in organisations, we then explore attraction, recruitment and onboarding approaches that support organisations to have inclusive and diverse workforces. The module addresses contemporary issues and equips students with the ability to critically appraise the suitability of talent acquisition methods for different scenarios.
Managing and Leading People
30 credits
This module provides insights and understanding into creating sustainable relationships and management of individuals within our organisations as hybrid working becomes more mainstream and workforces become more globally positioned. It considers how employee relations is a central part of creating diverse and inclusive workforces. It also connects to how we manage performance effectively and build successful teams to support organisational outcomes.
Employee Experience
30 credits
This module develops an in depth understanding of how we develop and maintain engagement and motivation in our workforces today. Considering the impact of organisational culture towards various models and frameworks of engagement, the module then focuses on how HR can impact individuals' experiences through critically reviewing various contemporary concepts and practices.
Organisational Development and Change Management
30 credits
This module looks at the reasons for organisational development and change, considering how we can manage the process more effectively for success, exploring change models and the leadership skills required to support individuals. This module then takes us to look at the behavioural science of change and the importance of this in today's evolving organisations. Working on a specific industry change project, there is practical application of applied learning through the requirement to create and deliver a change plan.
Optional modules
Organisational Learning and Development
15 credits
This module offers students the opportunity to explore and understanding the importance of how organisational learning and development works in today's global organisations. Considering the perspectives of both the individual and the organisation it looks at how we learn and what inclusive approaches are best suited and available to support learning and development in an ever-changing environment or work today. It also looks at the developing areas of technology and the impact this is having on the approaches we are using.
Employment Law
15 credits
This module develops students' understanding of employee relations and employment law and of the economic, social and political context in which it develops. Focused primarily on UK law, but not exclusively, it will give a sound knowledge of individual employment rights and an understanding of the application of the law in employment relations issues. It will enable students to advise managers in applying the law to specific problems and in proposing appropriate legal and HR policy measures to ensure compliance with the law, best practice and the effective management of the employment relationship.
Total Reward Management
15 credits
This module develops a critical view and appraisal of the fundamental principles, key frameworks, strategies, systems and good practices of compensation and reward, and the contribution of compensation and benefits to the achievement of HR and business strategies.
