The Professional Certificate in Business Administration programme (“PCBA”) is the stepping- stone towards an MBA qualification. On completion of this professional certificate students have two options:
- continue to the LEB SCQF level 11 Professional Diploma in Business Administration carrying a 120 credit exemption towards an MBA top-up degree with an LEB partner university; or
- enroll on an MBA with an LEB associated university in the US with 12 credits transfer.
Overall Programme Outcomes
On successful completion of the programme, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate critical understanding of management theories, current issues of management, the development of conceptual frameworks to guide their application within organisations.
- Acquire a strong foundation in key functional areas of business management to enable them to succeed as effective managers/leaders in an increasingly complex and dynamic environment.
- Acquire and use a range of concepts, tools and techniques for problem solving and decision-making for analyzing complex and inter-related business scenarios.
- Demonstrate and apply independent research and critical skills enabling the investigation and evaluation of valid and relevant management issues and practices.
Assessment Strategy
The aim of the assessment strategy is to identify formal practices and procedures for assessing and appraising the performance of the PCBA students to enable judgments and decisions to be reached concerning:
(a) The progression of students through the programme.
(b) How well students have met the programme learning outcomes through the combination of the individual unit learning outcomes.
(c) The provision of feedback information to students concerning their performance and how they adhered to the generic assessment criteria and the unit-specific assessment criteria.
(d) The award of level 7 credits for individual modules.
(e) The granting of the PCBA award.
The underpinning principles which drive the assessment strategies adopted for this programme are the profile of the target students and the programme itself (its philosophy and associated learning outcomes).
Entry Requirement
- A Bachelor’s Degree qualification in any subject from a recognised institution.
- A professional qualification equivalent to a degree and a minimum of two years of working experience.
- Mature and high potential candidates without a degree or equivalent qualifications but hold Diplomas or Advanced Diplomas with more than six years of work experience of which at least two years are at supervisory / managerial level.
- Mature and high potential candidates without Diploma qualifications but with more than 8 years of work experience of which at least 3 years are at supervisory /managerial levels.
- Demonstrate English Language proficiency in order to participate in the programme taught in English.
Advanced Standing / Exemptions / Credits Transfer (APL)
Consideration for the above for students admitted onto the programme may be considered either at the beginning of a programme, or beyond the beginning of a programme, through an assessment of that student’s prior learning, whether certificated or un-certificated. The process for making such a decision is known as the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is a matter of academic judgment exercised by the appointed panel considering applications and approvals of APL.
Where cohorts of students are to be admitted with advanced standing on a regular basis, the arrangement should be subject to an Academic Progression Agreement.
Programme Structure
The PGCBA accrues 60 credits over four (4) modules as set out as mentioned below.
- Managing Business Strategy (15 credits)
- Marketing Management (15 credits)
- Project Management (15 credits)
- Managing Human Capital (15 credits)
Overview of the Programme Structure
- All students undergo an online induction workshop, which is not assessed and aimed at acquiring e-learning skills for the use of the online learning portal. In addition, academic expectations, regulations and the concept of independent learning are also covered. The induction will be delivered through a pre-recorded video.
- To complete the programme and achieve the PCBA award, students must successfully complete and earn a total of 60 credits.
- Generally, each semester/term will be delivered over duration of 3 weeks per module where the cycle of delivery will follow a prescribed unit planner over a 12 week duration.
- Those who are unable to fully complete the PCBA can receive transcript with level 7 credits earned. Students are required to complete their PCBA between a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 6 months from the time of enrolment as a student.
Module 1: Managing Business Strategy
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
- To enable students to develop an awareness of, and become familiar with, academic theories, frameworks, managerial models and techniques that contribute to business strategic planning and management; and
- To critically evaluate and apply appropriate strategic models and techniques which may be relevant when considering students’ own organisations’ or industry strategic development
Module content includes:
- The Concept of Strategy and how it benefits the organization vision, mission and objectives.
- Transformation of the External Strategic Environment and the Consequences and the Influence of the Internal Environment on Current Practice.
- Key Strategic Techniques for Analysis.
- Strategic Development, namely Acquisitions and Mergers, Joint ventures and Alliances, and Divestment.
- Strategy Implementation.
- Strategic Performance Analysis.
- Strategic Plan
Module 2 – Managing Human Capital
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
- To develop a critical understanding of current and emerging practices in the managing of human capital in organizations; and
- Enhance students ’abilities to increase the contribution of human capital management to long-term corporate success, whatever the specific nature of their managerial role and the industry they are in.
Module content includes:
- Historical view of work, work today and workers’ psychological contract.
- Essence of organisational strategy, human capital strategy.
- Human Capital Management (HCM) roles in structures, culture and policy as well as strategic Human Capital (HC) partnership and alliance.
- The Workplace Relations.
- New Roles and Challenges for HCM including Talent Management.
- Human Capital Trends and Organisation Culture
Module 3 – Marketing Management
Upon completion of this unit, learners will be able to:
- To provide students with a firm ground in the frameworks and concepts of marketing management; and
- To provide students with the skills required to carry out a full situation analysis and use the findings to develop objectives, formulate strategy and develop appropriate marketing plans.
Module content includes:
- Introduction to Marketing Management.
- The Environment Influence and its Management.
- Marketing Strategies.
- Product Planning & Screening.
- Promotion Strategy.
- Advertising Strategies.
- Global Marketing.
- Pricing Policies & Strategies.
- Marketing Analysis and Formulating a Marketing Plan.
- Implementation, Evaluation & Control.
Module 4 – Project Management
Upon completion of this unit, learners will be able to:
- To examine critically the selective application of project management specific knowledge and other knowledge to the planning and execution of projects.
- To develop additional skills in the application of project management theory and techniques.
Module content includes:
- The nature of projects.
- Scoping and initiation.
- Risk Management.
- Time and activity planning.
- Links to motivation, team management and other theories.
- Project selection.
- Managing the project lifecycle.
- Project documentation.
Mode of Delivery
MODE A
| Fully Online Mode |
|---|
| Each taught Module should have a total of 8 hours of online classes, tutorials and interaction with the Module Leader. This will be supported by self-study using Online Learning Resources. Pre-recorded video lectures for each module will be provided. |
MODE B
| Blended Learning Mode |
|---|
| Each taught unit will have a total of 8 hours of face-to-face lectures and 18 hours of online tutoring and online interactions with the Module Leader. |
Location
For the Blended Mode and Face to Face Fully Taught Mode please Contact Us to find an Approved Learning Centre near you
Please note we are constantly adding LEB Approved Centres
For the Fully Online Mode please enrol now to sign up for the next available intake