Executive MBA (Education)

Course structure

Three years – university-based study blocks

Each module involves a three-day study block and self-managed study time. You complete

• year one – four modules

• year two – three modules plus work-based project

• year three – one module plus dissertation or consultancy project

This flexible attendance means that the course has minimal impact on your work or personal time and you can be based anywhere in the UK or overseas.

Starts February

If you would like to discuss the start date options, please email the course leader, Dr Steven Pattinson s.pattinson@shu.ac.uk

Typical modules may include

Course structure

Year one
• managing strategy • strategic marketing management and decision making • choose two options

Year two
• strategic global human resource management and decision making • developing personal and professional leadership practice • choose two options

Year three
• research and consultancy methods • dissertation or organisational project

Educational leadership options

• leadership of learning through the workforce • leadership of learning through data and institutional improvement strategies • leadership in partnerships and networks • educational leadership of change

Module descriptions – MBA core modules

Developing personal and professional leadership practice
This module will help you to develop and enhance the qualities and transferrable skills necessary for your studies, career progression, professional and personal development. You will develop and practice the skills required to critically reflect on learning and on your ability to apply learning to real world complex issues within the work place; citing actions and barriers to implementation.

Strategic global human resource management and decision-making
This module is designed to enhance your knowledge and develop your understanding of organisational behaviour and human resource management theory and practice. It will develop and expand your knowledge and perspective of the complexity of the interrelationships between people, organisations and the environment, in the contexts of contemporary international organisations.

Strategic marketing management and decision making
This module will help you to understand what it means to be a marketing oriented organisation and how to develop marketing strategies that meet corporate objectives and deliver sustainable competitive advantage.

Managing strategy
The module explores the theory of strategic management and financial concepts, in a range of industries, organisational and global contexts. You will develop the critical, theoretical and practical skills to examine past strategies and current positions, and develop proposals on how organisations might develop in the future with consideration of the global business environment.

Research methods
To provide you with a sound and wide ranging introduction to research methods, in order to underpin your dissertation.

Dissertation or organisational project
Undertake critical research and/or analyse specific business problems and provide new insights.

Module descriptions – educational leadership options

Leadership of learning through the workforce
This module will develop your knowledge, skills, awareness and understanding of the leadership and management functions/practice in educational settings. We also explore how these relate to the achievement of successful outcomes for students and how to maximise the effective contribution of staff in the leadership of learning.

Leadership of learning through data and institutional improvement strategies
This module will develop and expand your knowledge and understanding of the use of institutional and external data to support strategic and operational decision-making and to inform institutional planning.

Leadership in partnerships and networks
Educational leaders and professionals are operating in a complex and rapidly changing social, political and economic context, which is increasingly reliant upon the effective collaboration of a range of professionals in the public sector, also linking to private providers. Within this context, the module will develop and expand your knowledge and understanding of the complexity of leadership in a partnership context, through real world diagnosis and application, promoting an awareness of the diverse spectrum of related concepts, models and theories.

Educational leadership of change
This module develops and expands your knowledge and understanding of the complexity of leadership and change, through real world diagnosis and application, and through awareness of the diverse spectrum of related concepts, models and theories.