BA Honours Business Administration for Personal Assistants Programme Specification 1. Programme title Business Administration for Personal Assistants 2. Awarding institution Middlesex University 3. Teaching institution Middlesex University 4. Programme accredited by N/A 5. qualification Bachelor of Arts 6. Academic year 2011/12 7. Language of study English 8. Mode of study Distance Education (DE) 9. Criteria for admission to the programme Sufficient work based experience and opportunity to undertake work based projects as well as meeting the following criteria. For year one admission, Middlesex University general requirements apply, including GCSE’s (grades A to C) in mathematics and English language. Applicants whose first language is not English are required to achieve 6.0 in IELTS or an equivalent recognised by Middlesex University. For entry with advanced standing to year 2 (or final year), candidates must have achieved both 120 credits at level one (or 240 credits including 100 at level two) and must have successfully met the relevant learning outcome and syllabus requirements of the programme. This may be determined through the Recognition and Accreditation of Learning process of respective WBS modules for Years 2 or 3. The equivalence of qualifications from outside the UK will be determined according to NARIC guidance. 10. Aims of the programme This programme aims to enable students to develop effective business skills, realise the interrelationship of business functions, build essential business skills, and be proficient in addressing current business issues and situations as these relate to the role of the Personal or Executive Assistant. This programme also aims to develop knowledge and skills needed by those students wishing to develop their role and business career. Specifically, it aims: to provide broad access educational opportunities which enables students in (or aspiring to occupy) professional roles as Personal or Executive Assistants to develop knowledge, intellectual opportunities and potential; to offer students a comprehensive and effective range of learning support and guidance mechanisms; to develop the capacity to communicate effectively in written, oral and other forms of presentation; to establish a learning experience through the programme that encourages the development of those personal qualities and skills appropriate to the role of PA and sought after by employers.
11. Programme outcomes A. Knowledge and understanding On completion of this programme the successful student will have knowledge and understanding of: stakeholders: their expectations and behaviour; the environment of business and its impact on strategy; products: design, production and distribution business resources: acquisition, application and control; business processes: planning, improvement and control; organisations: their functions, structure and management; identify sources of knowledge and use them appropriately. Teaching/learning methods Students gain knowledge and understanding through guided reading of textbooks, journals and course and exercises. Assessment Method Students’ knowledge and understanding is assessed by on-line objective tests, and written assignments. B. Cognitive (thinking) skills On completion of this programme the successful student will be able to: define, explain and evaluate a range of phenomena, concepts, models, theories, principles and practices; apply concepts, models and theories to analyse situations; identify, evaluate and construct arguments; demonstrate self awareness and sensitivity to others; take and defend a decision or position on a given issue, considering commercial, ethical and other factors; create and evaluate solutions to given problems; engage in self appraisal/reflection on practice. Teaching/learning methods Students learn cognitive skills through individual and group exercises and case; and online discussions. Feedback on assessments. Assessment Method Students’ cognitive skills are assessed by essays, oral presentations and written work, sometimes based on case analysis. C. Practical skills On completion of the programme the successful student will be able to: locate, categorise, prioritise, and synthesise information necessary for business purposes; interpret business reports and evaluate performance; select and apply business monitoring and control techniques; set objectives for business change & plan implementation; identify and demonstrate interpersonal skills appropriate to a given business situation; apply learning and use resources effectively. Teaching/learning methods Students practical skills through simulations, individual and group case analysis and problem solving. Assessment Method Students’ practical skills are assessed by individual and exercises, individual assignments and tests. D. Graduate Skills On completion of this programme the successful student will be able to: Teaching/learning methods Students acquire graduate skills through on-line exercises and embedded activities embedded in a level one module. Subsequently,
A2 The environment of business and its impact on strategy C2 Interpret business reports and evaluate performance A3 Products: design, production and distribution C3 Select and apply business monitoring and control techniques A4 Business resources: acquisition, application and control C4 Set objectives for business change & plan implementation A5 Business processes: planning, improvement and control C5 Identify and demonstrate interpersonal skills appropriate to a given business situation A6 Organisations: their functions, structure and management C6 apply learning and use resources effectively A7 Identify sources of knowledge and use them appropriately Cognitive skills Graduate Skills B1 Define, explain and evaluate a range of phenomena, concepts, models theories, principles and practices. D1 Clarify career objectives & develop plans to achieve them B2 Apply concepts, models and theories to analyse situations D2 flexibly and effectively from diverse opportunities B3 Identify, evaluate and construct arguments D3 Communicate persuasively using a range of media B4 Demonstrate self awareness and sensitivity to others D4 Contribute positively to team performance B5 Take and defend a decision on a given issue, considering commercial, ethical and other factors D5 Use ICT to improve personal productivity B6 Create and evaluate solutions to given problems D6 Collect, analyse and critically interpret numerical data B7 Engage in self appraisal/reflection on practice