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1 S W I S S Q U A L I T Y E D U C AT I O N A COLLABORATIVE CENTRE OF S W I S S Q U A L I T Y E D U C A T I O N A P A R T N E R C O L L E G E O F T H E CATALOGUE C ATA L O G U E

2 MBA Master of Business Administration MSAITBM Master of Science in Advanced Information Technology and Business Management MSPM Master of Science in Project Management MSSM Master of Science in Strategic Marketing PGCBA Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (Mini MBA) PGCAMB Post Graduate Certificate in Advanced Management for Bankers PGCPM Post Graduate Certificate in Project Management C A T A L O G U E

3 Robert Kennedy College was founded in 1998 as a private educational institution. The College is owned and operated by Robert Kennedy College & Co. GmbH. About the College With instructors having graduated from some of the best universities worldwide, and students from 105 different countries, we are a truly international establishment, offering Swiss quality education at distance, judiciously combined with optional residencies at the College s premises in Zurich. Our mission is to provide academic excellence in distance education for students worldwide, through appropriate application of leading edge technologies. The one-week residency represents a unique opportunity for students to combine the online learning experience with a traditional class environment. Under the supervision of a Board of Governors we offer rigorous but flexible learning programmes, enhanced by state-of-the-art online e-learning technology. Student Centred Philosophy For RKC you are not just a student ID. You are part of our learning community online. Whatever you are called - Richard, Douglas, Karin, Ahmed, Ajay or Francis - we ll know you by your name. You and all other students and faculty are members of the RKC family engaged in the adult learning process. Together we are a team. An overriding objective of this team is to enable our College to consistently improve the quality of education it offers - your education. Small and Big All our students benefit from something very important: our personal attention. We are small enough to find the time for our students. Always. And we are small enough to improve and change the content of our courses quickly, following the latest education trends. Yet we are big enough to offer you access to an electronic library with over 1,500,000 current articles from the top 400 business publications. You can access them from the comfort of your home or when you travel, with your laptop. Wherever you have a computer and Internet access, the class is open for you. State of the Art Technology In pursuit of its commitment to provide exemplary services to its students, Robert Kennedy College has tailor-made, state-of-the-art software for online course delivery. Called Online Campus, it is an all encompassing, interactive and easy-to-use software, which makes studying online a truly enjoyable experience. World Class Faculty RKC employs highly qualified faculty who have graduated from leading Universities like Harvard Business School, Stanford University, Oxford University, New York University, and Wharton... to name just a few. Recognition All the academic programmes at RKC are validated and awarded by the University of Wales. The University of Wales defines validation as the process by which an awarding institution judges that a programme developed and delivered by another institution is of an appropriate quality and standard to lead to its award. Validation and Accreditation After successfully completing your studies for an academic degree at the Robert Kennedy College, you will receive a degree from the University of Wales, which is duly accredited by the British Government by means of a Royal Charter. About the University Of Wales Founded by Royal Charter in 1893, the University of Wales is the degree-awarding body for the majority of students taking up higher education in Wales, as well as for many at other institutions of higher education in the United Kingdom and overseas. The University s position enables it to focus not only on its primary functions as a degree-awarding body and provider of services to the Welsh higher education sector, but also as a national institution, playing an enhanced role in protecting and promoting the economy, culture and language of Wales. Recently, the University has signed a memorandum of understanding with six of the universities and institutions in Wales, with whom it will be working closely on collaborative ventures, research groupings and other new initiatives. These institutions are: Glyndwr University, Swansea Metropolitan University, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) University of Wales, Newport University of Wales, Lampeter Trinity University College The latter two institutions are set to merge in 2010 to become University of Wales, Trinity St David. The University is also maintains links 2

4 with Aberystwyth University, Bangor University, Cardiff University and Swansea University. The University is also the degreeawarding authority for more than 120 other institutions of higher education, both within the United Kingdom and overseas, with which it also enjoys close links. Annually, it awards around 15,000 initial degrees and more than 4,000 higher degrees, making it the second largest degree-awarding body in the United Kingdom. About 70,000 students, all over the world, pursue University of Wales degrees, across a wide range of subjects. The University s position enables it to focus not only on its primary functions as a degree-awarding body and provider of services to the Welsh higher education sector, but also as a national institution, playing an enhanced role in protecting and promoting the economy, culture and language of Wales. The University is a major national institution in Wales. Its primary functions are that of a degree awarding body, and provider of services to the Welsh higher education sector. It also plays an enhanced role in protecting and promoting the economy, culture and language of Wales. The University of Wales is also committed to its international role and to enhancing its standing across the UK and overseas. As well as its validation role and the international projects undertaken by its Global Academy, the University sponsors a number of cultural initiatives, such as the prestigious Dylan Thomas Prize, for young writers, which attracts entries from all over the world. More information available at the University of Wales website wales.ac.uk University of Wales degrees are recognised worldwide While the majority of the University s students study in Wales, the University s very successful and highly regarded international validation operation is also an important dimension of its work. This enables overseas institutions to offer the University of Wales degree at an equivalent standard to the degree offered in Wales itself. Validation is important in fostering links between Wales and other countries and many of the University s graduates are now in positions of influence overseas. Last year, more than 11,000 students were registered on validated courses of the University of Wales and nearly 2,500 graduated with the University s degree. Altogether, more than 33,000 students have been awarded degrees since the validation operation began in The maintenance of academic standards is of paramount importance for validated courses, as it is for courses offered within Wales. The University is rightly regarded as a role model in this respect. Its processes compare very favourably with those of other institutions in the UK, and the positive report received following a recent independent review, favourable audit reports from the Quality Assurance Agency and the University s reputation overseas attest clearly to the high esteem in which its validation work is held. The University s validation operation is managed and operated by its Validation Board and Unit, which evolved from a special Board established to approve degree schemes for the training of school teachers in Wales. Degree and Diploma programmes are validated following an extensive process of evaluation and all validated programmes are subject to rigorous quality assurance mechanisms to ensure that they are operating at the requisite academic level. 3

5 The University of Wales Master of Business Adm Your critical strategic advantage makes the difference between being a successful manager with superior performance and being the unsuccessful manager whose job is insecure. Your power within the company and your influence over clients depends on your ability to create competitive strategies. With every product and service, you must set yourself apart from the competition. An MBA can help you consolidate your business knowledge and reach new professional heights. Learn at Switzerland s premier private college and graduate from the second largest British University with students from 105 different countries and 90 places per term. Are you ready for the challenge? Duration: Minimum 2 years, maximum 5 years Delivery Method: 99% online via Online Campus with intensive class discussion and collaboration, 1% in a one-week compulsory residency. The College organises 5 residencies each year, so you have many opportunities to meet the mandatory residential requirements. You can opt to take more than one residency if you like. Places: Strictly limited to 90 per term. Ranking: Robert Kennedy College has been successively listed among the top 20 MBAs in the world in the Financial Times 2007,2008 and 2009 Distance Learning Surveys. Tuition Fees: CHF (Swiss Francs). This includes library access, Online Campus access, graduation fees, UoW matriculation fees. Fees are payable in instalments with no interest charged. The fee is for the full programme including all courses and the final dissertation. Not included in these fees: Residency in Switzerland (one is compulsory) at CHF (Swiss Francs). Some textbooks are not included (approximate cost CHF). Selectivity Ratio: 60% of the applicants are invited for an admission interview. Out of 7 applicants one is admitted to the MBA. Majors and Specialisations: Over 15 specialisations to choose from. See the full list of Online MBA Majors and Specialisations on Terms: Four terms per year (Winter, Spring, Summer (on campus Residency) and Autumn) Accreditation: This Programme is Validated and Awarded by the University of Wales. After successfully completing your studies at the Robert Kennedy College, you will receive a degree from the University of Wales, which is duly accredited by the British Government by means of a Royal Charter. University of Wales degrees are recognised worldwide. Admission Requirements Applicants for the RKC Online MBA must have the following: Either:(minimum entry qualifications) a) A degree or postgraduate qualification in business, awarded by a recognised U.K. academic body or its equivalent according to the British Council Education Guide, together with appropriate experience of at least 2 years in a management position; or b) Such professional qualifications as may be deemed by the University of Wales as equivalent, together with appropriate experience of at least 3 years in a management position; or c) A Bachelor degree in a non-business field and at least 5 years of business related experience in a management position, or d) A candidate without the necessary academic qualifications may offer as an admission qualification, evidence of a minimum of 5 years appropriate experience (normally managerial experience). Such a candidate maybe admitted if deemed by the University of Wales, on advice from the Dean of the School, to be capable of both succeeding on, and contributing to the course. Admission applications must be accompanied with a certificate of competency in the English language from a recognized institution or programme. English language requirements for non-english speaking students are a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or minimum TOEFL score of 600, or other evidence of English language abilities at this level. Progamme Outline The scheme has been designed to meet the aims of the Online MBA in a flexible manner, that can be tailored to the indi- 4

6 inistration vidual preferences of each student. The MBA requires you to complete 8 courses plus a final project. The Online MBA programme consists of the following modules: Power Learning for Managers This is the first module of the programme which gives an orientation to the course and the online learning style. It does not carry credits, and students are encouraged to go through the material in this module at their own pace and get accustomed to the online medium. Stage 1 - Eight taught modules 4 core subjects - mandatory I Organisational Behaviour II Financial Management III Entrepreneurship IV Marketing Management 3 electives (Three electives, of which at least one must be a residency) Electives (choose two) I Management of Technological Change II ebusiness III Applied Leadership IV International Business Management V Project Management Residential Electives (choose at least one) I Michael Porter on Corporate Strategy and Competitiveness (residency) (offered in affiliation with The Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School II The Art of Business (residency) III Investment Management (residency) Capstone This module is mandatory for all students and forms the completion phase of the taught modules of the MBA programme. I Strategic Management Stage 2 - Individual dissertation I Dissertation work The Certificate of Business Administration is awarded to candidates who have completed 60 credits (4 modules), while the Diploma of Business Administration is awarded to candidates who have completed 120 credits (all 8 modules, including a residency elective) but have been unable to complete the dissertation. Students who achieve 180 credits in total, and have successfully completed the dissertation, exit with the award of Master of Business Administration. The total study time is based on the notion of 10 hours study per credit. For the 15-credit modules, the study time requirement is usually divided as follows: I 50 hours textbook and other reading matter; II 45 hours case preparation; III 40 hours case and other class discussion on-line; IV 15 hours interim and final exam preparation. Where the requirements differ from this standard, the rationale is made clear to students. The dissertation is an exception to this general principle, requiring a total of 600 hours of largely independent study time and a degree of direct supervisor contact, as follows: I 25 hours direct supervisor contact II 500 hours independent studies hours III 75 hours directed studies hours. There are no average courses within our MBA programme. We are bound to provide an outstanding learning experience and there isn t a better way to achieve this aim than with outstanding courses. Not only have these been carefully crafted by professors graduated from the best business schools (like Oxford University, Harvard Business School, New York University and Wharton just to name a few), they are all meant to make you a more successful and efficient manager. There are no old fashion exams in our courses. Instead you are given real life case studies and essays, which allow you to think critically about your company and your own career. All this might seem too glossy but there is one catch: we don t accept average candidates. Only individuals as outstanding as our values can find their way toward admission at the Robert Kennedy College. 5

7 Course Descriptions The University of Wales Master of Business Administration Power Learning For Managers (not-for-credit module) The prelude to your MBA programme is our PLM module. As a roadmap to your journey, this module provides you with the essential skills to success in the MBA with a wide array of power learning tools for today s business managers. This course differs slightly from the others because, in preparation for the first core module, you have more flexibility on your assignment and schedule. This course starts every month and lasts four to six weeks. Among the unique set of outcomes provided during this module we can count writing for business, managing your time and career effectively, becoming a successful manager, solving business problems and achieving superior performance in a virtual team. In addition to these managerial concepts we will also gently introduce you to the assessment system and the case method. You will have access to sample assignments with clear do s and don ts to ensure your personal success in the MBA. Organisational Behaviour The way people are managed within organisations plays a paramount role in corporate success. In a fast changing organisational landscape, we take into account impacting factors like social, technological, economic, environmental, political and legal considerations. With a variety of real life case studies, you will be asked to make decisions, which will inevitably influence the (work) life of your employees. These are of course, backed by the core taught concepts, which feature group dynamics, motivation and leadership, group behaviour, communication, power, conflict and prejudice in the workspace, organisational culture and how to manage and understand change within the organisation. This course is led by Prof. Benedicta Lusk, an MBA graduate of the Peter F. Drucker School of Management. Entrepreneurship Dean Costa will unveil to you the marvels of creating and managing your own enterprise. But this course isn t meant to be of exclusive interest to entrepreneurs or budding business owners. It will help you to understand your role better, and (why not?) open to you the possibility of starting your own business if you haven t already done so. Topics like entrepreneurship redefined, the dark side of entrepreneurship, budgeting, fast tracked business growth, strategic marketing, capital raising strategies, management control and creative innovation make this course a valuable component of your MBA. Enriched with videos from the Sloan School of Management at the MIT, and by a business plan competition that forms the final assessment, this course is set to provide you with a stimulating and challenging experience. Financial Management Business is about profit, and there can only be sustainability with a proper knowledge of effective financial management. Oxford and Harvard Business School graduate Prof. David Duffill will expand and reinforce your knowledge of financial accounting, management accounts, budgeting and financing. Once again, the course leader isn t just 6

8 Course Descriptions The University of Wales Master of Business Administration crunching numbers. He will link each topic to real financial situations where you, as the manager in chief, have to assess the financial performance of successful corporations, and develop sharp analytical skills with tools like decision tree analysis. Financial Management is about successful financial results. At the end of this course you will not only know the basics, but you will be in the position to master every component of superior financial management and analysis. Marketing Management You will reinvent the airline business, redefine the boundaries of retailing, manage the sales of an online computer mega store, and learn how to focus on your customer. Seems like a bold prediction but it is just the content of marketing management directed by a marketing management extraordinaire: Prof Freddy Nager. The teaching of market segmentation, environment, research, innovative sales system, international marketing and policy planning and implementation will make sure that your view of marketing will never be the same. A concrete marketing plan for your company or your own business will be your final assessment, providing you with flexibility and effective learning results, which you can assess and apply in no time. Applied Leadership You are the CEO and you are finally in control. But things do not run your way and you need to act now. Making the right decision will make your business blossom. Taking the wrong steps will lead to painful failure. This might not be distant from your current or future situation, and this course is a real scenario on applied leadership; where, after mastering concepts like team turnaround, leadership that gets results, leadership planning, renewal and reflective leadership, you will be able to take sharp actions. You will be judged by both your classmates and veteran leader Dennis Crossen, a graduate of Drexel University and Oxford University. Management of Technological Change Nothing else evolves as fast as technology. Tomorrow s managers need to understand the importance of innovation and diffusion of technology in an intensely competitive business environment, and to be aware of the various strategies available, to reap the benefit of innovation. Beyond the basics, you will be exposed to innovative capabilities, implementing development strategies, that take into account technological changes, and the integration of technology and strategy. Intel, Eli Lilly and other disruptively innovative applications will demonstrate how technological change can be exploited to your exclusive benefit. Inventor Edwin C. Rodin-Brown will share his genius with class participants, geek or not! ebusiness Technology has reshaped the way you work, live, and communicate, on a daily basis. With an assessment of today s latest electronic business, this course will open doors to new concepts like electronic marketing, e-business planning, technology and strategy, business-tobusiness marketplaces and collaboration, and discuss the various aspects of digital innovation. Cases like Dell, Amazon.com and ebay will reveal the DNA of successful ebusinesses, and provide you with valuable ideas to exploit the full potential of digital based business. International Business Management What are the boundaries of your market? In today s fast changing economy there are no boundaries other than the ones of your imagination. With case studies from leading multinational corporations like Procter & Gable, Pepsi Cola, Virgin Airlines and Citibank, you will get an inside look at the way these giants conduct their bu- 7

9 Course Descriptions The University of Wales Master of Business Administration siness successfully outside their main markets, and conquer new business landscapes on an international level. Essentially, you will not only learn to deal with international operations, but you will start thinking internationally. Think big to achieve big! Management of Intellectual Property This module is designed to give students an understanding of the basic principles of intellectual property (IP) law. The course material offers a comprehensive overview of all areas of IP law, including copyright, patents, trademarks, geographical indications, industrial designs and competition law. The economic importance of IP and its impact on an organization s ability to innovate is explored. Students will learn the basic skills necessary for the creation of intellectual wealth by means of the acquisition, valuation and licensing of IP. This module will address IP and new technologies, such as software protection, biotechnology and the impact of communication technologies. This in turn leads to a discussion of the interrelationship between intellectual property law and e-commerce. You will learn the basics of domain name disputes and how to deal with cybersquatting. Digital copyright issues, including linking, framing and the protection of electronic databases, and the management of IP assets that are relevant to your firm s electronic commerce strategy, conclude this module s curricular. The module will provide managers with the skills necessary to recognise and protect the intellectual property within their firms, to understand the tools necessary to evaluate the potential of IP, and to capitalise on that potential. In short, managers are provided with a critical legal and managerial toolkit for the spurring of innovation, the creation of new products, services and markets and for diffusing technology. Managers will also be able to effectively deal with the complex IP-issues that are typical of on-line ventures. The module is taught jointly with the WIPO Worldwide Academy in Geneva, as we are incorporating material from WIPO in the course. WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Organisation) is a specialised agency of the United Nations, dedicated to promoting the protection of IP throughout the world through cooperation among states, and in collaboration with other international organizations. The WIPO Worldwide Academy serves as a centre 8

10 of excellence in teaching, training and research in IP. It was founded in response to the demand for knowledge and skills in intellectual property. Michael Porter on Corporate Strategy and Competitiveness Designed by the world s widely recognised authority, Prof Michael Porter, and taught at RKC by Prof David Duffill, this course allows you to benefit from the exclusive videos and teaching of the Harvard Business School. Microeconomics of Competitiveness: Firms, Clusters, and Economic Development (MOC) is a university-wide graduate course offered to students from around the Harvard University community, including the Harvard Business School, the Kennedy School of Government, and other Harvard graduate programs. The course has been created in a multi-year development effort by Professor Michael E. Porter and the staff and affiliates of the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School. The MOC course explores the determinants of competitiveness and successful economic development viewed from a bottom-up, microeconomic perspective. While sound macroeconomic policies, stable legal and political institutions, and improving social conditions create the potential for competitiveness; wealth is actually created at the microeconomic level. The sophistication and productivity of firms, the vitality of clusters, and the quality of the business environment in which competition takes place, are the ultimate determinants of a nation s or region s productivity. This course has a mandatory one-week residency in Zurich, Switzerland. It is held in cooperation with The Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at the Harvard Business School isc.hbs.edu/moc_universities.htm Investment Management The successful management of financial assets, whether of an individual, a small business or a large corporation, demands a knowledge of financial markets, how they operate, what instruments and investment vehicles are available, and what macro-economic forces are acting upon them. This module is designed to provide a broad understanding of financial markets (as distinct from a narrow specialist approach),but with sufficient details of their many components, so that students can make their own investment decisions and interact with their specialist advisers. Investment Management is designed around six axes: - Basic concepts: risk/reward, volatility, yield curves, exchange rates, spreads, carry, Libor and other key interest rates, liquidity - Investment instruments: equities, fixed-income, money markets, derivatives, options, real property. Primary versus secondary markets - The various actors: banks, brokers, fund managers, hedge funds, private equity/venture capital - The authorities: central banks, Ministries of Finance/National Treasuries, regulatory authorities, sovereign investment funds - Macro-economic concepts: balance of payments, inflation, global rebalancing, exchange rates and reserve currencies - Building a portfolio: the mix of securities and currencies to reflect risk/ reward, time horizon and degree of liquidity Students successfully completing the module will be able to make basic investment decisions for their own accounts or for their business. They will also master the technical concepts and terminology to be able to draw maximum benefit from their specialist advisers. Strategic Management Do you really think strategically? Is your strategy sustainable and well formulated? How would you implement your newly formulated strategy? 9

11 Course Descriptions The University of Wales Master of Business Administration As you start on this course, you might just discover that you didn t really know the answers to all these questions. Don t worry, Prof David Duffill will be glad to provide crystal clear explanations. Not only will you learn about strategy formulation context, content, and its effective implementation, you will also be exposed to failures like that of Enron with the award winning video case produced by the Darden School of Management. Successful strategies like those of Ryanair, Kellogg, and Monsanto as well as traditional analytical tools like Porter s five forces model, will serve as a platform for your endeavours at innovative thinking. As they say, There is only one thing worse than no strategy: a badly formulated or executed strategy. This being the last course of your MBA, we will go the extra mile to ensure your complete understanding of effective, innovative and sustainable business strategies. Aims and Learning Outcomes The Online MBA at RKC is a generalist programme that provides professionals with the education they will need in challenging and demanding positions. It aims to produce qualified professionals equipped with the full range of skills needed to lead successful businesses in a global environment characterised by constant change. The overall design aims of the Online MBA programme are to: I Provide an underpinning of both the knowledge and skills needed by senior managers at the strategic management level so that students can contribute to and improve the achievement of their organisation s strategic objectives; II Provide an analytical and multiperspective framework, to enable students to recognise, identify and evaluate key management issues which critically impact on organisational performance and strategic direction; III Enhance the student s ability to integrate into the strategic thinking, direction setting, planning and operation of the organisation IV Develop the students ability to analyse management issues of relevance to their work by undertaking a piece of research which culminates in the completion of a dissertation; V Provide an opportunity for participants to make a contribution to the body of knowledge and understanding in the area of strategic management; VI Encourage holistic thinking within the areas of Management and Business. Learning Outcomes On completion of the programme, students should be able to demonstrate: I Knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to effective performance at senior management level in the following areas Marketing Management Organisational Behaviour Corporate Finance Managerial Economics; II An understanding of the context within which strategic activity occurs and its role in achieving organisational objectives; III Advanced research and consultancy skills; IV Contribution to organisational success by developing, delivering and managing high quality personnel and development policies. The Online MBA programme fits within the overall mission of Robert Kennedy College: to provide academic excellence in online distance education for students worldwide, through appropriate application of leading edge technologies. 10

12 The University of Wales M.Sc. in Advanced Information Technology and Business Management With an IT background you are probably considering either continuing your education in the area of Information Technology or alternatively, Business with an MBA. Why not both? This new interdisciplinary programme gives you the unsurpassed benefit of both worlds with several advantages: a) It is one of the few interdisciplinary programs in both Information Technology and Business. It is awarded by the University of Wales, the second largest British University, and as such it is recognized worldwide; b) It has a practical orientation with real life cases. In lieu of focusing on traditional exams, it is assessed through assignments, which are directly relevant to your current career and existing projects; c) It is delivered almost entirely online: you can achieve your M.Sc. in Advanced Information Technology and Business Management with the full benefits of our innovative online delivery method with no career disruption d) There is no need to travel for exams or assessment: every assessment can be delivered online; e) It is cost and content competitive. With professors who have graduated from some of the world s finest colleges including Oxford University, Harvard Business School, Stanford University and New York University, you will benefit from the personalized attention of a small Swiss Private College and the wide recognition of UK s second largest University. The cost of the programme can be paid in interest-free installments. In this case you can even achieve the certification without a sponsor. Why Do I Need this Course? In a very competitive working environment such as the management world, knowledge plays a very important role. Demanding positions require qualified professionals with knowledge of both IT and Business: this programme enables you to reach new heights in your career. It is a new, distinctive programme with a masters degree issued by the University of Wales, one of the traditional Federal Universities founded in We welcome applicants who are highly motivated in achieving new important heights in their careers. Programme Details at a Glance Duration: 2 years Minimum 5 years maximum Award: Master of Science in Advanced Information Technology and Business Management Accreditation: The programme is validated by the University of Wales. The final certificate is awarded by the Federal University of Wales, which is duly accredited by the British Government by means of a Royal Charter. The UOW certificate is recognized worldwide. Cost: CHF (Swiss Francs) The cost includes online material, University of Wales matriculation and graduation fee, and tuition for all the modules. Special rates are available if you join with a colleague from the same organization. The tuition fees are payable in installments without any interest. Sample Payment Plan 3250 CHF (Swiss Francs) upon matriculation and then 406 CHF (Swiss Francs) per month for 24 months. Programme Content The M.Sc. in Advanced Information Technology and Business Management at RKC is a generalist programme that provides professionals with the education they will need in challenging and demanding IT related managerial positions. It aims to produce qualified professionals equipped with the full range of skills needed to lead successful IT businesses in a global environment characterised by constant change. We aim to achieve this transfer of knowledge and skills through the course consisting of * Taught modules: 1 Organizational Behaviour 2 Marketing Management 3 Financial Management 4 Entrepreneurship 5 Project Planning and Control 6 Strategic Context of Project Management 7 Management of Information Systems 8 ebusiness * Final Dissertation 11

13 Course Descriptions The University of Wales M.Sc. in Advanced Information Technology and Business Management 12 There is no average course within our M.Sc. in Advanced Information Technology and Business Management programme. We are bound to provide an outstanding learning experience and there isn t a better way to achieve this aim than with outstanding courses. Not only have these been carefully crafted by professors graduated from the best business schools (like Oxford University, Harvard Business School, New York University and Wharton just to give you a glimpse) but they are all meant to make yourself a more successful and efficient manager. There are also no old fashion exams in our courses but real life case studies and essays that let you think critically about your company and your own career. All this might seem too glossy but there is one catch: we don t accept average candidates and only individuals as outstanding as our values can find their way toward admission at the Robert Kennedy College. Power Learning For Managers The prelude to your M.Sc. programme is our PLM module. As a roadmap to your journey, this module provides you with the essential skills to success in the programme. This course differs slightly from the others because, in preparation for the first core module, you have more flexibility on your assignment and schedule. This course starts every month and lasts four to six weeks. Among the unique set of outcomes provided during this module we can count writing for business, managing your time and career effectively, becoming a successful manager, solving business problems and achieving superior performance in a virtual team. In addition to these managerial concepts we will also gently introduce you to the assessment system and the case method. You will have access to sample assignments with clear do s and don ts to ensure your personal success in the M.Sc. Organisational Behaviour The way people are managed within organisations plays a paramount role in corporate success. In a fast changing organisational landscape we take into account impacting factors like social, technological, economic, environmental, political and legal considerations. With a variety of real life case studies you will be asked to make decisions, which will inevitably influence the (work) life of your employees. These are of course backed by the core taught concepts which feature: group dynamics, motivation and leadership, group behaviour, communication, power, conflict and prejudice in the workspace, organisational culture and how to manage and understand change within the organisation. This course is led by Prof. Benedicta Lusk, an MBA graduate of the Peter F. Drucker School of Management. Entrepreneurship Dean Costa will unveil to you the marvels of creating and managing your own enterprise. But this course isn t meant to be of exclusive interest to entrepreneurs or budding business owners. It will help you better understand your role and (why not?) open to you the possibility of starting your own business if you haven t already done so. Topics like entrepreneurship redefined, the dark side of entrepreneurship, budgeting, fast tracked business growth, strategic marketing, capital raising strategies, management control and creative innovation, make this course a valuable component of your MBA. Enriched with videos from the Sloan School of Management at the MIT, and by a business plan competition that forms the final assessment, this course is set to provide you with a stimulating and challenging experience. Financial Management Business is about profit and there can only be sustainability with a proper knowledge of effective financial management. Oxford and Harvard Business School graduate Prof. David Duffill will expand and reinforce your knowledge of financial accounting, management accounts, budgeting and financing. Once again, the course leader isn t just crunching numbers but will link each topic to real financial situations where you, as the manager in chief, have to assess the financial performance of successful corporations and develop sharp analytical skills with tools like decision tree analysis. Financial Management is about successful financial results. At the end of this course you will not only know the basics, but will be in a position to master every component of superior financial management and analysis. Marketing Management You will reinvent the airline business, redefine the boundaries of retailing, manage the sales of an online computer mega store, and learn how to focus on your customer. Seems like a bold prediction but it is just the content of marketing management directed by a marketing management extraordinaire: Michelle Schaefer. The teaching of market segmentation, environment, research, innovative sales system, international marketing and

14 Course Descriptions The University of Wales M.Sc. in Advanced Information Technology and Business Management policy planning and implementation will make sure that your view of marketing will never be the same. A concrete marketing plan for your company, or your own business, will be your final assessment, providing you with flexibility and effective learning results which you can assess and apply in no time. The Strategic Context of Project Management The aim of the module is to offer a theoretical and practical perspective on critical factors for successful strategic management of projects. It seeks to provide participants with a comprehensive insight into the realities of project management, enabling them to identify best practices to provide a source of competitive advantage. Project Planning and Control The principles of project management are applicable at all levels of the project hierarchy; ranging from individual work packages, through to the provision of a single point of responsibility on behalf of the client. Different techniques and skills are applicable at different levels. At the work package level, the emphasis will lie in ensuring on-site production within specified constraints of time, cost and quality. At the strategic level, the emphasis will lie in managing the evolving interface between the client and the project. Irrespective of the level of application, effective project management depends upon a blend of the appropriate techniques and advanced behavioural skills. The aim of the module is to provide students with the ability to select the appropriate methodologies to structure problems at a conceptual level. Management of Information Systems IT is a rapidly expanding field,and is now an indispensable part of any successful business, since it is even more closely connected with both human and organizational issues. Ways of thinking about IT, and understanding its potential and its limitations, should be an essential concern of any manager. Accordingly, the core of this module lies in the way in which datainformation systems relate to general business systems, and business decisionmaking. The module has been designed to give students an understanding and appreciation of how a company s handling of data is intimately linked with the production and/or distribution of goods and services, and how, in consequence, it directly affects business performance. The module concentrates on the front-end activities of information systems, but includes a study of the main techniques and tools used in systems design and analysis, including both linear and iterative approaches, as well as both logical and physical design. ebusiness Technology has reshaped the way we work, live and communicate on a daily basis. With an assessment of today s latest electronic business, this course will open the doors to new concepts like electronic marketing, e-business planning, technology and strategy, business-to-business marketplaces and collaboration, as well as discuss the various aspects of digital innovation. Cases like Dell, Amazon.com and ebay will reveal the DNA of successful ebusinesses and provide you with valuable ideas to exploit the full potential of digital based business. Aims and Learning Outcomes The overall design aims of the MSc Advanced Information Technology and Business Management are to: I Develop flexible minded graduates who have an understanding of business and organisations, and utilise an in-depth knowledge of information technology and skills relevant to management II Provide an underpinning of both the knowledge and skills needed by senior managers at the strategic management level, so that students can contribute to and improve the achievement of their organisation s strategic objectives; III Provide an analytical and multiperspective framework, to enable 13

15 Course Descriptions The University of Wales M.Sc. in Advanced Information Technology and Business Management students to recognise, identify and evaluate key management issues in information technology and business management, which critically impact on organisational performance and strategic direction; IV Equip students with an advanced understanding of concepts and current and pervasive issues in information technology and business management. V Develop the students ability to analyse management issues of relevance to their work by undertaking a piece of research, which culminates in the completion of a dissertation; Intended Learning Outcomes On completion of the programme, students should be able to: I Demonstrate the ability to collect relevant information across a range of areas pertaining to a current situation. II Analyze information and synthesize it into an appropriate form in order to evaluate alternative decisions for discerning and appraising management strategic alternatives. III Demonstrate subject specific skills with respect to the context of the use of specific software packages and programming environments. IV Use techniques from a range of standard methodologies to model aspects of an information or communication system V An understanding of the context within which strategic activity occurs and its role in achieving organisational objectives; VI Within the broad framework of organizations, their external context and management It is therefore expected that graduates will gain knowledge and develop understanding in the following areas: I Organizational Behaviour II Marketing Management III Financial Management IV Entrepreneurship V Project Planning and Control VI Strategic Context of Project Management VII Management of Information Systems VIII ebusiness Admission Requirements The RKC MSc in Advanced Information Technology and Business Management programme is a specialist Masters award. Students wishing to enroll must (in addition to the minimum entry qualifications given below) be able to demonstrate some technical and programming background. In addition students wishing to enroll in the programme must have the following: Either: (minimum entry qualifications) a) A degree or postgraduate qualification in IT or business, awarded by a recognised U.K. academic body or its equivalent according to the British Council Education Guide; or b) Such professional qualifications as may be deemed by the University of Wales as equivalent, together with appropriate experience of at least 3 years in a management or IT position; or c) A Bachelor degree in a non business / not IT field and at least five years of business related experience in a management or IT position, or d) A candidate without the necessary academic qualifications may offer as an admission qualification, evidence of a minimum of 5 years appropriate experience (normally managerial experience). Such a candidate may be admitted if deemed by the University of Wales, on advice from the Dean of the School, to be capable of both succeeding on and contributing to the course. Admission applications must be accompanied with a certificate of competency in the English language from a recognized institution or programme. English language requirements for non-english speaking students are a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or minimum TOEFL score of 600, or other evidence of English language abilities at this level. 14

16 The University of Wales M.Sc. in Project Management The 45 places in this programme are reserved for students seeking to enhance their current knowledge with a Master of Science (M.Sc). in Project Management form the second largest British University: The University of Wales. Are you innovative and motivated to take up challenges? If you are, you might be precisely the person we are looking for. Knowledge is the key to success. The global environment characterized by constant change has never been so dynamic. Your power within the company and your influence over clients depends on your ability to create competitive strategies. With every product and service, you must set yourself apart from the competition. Do this by enhancing your understanding of project management issues, activities and roles within organisations and becoming a qualified professional equipped with the full range of skills needed to lead successful businesses. The MSc in Project Management has been developed together with the University of Wales, Newport. The programme has been validated and the degree is awarded by the University of Wales. The University of Wales, Newport has been involved in higher education since 1841, attracting students from all over the world. It has a long tradition of providing high quality undergraduate, postgraduate and professional courses. The Quality Assurance Agency gave the University a confidence rating (the top rating given) for the quality of its academic teaching standards. The University is internationally recognized and renowned for many of its highly advanced facilities. It has some of the best-equipped and serviced workshops and studios in Europe and two campuses at Allt-yr-yn and Caerleon. Work is well underway on the City Campus on the banks of the River Usk in the city centre to replace the Allt-yr-yn campus. Why Do You Need a Course In Project Management? Project management is the process by which projects are defined, planned, monitored, controlled and delivered such that agreed benefits are realized. Projects are unique, transient endeavours undertaken to achieve a desired outcome. Projects bring about change and project management is recognised as the most efficient way of managing such change. (APM Body of Knowledge, 5th Edition 2006, p2) Demanding positions require qualified professionals with equipped with the full range of skills needed to lead successful businesses: this new and distinctive programme enables you to reach new heights in your career. Programme Details at a Glance Duration: 2 years minimum, 5 years maximum Award: Master of Science in Project Management Accreditation: The programme is validated by the University of Wales. The 15