Business. Foundation Degree. Accounting : Human Resource Management Information Systems : Marketing : Law. Accounting. Law. Business.

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1 Foundation Degree Accounting : Human Resource Management Information Systems : Marketing : Law Accounting Law Marketing Information Systems 1549 HC FD 13 8pp.indd 3 Human Resource Management 08/10/ :39

2 Foundation Degree in 2 What is a Foundation Degree? Foundation degrees are university level degree courses that offer an exciting work-based alternative to the traditional university route. They are: A stand-alone recognised qualification. Equivalent to studying the first two years of an honours degree programme. Highly valued by employers. How does this work? Foundation degrees in Hertfordshire are delivered at one of the four Colleges, as part of the Hertfordshire Higher Education Consortium*. On graduation you will be awarded a University of Hertfordshire validated degree, and depending on your chosen course you even get letters after your name FdA, FdSc. Benefits to studying a Foundation Degree real-life projects which enable you to gain valuable work experience whilst allowing you to apply your skills and knowledge support that s available throughout your course from tutors and advisors in College and mentors in your place of work affordable because you can choose from one of four colleges to study at you will never be far from home, saving you money on living costs. funding through student tuition fee loans will cover the cost of your programme so there s nothing to pay up front and you may also be eligible for a nonrepayable grant depending on your household income. Who can study a Foundation Degree? Foundation Degrees are suitable for all kinds of candidates including: Those with Level 3 qualifications (eg A Levels, Advanced Apprenticeships, BTECs, or Access to Higher Education). Those looking for a change in career. Those already employed but wanting to gain a Higher Education qualification. What can I do with my Foundation Degree? That really is up to you! Your degree will ensure that you are well equipped to start your career path and research shows that those with a Higher Education qualification earn 25% more than those without! However, if you have a taste for learning you can top-up your foundation degree to a BA or BSc honours degree. How do foundation degrees fit with other qualifications? CPD Professional qualification Postgraduate Degrees Foundation Degrees Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 NVQ3 NVQ2 NVQ1 Advanced Apprenticeship Apprenticeship Young Apprenticeship Advanced Diploma Intermediate Diploma Foundation Diploma Honours Degree Yr 3 Yr 2 Yr 1 A-level GCSE Pre-GCSE Hertfordshire Higher Education Consortium* The Hertfordshire Higher Education Consortium is a partnership between the University of Hertfordshire, Hertford Regional College, North Hertfordshire College, Oaklands College and West Herts College. The consortium provides innovative, high quality courses that support vocational higher education. Students get the best of both worlds the benefits and support of studying at college, and access to University facilities including the libraries (LRCs), athletic and student unions all social activities, careers support and much, much more.

3 Three days a week taught over two academic years in two semesters per year. A September to January; B January to June Year One Semester A Semester B Work Based Learning: Developing Professional Legislation and Employability and legal Skills responsibilities (30 credits) for the children s workforce Understanding & Promoting a (30 credits) Finance & Accounting for Applications Managing People Law Year Two Semester A Semester B Work Based Learning: Project Legislation (30 credits) and legal responsibilities for the children s workforce Environment Enterprise E business* Global Module specific to Pathway (15 credits) Module specific to Pathway (15 credits) *Students on the with Law pathway will study the core module English and European Legal Systems and Procedures instead of E-. Entry requirements The normal entry requirements for the programme are: 120 points, including one GCE A Level or equivalent 4 GCSEs at grade C or above, including English language and mathematics or equivalent. If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 or 80 IBT or equivalent. How to apply Applications are to be made through UCAS Institutional Code: Herts H36. How will I be assessed? Assessment of the programme will be a combination of both coursework and examination. However, the main focus of assessment will be on coursework in the form of written assignments. Coursework may be based on both individual and group work. What will I learn? This Higher Education qualification can lead you to a wide range of business careers but also allows you to specialise in a particular area if you choose. It offers a creative mix of academic study, skills development and practical training, giving you the best possible platform for your career. Specialist pathways There are six specialist pathways for you to choose from, each with a different focus. All students on the Foundation degree will study the same modules in their first year with the opportunity to specialise in their second year. Pathways: with Accounting with Human Resource Management with Information Systems with Marketing with Law Where will it take me? Your Foundation degree is a standalone qualification that allows you to enter the world of work. Past students have specialised in an academic or professional career, or taken jobs in finance, law, IT and other areas. If you d like to continue your studies, the majority of our students progress to the second or final year at the University of Hertfordshire to achieve a BA(Hons). 3

4 Foundation Degree in What will I study in my first year? In the first year you will study modules that give you a good grounding in business. These modules are common to all students regardless of what specialism you have chosen. Core modules Developing Professional and Employability Skills (30 credits) This module is designed to prepare you for the course and for your future workplace. It will enable you to identify your academic and personal skills, and assist in the development of strategies for building on areas of strength and for identifying and addressing areas for improvement. The module will emphasise key study skills including note-taking, writing, presentation skills, critical thinking, formulation of an argument, finding and using sources of information and referencing. You will also gain transferable skills and how these can be utilised to meet employer s expectations will be discussed. You will also review the decision making process for career planning to aid your progression to and within the workplace. Other topics include identifying your career, planning for progression, job hunting techniques and self promotion including Personal Development Planning (PDP) Understanding and Promoting a (30 credits) The business environment changes constantly and organisations need to be able to adapt their practices in order to survive. This module, which assumes minimal knowledge of understanding and promoting a business, introduces key principles of business practice with the integration of functions, strategies, marketing, costs and communication skills. It will allow you to develop an understanding of the ways in which business theory is used in a range of situations, organisations and locations. Finance and Accounting for (15 credits) This module will introduce you to the range of sources of finance available to businesses and how to distinguish between them. Students will learn how to produce basic financial statements and how to analyse business performance. Topics include: internal and external sources of finance; choosing a source of finance; the implications of sources of finance; the cost of finance, flow of finance, finance for decision-making; finance on the balance sheet; interpretation of accounting statements; ratio analysis; introduction to capital investment appraisal; project appraisal. Managing People (15 credits) This module will consider management and leadership, and how these influence the structure and work culture of an organisation. You will start by examining how leadership in an organisation directs and motivates people, and will then consider the strengths and weaknesses of various leadership and management styles and their relative value in different types of organisation. The role of human resource management activities will be introduced, including those relating to equality and diversity legislation. Applications (15 credits) This module introduces you to the role of information technology in a business environment. It also introduces the basic report structure important to business and the analysis and incorporation of primary data into such reports. Law (15 credits) This module is designed to introduce key aspects of business law. You will study the structure of the English legal system, the sources of English law and methods of dispute resolution. It also introduces contract law and the law of negligence, both important to business. This module recognises the importance of international influences including European law on English law. 4

5 What will I study in my second year? Your second year provides an opportunity for you to take the general business knowledge gained in your first year and build on it, while focusing in on the specific area of business that interests you. Modules common to all pathways: Work Based Learning Project (30 credits) The Work Based Learning Project provides an opportunity to expand, develop and apply the knowledge, understanding and skills learnt on the course, with a local employer in a work based situation. You will be encouraged to develop the necessary employer links for your project with the help of the college. Part-time students may choose to dovetail the project into their work. The amount of time spent in the workplace will be negotiated between you, your employer and your college. For part-time students, the project will usually be hosted by their employer. Local employers will usually be small to medium sized enterprises (SME) and may include charitable and voluntary organisations. It may also be possible to carry out a project within the college or university (as an employer). Students choosing a named award must carry out their project in the same field. Environment (15 credits) This module focuses on the link between businesses and their environment. You will be using tools such as the PESTLE analysis to critically examine the impact of environment on the main functional areas of businesses. The module is mostly concerned with the impact of the economy on businesses and considers the influence of both macro and micro economics. You will examine basic economic theory exploring the close link between businesses and their economic environment and considering the influence of both macro and micro economics. You will learn how businesses react and should react to their dynamic environment. You will also examine how economic theory can be used to inform decision making. E-business (15 credits)* This module will explain e-business and provide a detailed insight into why organisations need to adopt e-business practises as an alternative or sole channel for their operations. Students will be able to reflect on the impact of e-business in organisations and on society. Areas covered include: links with the BIS systems and databases in an organisation; investigation of the information needs within an organisation and how this information can impact on business performance; CRM, SCM and sales as a means of extending marketing; markets and the overall success or failure of a business; and web design criteria. *Students on the with Law pathway will study the core module English and European Legal Systems and Procedures instead of E-. English and European Legal Systems and Procedures (15 credits)* This module will introduce you to research skill concepts, aspects and the structure of the civil and criminal divisions of the English legal system and the professional ethics of the legal profession. The general principles of EU law are also examined, including the principles regarding the protection of fundamental rights. You will be encouraged to analyse legal provisions and to adopt a practical approach to problem solving. *Core module on with Law pathway only. Enterprise (15 credits) In this module you will study the nature of enterprise and entrepreneurship, its importance to society and the individual personal opportunities that developing entrepreneurial skills provides. Working in teams you will identify new business opportunities and take ideas through the full business planning cycle, ending in a formal presentation of the proposed enterprise. You may also have access to entrepreneurial game play/simulation software which can be used to enhance entrepreneurial decision-making and understanding. 5

6 Foundation Degree in 6 Global (15 credits) This module will explore the reasons why growing globalisation has allowed multinational companies (MNCs) to become dominant in global trade. It will consider the development of globalisation from the exploration of multilateral trade agreements through to economic unions and reviewing some operating in different continents. The module will consider the role of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in the development of economic policies aimed at the developing world and how this impacts on developing nation equality in world trade. You will consider and evaluate the MNC growth strategies most commonly adopted, and the impact and power they exert over the host. Modules specific to a specialist pathway FdA Students may choose any one Semester A and any one Semester B module being offered. The recommended combination for this route is Marketing in Practice (semester A) and Performance Management and Employee Involvement (semester B), combined with a project in any area of your choice. FdA with Accounting Financial Accounting (15 credits) In this module you will learn how to prepare financial statements for different types of business enterprise and how to make appropriate adjustments to those statements. You will develop an understanding of Legal and regulatory provisions relating to financial reporting and how to apply appropriate accounting principles along with the basic principles of preparing control accounts. On completion of the module, you will be able to prepare final accounts for a variety of business organisations. Management Accounting (15 credits) This module explains the concepts and measurement of cost within an organisation. You will learn how to collect and analyse cost information and how this can be used to monitor and control costs and budgets. You will develop practical skills in the preparation of budgets and cash flow forecasts, and learn how these can help identify issues and be used to apply appropriate corrective actions. FdA with Human Resource Management Recruitment, Selection and Induction (15 credits) This module is aimed at providing you with a greater understanding of recruitment, selection and induction. You will examine how people are recruited and will also review the importance of equal treatment and opportunity, and flexible working. Performance Management and Employee Involvement (15 credits) This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the importance and effectiveness of performance management and employee involvement. The module will cover the most up-to-date ACAS guidance, Equality Act 2010, rewards and benefits, the psychological contract and work life balance. Whether you are following the general pathway or the with Human Resource management route, this module will enable you to explore aspects of performance management and the methods used by organisations to involve employees in the change and improvement process. FdA with Information Systems Semester A: Systems Analysis and Design (15 credits) The experience gained in this module will give you the necessary underpinning knowledge and skills to investigate a business problem, identify system requirements and utilise a range of data modelling techniques. A complete systems specification will be documented to include relational data analysis, input and output, and process specification. You will also be introduced to styles of solution including transaction processing, management information, decision support, and expert systems.

7 Information Management (15 credits) This module will explain how appropriate information management can facilitate business decisions. The module introduces project management techniques and their application to business. You will also be introduced to techniques that enable you to identify and validate the data requirements for a management information system (MIS) and apply a methodical approach to the development of a suitable data driven MIS. FdA with Marketing Marketing in Practice (15 credits) The Marketing Practice module provides the underlying knowledge and understanding of managing the marketing function and the marketing mix. The module covers the fundamental decisions that marketing manager s make and will focus on the planning process, the composition of the marketing mix and using market research to better understand and profile customers. The module provides both a framework on which to build your marketing knowledge and skills through the marketing pathway as well as providing students on the pathway with an understanding and appreciation of the marketing function within organisations. Relationship Marketing (15 credits) This module provides the underpinning knowledge and understanding in the areas of defensive marketing, communications and relationships with stakeholders. You will discover how marketing has evolved from a traditional transactional process to more of a defensive and comprehensive management tool. It will provide you with conceptual frameworks and tools for determining and managing appropriate relationships and communications with a range of organisational stakeholders in a variety of contexts. FdA with Law Applied Contract Law (15 credits) This module provides you with the opportunity to appreciate Contract Law at an advanced level and to consider its application in practice. You will evaluate existing contracts as well as considering the contractual relationships that need to be established and maintained in the set-up and maintenance of a hypothetical virtual business. You will also explore the mechanics of breach of contract, in the event of a failing business and explore the remedies and enforcing rights in a practical context. You will also study insolvency legislation and its implications. Employment Law (15 credits) This module will introduce you to a range of aspects of individual employment law. You will explore the nights and duties of employers and employees, and examine the role of the law in regulating the employment relationship. You will gain an understanding of the development of employment law, and how it is administered, as well as the significance and content of the employment contract. You will also study aspects of equality and diversity legislation including a detailed examination of the Equality Act

8 For further information Hertford Regional College tel +44 (0) North Hertfordshire College tel +44 (0) Oaklands College tel +44 (0) advice West Herts College tel +44 (0) University of Hertfordshire Admission Service tel +44 (0) go.herts.ac.uk HC FD 13 8pp.indd 2 08/10/ :39