The University of Liverpool Online Masters Programmes Professional qualifications that work harder for your organisation

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1 Corporate prospectus The University of Liverpool Online Masters Programmes Professional qualifications that work harder for your organisation

2 The work/study challenge It s a puzzle faced by every human resources professional: how do you keep your most valued employees focused on their current responsibilities, while encouraging them to learn new skills and gain new perspectives? The University of Liverpool Online Masters programmes, in partnership with Laureate Online Education, are designed to persuade those key employees to increase their investment in your organisation. The right investment If you recommend and buy training and professional development programmes, you have to justify your investment in terms of the consequent improvement in your ability to train, retain and motivate your staff. Discrete courses are fine for filling specific gaps in skills or knowledge but do little to motivate staff in the longterm. Traditional Masters degrees or other professional development programmes can eventually increase staff performance and loyalty, but at the considerable cost of reduced effectiveness and absence from the workplace over the months and years of the programme itself. Online Masters programmes from the University of Liverpool and Laureate Online Education deliver high-value knowledge that your staff can use from the moment they enrol. They fit studying around their normal schedule, undertake work-based assignments and immediately apply what they have learned to their real-life responsibilities. The result: minimal disruption and maximum benefit to your organisation. High-value knowledge that your staff can use from the moment they sign up.

3 The University of Liverpool Founded in 1881, the University of Liverpool is internationally recognised for excellence in teaching, research and innovation. It is one of the most respected higher education institutions in the UK and its graduates occupy senior positions in industry, commerce and culture around the world. It is a member of the elite Russell Group of 20 research-led UK universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. It is also the original red-brick university, a UK symbol for academic excellence, and was awarded a Royal Charter in The University of Liverpool s pursuit of excellence has gained global recognition, including eight Nobel prizes. At the same time, it has been a catalyst for pioneering educational programmes, such as the partnership with Laureate Online Education that launched the first truly international online academic programme in the UK. Accreditation All UK universities are regulated and monitored by a government body, the QAA. Some of the older, well-established British universities have been awarded a Royal Charter. The Royal Charter was granted to the University of Liverpool in 1903; it is a sign of proven academic quality and allows the University to independently award Bachelors, Masters, and doctorate degrees. The University of Liverpool is also funded by the Government (Department of Education and Science) via the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). HEFCE established the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) to oversee the quality of degrees in HEFCE-funded Universities. The US and Canada are happy to accept the standard of degrees awarded by universities in Great Britain, as equivalent to their own corresponding degrees. Laureate Online Education Since 1999 Laureate has been the exclusive online learning partner of the University of Liverpool. We have developed an effective, supported online learning environment that by its very design provides working professionals and their companies with unique benefits. Our structured programmes provide 24/7 accessibility, allowing students to fit learning around their life and their work. More importantly, our interactive learning model in which students collaborate and communicate with classmates and instructors from over 175 countries replicates global business, providing participants with the soft skills so necessary for success in a multinational working environment. The result is a highly interactive experience with an emphasis on relevance, critical thinking, and the pairing of cutting-edge theory with the latest in global best practices.

4 How this degree will benefit your company Increased knowledge, enhanced skills Coursework is always relevant to the student s individual situation and assignments, where possible, are based on real-life issues in their employer organisation. The knowledge I acquired was immediately applicable and I was able to apply it to parts of the firm s business that I wouldn t normally deal with. I ve already recommended the programme to a colleague! Mats Bergman, Swedish International networking, new perspectives Our asynchronous approach to learning and emphasis on interaction ensure that students are in constant discussion with classmates around the world, who are deliberately mixed to provide the ideal balance of expertise, experience, industry and geographical location. Students explore a pool of fresh thinking and new perspectives. One of the fringe benefits [of the programme] was to meet so many unique and knowledgeable people around the world. I realised that true learning did not come from the expert teaching the class, but from the global perspectives and life lessons of my classmates. Discussing best practice in marketing strategies on a daily basis with fellow students from China, Israel, Ireland and Thailand is not something that can be easily duplicated. Stephen Dudar, Canadian Employee commitment, effective training Undertaking an online Masters is not for the faint-hearted, but the rewards are great for both employee and employer. Not only does the individual start implementing their new skills and knowledge from the outset, but they also develop an increased commitment to driving their organisation forward. Most employers see immediate returns on their training investment. I was awarded the Gold award for Employee of the year by our CEO, which is an achievement that would not have been possible without this MBA. The CEO stated that one of the reasons I was chosen was the fact that I was able to find time to do the MBA studies despite all the additional hours that I had to put in to finish the project [I was working on]. What he did not state was the fact that achieving a perfect 10 out of 10 in project reviews by customers was largely a result of lessons learned during the course. Prashant Kumar Kanungo, Indian Other companies We currently welcome students from more than 175 countries into our online classrooms. They are employed by a range of international companies from small, cutting edge firms to Fortune 500 companies so your employees will find themselves in good company. Relevant learning, applicable solutions Small class sizes and highly skilled instructors mean assignments are tailored to each student s professional experience, current responsibilities and career aspirations. Even the subject of the student s compulsory dissertation is chosen in conjunction with their employer. Personalised, applicable learning Curriculum options, including focused Specialisation Tracks and a broad range of elective modules, mean that each student can tailor their Masters programme to their work experience, current job responsibilities and future career goals. This personalised learning approach is reinforced by our small online classrooms and responsive, skilled instructors. Students find they can introduce their own reallife job issues to their professional classmates and industrysavvy lecturers for discussion. Possible solutions can be applied on the job right away, bringing real value to the student s company. The lecturers were very knowledgeable and very willing to help, answering all questions whether online through the classroom forums, one-on-one via or in chat sessions. Cathalina Melvina Fontenelle, St. Lucian Small class sizes and highly skilled instructors

5 Student profiling For each module on our Masters programmes we bring together online classes of less than twenty professional people. We select students for each class using several criteria to ensure diversity and maximise benefit, including location, gender, industry, field of expertise and professional experience. We constantly evaluate and adapt Flexible, responsive programmes We constantly evaluate and adapt our Masters programmes to maximise their value to our students and their employers. At the end of every week we ask every student to assess his or her latest classroom assignment in wholly practical terms: has it increased your productivity at work? If so, how? How could we make it better? The feedback from our students has resulted in our launching new programmes, like the MSc in Information Systems Management, Master of Public Health and MSc in Operations and Supply Chain Management, from the highly ranked School of Medicine, School of Management Science and Department of Computer Science. Our accessible approach to online learning enables students to participate fully in classes throughout the week, whenever they have the time. They fit study around professional and family obligations. Some organisations calculate the real cost of an educational programme to be as much as three times the list price stated by the supplier. This is due to the loss of time and productivity whenever an employee attends on-site training, or simply has to travel to a residential testing centre. With the University of Liverpool/Laureate 100% online Masters programmes, employers find that productivity is maintained or even increased. Throughout their programme, our students gain confidence, acquire new skills and applicable knowledge, and enhance their time-management and communication abilities. How active learning benefits professionals Active learning is the best way to describe our teaching method. Rather than passively receiving knowledge, our international participants are in ongoing communication and interaction with each other and their instructors. In this atmosphere, critical analysis and lively debate happen around the clock, helping to foster profound learning, broadened perspectives, and new skills. Students are assessed on the quality of their classroom contribution, not their ability to memorise. Employers benefit from this teaching style as students acquire advanced knowledge and skills, as well as the resource of an international network of experts both classmates and instructors who can be tapped into for fresh ideas and new insights. This is one of the unique attributes of successful online programmes that is virtually impossible to achieve in a traditional on-campus course. My initial impression of an online course was that it would be without a real classroom feeling but I was wrong. I was amazed at how modules were communicated and the lively classroom interaction. I was also surprised how project assignments with tight deadlines could be successfully completed with team participation from different time zones. The modules were unique and their learning curve seemed to be tailor-made to fit into my busy schedule. I was amazed how I could integrate each module into Saudi Aramco s operation. Roque Rosario Clement, Indian Saudi Arabian Oil Company

6 Personalisation Our highly personalised approach allows students to choose modules, Specialisation Tracks, and projects that tailor their learning outcomes to their individual needs and requirements. For example, a student studying on our MBA or MSc may choose to customise their choice of electives to fill specific knowledge needs for their current job or future goals within a company; or they may choose to follow a Specialisation Track that takes them directly to their desired area of specialisation. Personal support is also a major feature of our programmes. We are just as concerned with our students success as they are themselves. So each programme participant is assigned a personal Programme Manager to keep them on course, will work with a personal Dissertation Advisor for their culminating project, and can access technical support whenever and wherever it may be needed. Employers typically derive enormous added value Industry-based dissertation Each student in a Masters programme completes a dissertation based on a research project undertaken for their employer. They receive the guidance of a Personal Dissertation Advisor, an academic supervisor who provides support throughout the study, research and writing process. While it s typical in many organisations to have this type of research carried out by interns, assigning a researchdriven project to a senior, qualified and motivated employee can provide enormous added value for the employer. Engaged and excellent faculty Each online classroom has less than 20 students and is headed by its own dedicated instructor, selected for their academic and industry experience. Our online instructors offer more than academic facilitation of each module. Just as our method of instruction is active learning, our instructors provide active teaching and are trained in the specific skills that make a 100% online programme the best and richest experience for our students. These accessible, responsive and engaged instructors come from many parts of the world, and may be researching, lecturing at a variety of international colleges and universities, or working in industry. Most hold doctorate degrees in their area of specialty. They direct discussions, help with the application of theory to real-life issues, and provide grades and feedback on a weekly basis. Our instructors challenge, stimulate, and encourage our students to give their best, pushing beyond old comfort zones into new ways of thinking and acting. This translates into employees who are mobilised and motivated to confidently take on new challenges at the office.

7 Master of Business Administration (MBA) The MBA has long been the degree of choice for the business professional and senior manager in all fields and industries. Our dynamic programme adapts to the constant changes in global business practices, as well as to the individual needs of the busy professionals who study with us. The experience of truly global collaboration will itself benefit you in any international working environment. Master of Public Health (MPH) The MPH programme provides a thorough grounding in international public health, enabling you to put principles into effect in both research and practical contexts. The individual and teamwork skills you acquire will equip you for senior positions in a variety of public, NGO and international settings. Master of Science in Information Systems Management (MSc in ISM) The MSc in Information Systems Management programme responds to the growing need for IT professionals to acquire the more general management skills and knowledge that are often provided by an MBA, but to study these management issues within the context of fast-moving developments in technology. At the same time, it provides those already in management positions with updated, cutting-edge IT knowledge, so you don t have to choose between these two complementary aspects of IT management. A combination of core and elective modules enables you to personalise the programme to your individual requirements. Master of Science in Operations and Supply Chain Management (MSc in OSCM) The MSc in Operations and Supply Chain Management programme enables students to analyse the principles, latest theories and practice of operations and supply chain management across a variety of sectors. They will emerge equipped with the knowledge and skills to help them reach a senior managerial position and become one of the operations, logistics and supply chain strategists of the future. Master of Science in Information Technology (MSc in IT) The MSc is the ultimate qualification for the IT professional. Our programme enables you to accumulate new skills, deepen your understanding and advance your career. It aims to provide a stepping stone to managing a large IT department or becoming the technical driving force in a thriving new economy business. The MSc is the ultimate qualification for the IT professional

8 FAQs 1 How long does it take to complete the online masters programmes? The programme takes on average 30 months to complete. However, since students progress at their own pace, they may choose to complete their studies in as little as 2 years, or potentially even quicker. The maximum duration of the programme is six years 2 What is the success rate of the programmes? The best measure of our success is the benefit students feel they get from our programmes. At the end of every module of every Masters programme, we ask them to rate its value. On average, 97% say they would recommend the module to their colleagues. Overall, 80% of students are certain that they will recommend the whole Masters programme to other working professionals. We have been the exclusive online learning partner of the University of Liverpool since This partnership has led to the creation of Europe s first truly international online Masters programmes, using specially adapted versions of the University of Liverpool s campus-taught degrees. When multiple students from a company enrol simultaneously on any of our programmes, corporate pricing is available. Your Admissions Advisor can provide more details. 4 How much time will study take each week? For the convenience of working people, we structure the academic week around the weekend. Our students need to set aside an average of 15 to 20 hours per week for their course work, however please bear in mind that the study time required depends upon a student s individual knowledge and abilities. Our programmes do demand a great deal of focus, time, and hard work, but they are constantly evolving to work better for our students and their employers. Do you have any more questions? Please contact your employee s personal Admissions Advisor or call +31 (0) You will need to give your employee s name so you can be directed to the right person. 3 How much do the programmes cost? You can find our current tuition fees and payment options, including monthly instalments, by visiting