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School of Public Policy & Professional Practice

 

Education

MBA Education International - About the course

Please Note: This programme is delivered exclusively in Thailand at Harrow International School, Bangkok (www.harrowschool.ac.uk).

About the MBA - download a course leaflet here MBA Education (International) flyer

Aims of the MBA Education International

The course offers a comprehensive and critical analysis of policies, issues and practices in contemporary education management and leadership. Drawing on international research, the programme provides advanced skills and knowledge of senior level education management practice. Through examination of cross-cultural comparisons, the course develops awareness of the global context of education management and directly assists the education professional in their own career development.

The course is based on six taught modules and submitted assignments. The course materials are introduced during 3 two day and 1, one day residential held at weekends, based in Thailand, and then used as the basis of a theoretical/reflexive evaluation of policy and practice as experienced by the student. The course develops research skills through the assignments and these are applied in a dissertation undertaken from the October of year 2 and submitted one year later. The dissertation topic is individually negotiated and offers opportunity for consideration of work-based, local or national policy and professional applications.

Distinctive features of Keele's MBA Education International

The course is part-time, semi-distance learning and comprises six taught modules and a dissertation. Students attend four, two-day residentials (May and October) during the 18 month taught element of the programme. This opportunity for students of different cultural backgrounds to share knowledge and experiences is a vital aspect of this internationally-focused MBA in Education. Module-specific distance learning materials are provided for each module and introduced at each residential.  Assignments are submitted approximately four months after each introductory session. The course director assumes a tutorial responsibility for all students, but after dissertation interests have been determined, supervisors are allocated from the teaching team.

Is it a "real" MBA course?

Our MBA Education International incorporates the standard ingredients of a ‘business school’ MBA but, importantly, places it within an educational framework.  So it is not a Master’s course in education in disguise! The course covers the practical and theoretical aspects of management/business administration, but does not address directly, curriculum and teaching issues.  All the learning and assessment is focused on managing and leading education institutions at the highest level.  So all students on the programme are expected to be existing or aspiring managers and leaders in education, able to assess the value and relevance of business and organizational concepts to their own professional education situation.

A number of our tutors also lecture on other MBA programmes and, in addition, have a background in and commitment to researching the education service.

What modules must be completed for the MBA?

The total number of credits is 120 taught modules and 60 credits Research project/Dissertation as follows:

Year 1:

  • EDU-40001 Organizational Behaviour and Development in Education - the culture, operation and evaluation of education organisations, management and leadership (15 credits)
  • EDU-40002 (double module) Quality, Improvement and Effectiveness in Education - best practice and best value in the pursuit of advanced professionalism (30 Credits)
  • EDU-40003 Strategic Management in Education - planning for and coping with change in a high performing education environment (15 Credits)
  • EDU-40005 Human Resource Issues in Education - individual performance management and team enhancement (15 Credits)

Year 2:

  • EDU-40004 Resource Management in Education - maximising resource creativity, evaluation and audit (15 Credits)
  • EDU-40015 Research Methods - introduction and guide to contrasting research methodologies, concepts and issues. The application of div erse research methods within a cross-cultural perspective (30 Credits)
  • EDU-40027 Research Project/Dissertation (60 Credits)

Amount of study time needed

This is difficult to estimate since we are all different and learn at different speeds! Because people undertaking our courses come from a variety of professional and study backgrounds and have different levels of expertise in the various areas studied, it is impossible to be definitive about precise time allocations. However, as a guide, you should expect to devote around 50-60 hours study time for each module you take - spread over approximately 4 months.  NB 1 credit usually = 10 hours incl the contact time.  Because of the nature of research, your research project will require a greater allocation of time during the final stage of the course (the precise amount of time depending on the length/scope of the research project/dissertation).

We recognise that individual professional workloads vary and we have, therefore, organised the study modules to allow maximum flexibility so that you can work at your own pace. Nevertheless, if at all possible, we would strongly advise that you develop regular study sessions. New course members are given study skills support and guidance throughout the directed study stages of the course.