Postgraduate Taught

This is one of the longest established MBA Education courses in the UK. It is designed to serve the needs of middle, senior and aspiring managers in local authorities, schools, FE colleges, universities, Learning and Skills Councils, and related public and private sector organisations. The programme recruits students from LEAs, FE, HE, Ofsted and schools as well as from overseas. It is a freestanding course but can be used as a steppingstone to the PhD and EdD courses, also offered at Keele.

Our MBA Education incorporates the standard ingredients of a ‘business school’ MBA but, importantly, places it within an educational framework: it is not a Master’s course in education in disguise! The course covers the practical and theoretical aspects of management/business administration - allowing you to assess the value and relevance of business and organizational concepts to your 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.

Download the fuller MBA Brochure 2013MBA Education (International) Course Information Brochure 2013 here.

The course aims to offer a comprehensive and critical analysis of current policy and practice issues within the education service. The course is based on six taught modules and submitted assignments. The course materials are introduced at two-day residential sessions and then used as the basis of a theoretical 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 September of Year 2 and submitted one year later. The dissertation topic is individually negotiated and offers an opportunity for consideration of work-based, local or national policy and professional applications.

The course has been designed to meet the pattern of competences evolved by the Local Government Training Board.

The course has been designed to:

• help you acquire, through an active and reflective approach to your own learning, a broader and deeper knowledge-base regarding educational management - particularly in terms of senior management responsibilities;
• encourage you to develop further your creative and intellectual skills;
• help you further improve your interpersonal and human relations skills;
• help you develop more sophisticated and analytical approaches to problem-solving and decision-making within a strategic management context;
• help you place your own experience and learning within a wider national and, where appropriate, international context;
• help you improve your career potential and breadth of experience;
• help you focus on continuing improvement and personal development.

Each of our courses is, under normal circumstances, open to people with a good honours degree (or equivalent) plus appropriate professional training and / or experience: such applicants are usually eligible for direct entry. Applicants with appropriate professional experience would also be considered for direct entry.

Other applicants would be considered on an individual basis.

The course comprises six taught modules and a dissertation. Students meet for two consecutive days in each of the first five terms of the course. This opportunity to work together at Keele has been regarded as a vital support for what is essentially a distance learning course. The normal pattern of teaching is that a full day is given to each module with a theoretical introduction, consideration of practical applications and then an extended case study. Distance learning materials have been specially commissioned for each module so that the focus is on service provision rather than on generic educational issues.

Assignments are submitted about two 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.

The six taught modules (120 credits) are:

Year 1

• Organisational behaviour and development – the culture, operation and evaluation of groups and teams (15 credits)
• Quality, improvement and effectiveness – best practice and best value in action (30 credits)
• Strategic management – planning for and coping with change (15 credits)

Year 2

• Resource management – maximising resource creativity, evaluation and audit (15 credits)
• Human resource issues – performance management and team enhancement (15 credits)
• Research methods – introduction and guide to research methodologies, concepts and issues (30 credits)

All modules are taught from the perspective of administrators and leaders in the education service and public/private sector policy researchers. Keele tutors are supported by senior practitioners in Education, together with guest speakers with specialist knowledge and/or research experience in the sector.

There are no formal examinations. Assessment is based upon assignments and the end of course dissertation. All assignments are between 3,000 and 4,500 words in length and are graded according to School and University guidelines. Work that does not secure the 50% pass grade can be resubmitted.

The dissertation of 15,000-20,000 words is similarly marked and constitutes one-third of the total Masters programme (60 credits). The degree may be awarded with distinction or merit where work shows exceptional quality. All marking is full, structured and developmental. Tutorial support is available during assignment preparation. In order to be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Certificate a student must have successfully completed 60 taught module credits. In order to be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma a student must have successfully completed 120 taught module credits.

Attendance Requirements

During a standard two year Masters programme, students will need to attend intensive two day course sessions on five occasions – roughly once per term.

Staff

Our intention is that key elements of the teaching will be provided by a member of the Education or Management School of the University working alongside support tutors from various parts of UK education, including local authorities, colleges, schools, and universities. Course members will be taught and/or supervised by a team drawn from:

• Professor Stephen Cropper (Keele University)
• Prof Derek Glover (formerly an Oxfordshire head teacher)
• Dr Tom Bisschoff (Birmingham University)
• Prof David Cracknell (University of Chester)
• John Hull (School of Leadership Consultant)
• Richard Morcombe Vice Principal – Business Development, North Warwickshire and Hinkley College 
• Dr Carole Thornley (Keele University)>
• John Edmonstone (Consultant Fellow, Keele University)
• Peter Swift (S. Cheshire College)

At most residentials we invite nationally known figures from education management, policy and research to lead two-hour talk and debate sessions with the students.

• What do Keele's programmes offer me?
• Will I need access to an academic library?
• What if I experience difficulties with my job or personal life that make it difficult for me to complete my studies?
• I haven't studied for years,will I be able to start again?

What do Keele's programmes offer me?

• Comprehensive Tutor Packs: Key course texts can be purchased from us, are integrated with Tutor Packs and are used to guide you through your studies. Additional readings are provided for each course member, as appropriate, to help you to structure your work, and Activity and Reflection points offer challenges to help you review management issues in the light of your reading and in relation to current and previous experience.
• Tutor Guidance and Feedback on Assignments: Assignments are submitted at appropriate assessment points in the programme and you are given written feedback designed to help your future professional development. In addition, where necessary, verbal feedback is given and course members are encouraged to discuss particular assignment-related issues with their tutors whenever they feel they need clarification. Assignment outlines can also be discussed with the appropriate tutors at Payap based sessions or by telephone/fax/email.
• Tutor Support and Counselling: Our professional development course tutors have been or are teachers in a variety of educational institutions/contexts and are currently University teachers, professional educationists (e.g. education managers) and advisers with a substantial background in working with adults.
• Keele University Campus - a pleasant environment for study Keele's campus is set in a beautiful estate with extensive grounds and excellent accommodation on campus, as well as in the local area.  There are several restaurants, cafe-bars and fast food outlets on campus, in addition to a supermarket, newsagent, bookshop and bank.  Keele village has a 'local' pub and Newcastle-under-Lyme is just a few miles away.  Keele is centrally located - just off the M6 motorway and with a rail link in Crewe and Stoke-on-Trent and has relative ease of access to most parts of the country.  The University has a management centre where competitively priced accommodation is available.  Details of alternative local accommodation will be provided in your joining pack.

Will I need access to an academic library?

All the essential readings are included as part of your course pack and set books can be ordered for you, if required.  There are usually one or two set texts for each module which you will need to purchase or borrow from a library.  You are encouraged to read as widely as possible, and when preparing your dissertation it will be necessary to use a library for research.  Keele library is a participant in the "UK Libraries Plus" scheme which enables part-time, distance students to borrow books from up to three other libraries convenient to them.  Keele library give vouchers to eligible students to take to the libraries of their choice.  This procedure normally requires the applicant to go to the main service counter with their current Keele card to receive vouchers.

As a member of the University you also have the right to use other facilities e.g. sports and student union facilities when you are here. 

What if I experience difficulties with my job or personal life that make it difficult for me to complete my studies?

The Course Director is available to discuss - in confidence - any particular problems which may affect your studies, and it is advisable to let us know as soon as possible of anything which is likely to interfere with your studies: we are concerned to provide support and help wherever and whenever possible, so that you can ultimately achieve your objectives in undertaking the course. For example, if circumstances make it difficult to maintain your planned study programme, we may be able to arrange for you to defer or extend your studies beyond the standard minimum period. We expect all course members to complete the course within the required time period, and any course member who requests an extension must formally apply in writing to the Programme Leader. There are additional fees for extension or deferral.

While it is important to emphasise that support is always available, a neat balance needs to be struck between providing course members with the necessary flexibility of support, help and guidance alongside the need to have clear expectations and a time framework within which your goals can be achieved. There is a requirement for satisfactory progress to be maintained.

I haven't studied for years,will I be able to start again?

We recognise that some people's study skills may be rather 'rusty'! Both the Course Director and the course team are experienced adult educators as well as having had experience as senior managers and practitioners in schools, colleges, local authorities and higher education. We recognise the importance of reviewing the key skills involved in studying again - particularly after a break of some years! - and we consider it an integral part of our brief to help course members re-familiarise themselves in this area. To this end, as each new participant joins the programme we provide study skills support, materials and help - both for general and specific study-related issues. While individual needs may differ, the need for a 'safety net' of advice and support which you may wish to tap into, is recognised.

According to our students, the value of the course for them is apparent not only in successful completion, but also that they find the study to be worthwhile for its own sake. In addition, over half of the students who began the course have secured significant promotion whilst with us.

Now into its 16th year, the MBA has proved to be a success as judged by the QAA inspection which took place in March 2001.  This inspection resulted in Education at Keele receiving the highest rating - 24 - for its teaching and learning.

However, more important is the value placed on the course by the students themselves.  Recent evaluation comments include:

"The overall structure of the course suited me perfectly [and] the feedback on assignments was excellent" "I have really enjoyed the course and working with other students.  The support for us students was always first-class".

"I have really enjoyed the course.  All members of the staff were helpful and supportive.  Thank you all."

"The programme is very stimulating.   The tutors challenge assumptions and encourage you to think critically."

"Without exception, the taught sessions were superb.  All very different, clear objectives, well researched and debated, challenging and enjoyable.  The breadth and quality of most external speakers added value to the sessions.  The passion and professionalism of these sessions engendered pride and motivation to stick with it."

"The course can be demanding but when you've completed it you feel as if you've earned it.  I am proud to have gone through the experience."

"Thanks for all your help during the course.  I really enjoyed it, and thought Keele a wonderful place to be a student."