The Undergraduate Diploma in Business and Management is the first year of the Bachelor degree in Business and Management and covers fundamental knowledge and skills that are highly practical, and immediately applicable to the place of work.

Modules

The Undergraduate Diploma in Business and Management is made up of the following modules:

• M1.1 – Introduction to Business and Management (8 ECTS)
• M1.2 – Organisational Communication (8 ECTS)
• M1.3 – Managing People (8 ECTS)
• M1.4 – Finance & Accounting 1 (4 ECTS)
• M1.5 – Operations Management (4 ECTS)
• M1.6 – Personal Development 1: Self managed learning (4 ECTS)
• M1.7 – Academic & Business English Writing Skills (4 ECTS)
• M1.8 – Work Placement 1 (20 ECTS)

Tutors
Our tutors have excellent experience within their field of expertise as well as the necessary academic background. You will receive a high-quality delivery in a participative environment. You will be engaged in discussions, activities, case studies, presentations and group work creating a bond between you and other students that forges friendships and a new network of professionals.

Assessment
There are no exams on this programme. The method of assessment to attain this qualification is based on different methods such as preparing a portfolio of work, building a reflective journal, writing an assignment, and others. The assignment brief is available to you in good time so that you can organise and plan your study time accordingly week by week. You will be guided through the assessment requirements, and you will also receive ongoing feedback throughout the course of studies.

Sessions
Delivery of sessions are held in the evenings (typically starting at 17:30 hours) on different weekdays and according to the timetable of the modules. There is also the possibility of a few Saturday morning sessions.

Opportunities for further studies
Upon successful completion of this programme, you can take up the opportunity to follow the Undergraduate Higher Diploma in Business & Management to further pursue your studies.

This certificate is designed for:

• Adult learners who wish to follow a career in business.
• Working professionals who have been working for a number of years and who would like to acquire knowledge and skills in business and management and thus move ahead in their careers.
• Prospective learners with a Level 4 or a Level 5 qualification who are interested in further developing their education.

The entry requirements are:

• Three MQF/EQF Level 4 individual single subject qualifications and at least 18 years of age.

or

• One MQF/EQF Level 4 qualification of at least 120 ECTS, or equivalent and at least 18 years of age.

or

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience and at least 24 years of age.

or

• The MATSEC Matriculation Certificate. This comprises 6 subjects, and include passes in a language, a science subject, a humanistic subject, and a pass in the subject ‘Systems of Knowledge’. Two of the 6 subjects must be at an Advanced Level, three of the subjects must be at an Intermediate Level and a pass at the ‘Systems of Knowledge’ subject.
• A pass (at least Grade 5 of better) in the Secondary Education Certificate examinations in the following subjects: English language, Mathematics, and one other subject.

Other equivalent (international) qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

All learners must have proficiency in the English language (evidence of use of the English language at work, 0-level pass in the English language, English as the national language or mother tongue, or other equivalent foreign qualifications equating to Common European Framework (at B2), such as IELTS (overall score of 6.0 with no element less than 5.5), Cambridge English (overall score of 169 with minimum scores of 162), TOEFL (at 72) and others).

M1.1 – Introduction to Business and Management

Competences:

• Evaluate critically how external factors including macroeconomics have an impact on organisations.
• Analyse in depth the macroeconomic performance of a national economy and the impact that this has on the activities of business organisations
• Examine critically government policies that influence the activities of business organisations
• Comparatively appraise the effectiveness of different management approaches within different organisations
• Meaningfully design a basic management competency framework for a defined (specific) organisation

Knowledge:

• Underlying management principles (such as Henry Fayol’s 14 principles) of a range of management functions.
• The core elements of macroeconomics (GDP, economic output, inflation and employment) and their relevance to business organisations
• A broad understanding of major theoretical frameworks and approaches to management within business contexts such as Douglas McGregor’s X&Y theory, and Frederick Taylor’s scientific theory.
• Different concepts and role of management functions (such as planning, organising, staffing, directing) and how these contribute to business success.
• A variety of organisational understandings and corresponding responsibilities (legal, corporate, people, environmental, community, and ethical) within the local and broader global context
• The core elements of effective management practices such as delegation, leadership, problem solving.
• The different levels of management found in organisations
• The different roles managers take on in different organisational settings

Skills:

Applying knowledge and understanding

• Thoughtfully and fairly apply theoretical frameworks identified above to explain differences between organisations operating in a range of sectors, industries, and contexts.
• Critically assess the organisational responsibilities of businesses such as those related to human talent and engagement, sustainability and the environment, ethics, and finance.
• Progressively evaluate the nature, importance, and seriousness of the challenges related to different management functions
• Analytically examine the desired skill sets of a range of manager roles
• Compare and contrast the different roles managers need to adopt in a range of settings and situations

Judgement skills and critical abilities

• Analyse the performance of a national economy, including macroeconomic measures, and the impact that this has on the activities of business organisations
• Critically evaluate macroeconomic government policies that influence the activities of business organisations
• Deconstruct and synthesise the nature of management within business organisations
• Deduce a range of different management principles in a variety of business contexts and how these are embedded in an organisation
• Ethically apply concepts, principles and strategies to business activities.

Module-Specific Communication Skills

• Use relevant and appropriate terminology when discussing and exchanging views in a business context,
• Communicate and articulate their ideas clearly in writing and orally
• Confidently give a formal presentation to a variety of audiences

Module-Specific Learner Skills

• Appropriately and accurately apply the Harvard referencing system.
• Acknowledge all sources of information
• Individually carry out further research in this area

Module-Specific Digital Skills and Competences

• Search, gather, communicate and share related information using digital resources
• Identify reliable, authoritative, and current digital sources

M1.2 – Organisational Communication

Competences:

• Comparatively assess the different communication approaches used within organisations to share information and knowledge
• Create and justify an organisational communications improvement plan
• Carry out a communications audit within an organization and make relevant recommendations
• Analyse their own communication through the application of at least 2 theories of interpersonal communication

Knowledge:

• The main communication models (such as Berlo’s, Interactional, Interactive, and Transactional models), theories (including Weber’s Classical Organisational and Deetz’ Managerialism) and approaches (such as in/formal, verbal/non-verbal, and Network Analysis)
• The types of, and differences between a range of communication channels (oral and written) including technology-enabled media and platforms
• The key stakeholders, within different organisations, and the different types of information and knowledge they require
• The benefits, challenges, and solutions (problem solving) for technology enabled media and platforms

Skills:

Applying knowledge and understanding

• Effectively utilise a range of traditional and virtual communication channels and media
• Thoughtfully examine the impact of policies and procedures on communication processes within organisations
• Critically consider potential barriers to effective communication within and between organisations
• Apply effective strategies to overcome communication barriers in the workplace

Judgement skills and critical abilities

•  Analyse and resolve issues that have an impact on organisational communications
• Evaluate in context the role of technology on communication processes
• Evaluate critically how organisational communication is influenced by the values and culture of the organisation
• Develop and promote effective interpersonal communication at the workplace

Module-Specific Communication Skills

• Use relevant and appropriate terminology when discussing and exchanging views in a business context
• Carry out meaningfully a communications audit within an organisation
• Develop and promote effective interpersonal communication at the workplace.
• Communicate and articulate their ideas clearly in writing and orally
• Confidently give a formal presentation to a variety of audiences

Module-Specific Learner Skills

• Assess and reflect on the effectiveness of their own communication skills
• Ask for, evaluate, and act upon feedback from others on their own interpersonal communication skills
• Create a personal development plan to improve their own communication skills
• Appropriately and accurately apply the Harvard referencing system.
• Acknowledge all sources of information
• Individually carry out further research in this area

Module-Specific Digital Skills and Competences

• Search, gather, communicate and share related information using digital resources
• Identify reliable, authoritative, and current digital sources

M1.3 – Managing People

Competences:

• Judiciously select and justify the use of a range of strategies to promote high levels of performance
• Analyse thoughtfully the impact of different management styles on individuals and teams
• Apply motivational theories to assess how different aspects of the working environment impacts the performance of people
• Evaluate a range of workforce development initiatives based on sustainability and ethical considerations.

Knowledge:

• The key organisational factors that impact its workforce and their performance
• A range of people development approaches including coaching and mentoring
• The role of coaching and mentoring in the development of people in a range of organisational contexts and situations
• The role and importance of workforce development for national and business sustainability

Skills:

Applying knowledge and understanding

• Evaluate the impact of an organisation’s structure on its people and business
• Examine different leadership styles and the impact they have on employees
• Consider personal differences and how these impact on an individual and team behaviours in the workplace
• Assess people development strategies vis-à-vis their contribution towards sustainable workforce development

Judgement skills and critical abilities

• Critique a range of people management approaches and strategies to assess their impact on employees
• Compare various approaches to managing different individuals and deduce the impact these approaches leave on performance at work

Module-Specific Communication Skills

• Use relevant and appropriate terminology when discussing and exchanging views in a business context.
• Communicate and articulate their ideas clearly in writing and orally.

Module-Specific Learner Skills

• Analyse how organizational culture impacts people in organisations
• Identify the implications of flexible working practices to employees and organisations
• Appropriately and accurately apply the Harvard referencing system.
• Acknowledge all sources of information
• Individually carry out further research in this area

Module-Specific Digital Skills and Competences

• Search, gather, communicate and share related information using digital resources
• Identify reliable, authoritative, and current digital sources

M1.4 – Finance & Accounting 1

Competences:

• Evaluate the requirements (such as legal and tax requirements) and techniques for financial recording (double entry bookkeeping, trial balance, manual and computerised systems) and reporting for business organisations
• Appraise the usefulness of financial statements to stakeholders in business organisations
• Evaluate the organizational requirements to business organisations for financial reporting (such as for sole traders, partnerships, limited companies and public limited companies).
• Assess how working capital can be effectively managed by business organisations

Knowledge:

• The purpose of keeping financial records by business organisations
• Types and purpose of financial statements
• The requirements for keeping financial records to business organisations
• Ways to manage working capital such as payment and collection cycles, stock control

Skills:

Applying knowledge and understanding

• Examine techniques for recording financial information in business organisations
• Examine components of working capital in business organisations
• Interpret the legal and organizational requirements for financial reporting
• Calculate working capital ratios such as current ration, liquid ratio, inventory turn and inventory days, trade receivables days and trade payables days

Judgment Skills and Critical Abilities

• Evaluate working capital ratios to identify potential difficulties.

Module-Specific Communication Skills

• Use relevant and appropriate terminology discussing and exchanging views in a business context.
• Communicate and articulate their ideas clearly in writing and orally.

Module-Specific Learner Skills

• Appropriately and accurately apply the Harvard referencing system.
• Acknowledge all sources of information
• Individually carry out further research in this area

Module-Specific Digital Skills and Competences

• Search, gather, communicate and share related information using digital resources
• Identify reliable, authoritative, and current digital sources

M1.5 – Operations Management

Competences:

• Analyse in depth the impact of operations on business performance
• Evaluate the impact of operations management on business performance
• Critically review operation processes in an organisation with a view to making recommendations for enhanced effectiveness and efficiency
• Appraise a range of performance measures, used across businesses, to measure operational productivity, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction.

Knowledge:

• The role and function of operations in business organisations (such as cost reduction, efficiency of resources including people, employee engagement, operational productivity, management and re-use of waste)
• The similarities and differences between operations of business organisations, operating in different industries, such as manufacturing and services (such as tangible vs intangible operations, capital vs labour, longer vs short response time, low vs high customer contact, customisation vs strandardised product or service, forecasting and staying competitive).
• The function and differences between input and output processes

Skills:

Applying knowledge and understanding

• Examine in detail the function of operations in business organisations operating in different industries
• Critique a range of input and output processes used in different business organisations
• Effectively apply a workflow diagram to a process including use of relevant resources, different tasks that need to be achieved, accountability and roles for each step of the process.
• Appropriately review the characteristics (such as consistency and timelines) of a good supply chain.

Judgement skills and critical abilities

• Examine how operations contribute to customer satisfaction and a positive business image

Module-Specific Communication Skills

• Use relevant and appropriate terminology when discussing and exchanging views in a business context.
• Communicate and articulate their ideas clearly in writing and orally

Module-Specific Learner Skills

• Review performance measures used for different components of the operations function
• Appropriately and accurately apply the Harvard referencing system.
• Acknowledge all sources of information
• Individually carry out further research in this area

Module-Specific Digital Skills and Competences

• Search, gather, communicate and share related information using digital resources
• Identify reliable, authoritative, and current digital sources

M1.6 – Personal Development 1: Self managed learning

Competences:

• Assess their motivation, approaches and ways of learning to identify concrete and appropriate self-managed learning opportunities
• Evaluate how lifelong development can be enhanced by self-managed learning
• Demonstrate ownership and responsibility for own personal and professional development
• Create medium and long- term personal and professional development plans

Knowledge:

• Key essential learner skills that promote lifelong learning (such as Honey & Mumford learning styles, Kolb’s learning style, learning from others, and learning through research)
• A range of learning opportunities that promote skills development for personal and professional growth (such as maintenance learning, growth learning, shock learning, and mentoring & coaching)
• Different career paths in a chosen sector or industry, including lateral pathways
• A range of learning choices based on career trajectory and own learner skills, personal and professional development needs and the activities required to meet them

Skills:

Applying knowledge and understanding

• Assess different self-managed learning approaches which can be used to enhance lifelong learning
• Evaluate individual and organisational benefits gained through self-managed learning
• Rate own current skills and competencies against professional standards and organisational objectives
• Select appropriate self-reflection and self-assessment tools to monitor and chart ongoing learning progress

Judgement skills and critical abilities

• Appraise and recommend ways how lifelong learning can encourage personal and professional development

Module-Specific Communication Skills

• Use relevant and appropriate terminology when discussing and exchanging views in a business context.
• Communicate and articulate their ideas clearly in writing and orally.
• Confidently give a formal presentation to a variety of audiences

Module-Specific Learner Skills

• Explore developmental opportunities that can support meeting own current and future needs
• Appropriately and accurately apply the Harvard referencing system.
• Acknowledge all sources of information
• Individually carry out further research in this area

Module-Specific Digital Skills and Competences

• Search, gather, communicate and share related information using digital resources
• Identify reliable, authoritative, and current digital sources

M1.7 – Academic & Business English Writing Skills

Competences:

• Communicate effectively in writing through a range of media and on different channels
• Research, source and apply academic and business literature and resources ethically and appropriately
• Apply academic referencing appropriately to support their writing
• Evaluate multiple texts to select best examples from a range of academic and business fields.

Knowledge:

• Different types of writing for academic and business purposes including reports and academic papers,
• A range of appropriate referencing and acknowledgement styles
• Ways of avoiding plagiarism including quoting, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• The contributing elements of effective professional writing

Skills:

Applying knowledge and understanding

• Illustrate the key steps to effective writing including planning and editing stages
• Apply effective writing techniques including accurate and appropriate grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• Concisely articulate ideas in a range of academic written communication
• Edit and proofread own and others’ writing

Judgement skills and critical abilities

• Review what constitutes academic malpractice
• Evaluate strategies used to research information from different sources
• Assess the factors that contribute to effective written communication

Module-Specific Communication Skills

• Communicate and articulate their ideas clearly and effectively orally and in written English
• Use appropriate academic and workplace terminology when discussing and exchanging views with colleagues

Module-Specific Learner Skills

• Compare and contrast the purpose, style and communication channels between academic and business writing

Module-Specific Digital Skills and Competences

• Search, gather, communicate and share related information using digital resources
• Identify reliable, authoritative, and current digital sources

M1.8 – Work Placement 1

Competences:

• Evaluate own work placement experience
• Identify ways to apply a pro-active approach and use own initiative at the work placement organisation
• Solicit and act upon feedback for self-development
• Apply a range of strategies to integrate and contribute effectively to the workplace team

Knowledge:

• An understanding of the work environment
• Ways of researching the placement organisation and generating an organisational profile
• The key steps to planning and executing work tasks.
• Understanding of own role, fit and contribution within the placement organisation

Skills:

Applying knowledge and understanding

• Analyse the placement organisation using at least two models and/or theories and academic research to support findings
• Assess current personal strengths and weaknesses in relation to the workplace organisation
• Assess work-related internal challenges encountered at the placement organisation
• Assess work-related internal relationship challenges encountered at the placement organisation
• Develop strategies to overcome work and relationship challenges

Judgement skills and critical abilities

• Reflect on at least three skills developed during the work placement experience
• Justify time management strategies used

Module-Specific Communication Skills

• Use relevant and appropriate terminology when discussing and exchanging views in a business context.
• Communicate and articulate their ideas clearly in writing and orally.
• Confidently give a formal presentation to a variety of audiences

Module-Specific Learner Skills

• Develop work-related goals and action setting
• Appropriately and accurately apply the Harvard referencing system.
• Acknowledge all sources of information
• Individually carry out further research in this area

Module-Specific Digital Skills and Competences

• Search, gather, communicate and share related information using digital resources
• Identify reliable, authoritative, and current digital sources

Terms & Conditions apply, talk to us for further detail on this programme.