MA Human Resources Management and Development

The MA Human Resource Management and Development degree is taught within Middlesex University Dubai’s Business School. Focusing on areas such as strategy, people resourcing, reward management, employment relations and leadership, this MA is designed to develop recent graduates and those in the early stages of their career who want to delve deeper into the field and enhance career progression. Not only does the course address highly relevant topics of people management and development but it is also grounded in the professional standards of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), ensuring you meet internationally recognised HR benchmarks.

Core to the course is the development of capabilities in utilising people-related data, metrics, and analytics for insight-driven and informed practice to further the priorities of the organisation. The course also has a number of activities such as case studies, student-led appraisals and residential which all embed an understanding of the application of theory in practice. In an ever-changing business environment, organisations are looking to HR professionals to respond to and shape future performance and success, facilitate management and development within a global context, and embrace innovative approaches that will meet the demands placed on modern organisations.

The core modules of the course provide a platform for students to develop the knowledge, critical thinking and ability to apply theory to practice. This part of the course will enable the acquisition of threshold concepts and models, develop people management and development skills, enhance students’ understanding of the principles of professional and ethical practice, and allow them to explore tools and techniques for influencing others.

Why Study MA Human Resource Management and Development?

The MA Human Resource Management and Development programme aims to provide students with a sound platform for those seeking to pursue, or further develop a career in a people management and development role. This will be achieved by developing students’ professional practice skill set which is pivotal to successful people management and development practice and to effective leadership. Developing the knowledge to enable students to design, deliver and evidence people management and development activities that strengthen business performance. Students will be required to challenge traditional views of the role and purpose of human resource management and development practitioners and consider how the changing employment landscape is influencing the focus and the desired impact that people management and development activities have on a business.

The programme will enable students to critically analyse the concept of insight-driven people management and development and its connection to the meaningful analysis of organisational data. It will provide them with a critical view of contemporary theory and practice in their chosen areas and develop their abilities to apply this knowledge to their own practice in a current or future role.

CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel Development)

• Associate CIPD: Recognises HR and L&D professionals who demonstrate excellence in people practice by supporting the delivery of HR and L&D solutions, or hold a relevant CIPD qualification
• Chartered Membership: Recognises HR and L&D professionals who deliver organisational performance by leading, driving and delivering people plans and solutions
• Chartered Fellowship: Recognises HR and L&D professionals who deliver sustained long-term business performance by leading and developing people strategy

Teaching

Taught sessions are held at our Dubai Knowledge Park campus (Blocks 16, 17, 04 and 19) during the week (Sunday to Thursday) between 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm. Additional sessions might be scheduled over weekends or holiday periods and you can expect to receive advanced notice for these. You can expect to attend one session per week per module, except where otherwise specified in the programme timetable and for the Dissertation module in which you will be working individually on your thesis with some supervised elements. Attending scheduled weekly classes is an important requirement for the completion of this programme.

You will be actively involved in a range of learning, teaching and assessment approach as part of your programme. Such active approaches aim to put you at the centre of your learning so you are involved and engaged in all aspects of your assessment and learning. Your programme will require your active participation in learning activities and engagement with your fellow students both individually and collaboratively, working and learning with other students as part of a small group. Learning activities may also occur both within and outside the classroom.

Your learning will also be supported by technology. Increasingly your tutors will be using existing and emerging learning technologies to engage you in e-learning activities. Your programme may be facilitated using a variety of media and online tools (My Learning on UniHub, podcasts, wikis, etc.) which could allow you flexible access to a diverse range of online resources, quizzes and learning materials as well as collaborative tools with which you can engage and learn with your peers.

Not confined by the time and space associated with traditional teaching methods you may take part in online discussions and learning activities from wherever you are studying. By engaging with e-learning you will also be developing skills, which are essential for your learning and are also highly valued by employers. These include but are not limited to: working flexibly, communication, understanding of IT, team working and creating shared understandings based on quality resources and access to global expertise.

A variety of teaching methods and assessment methods are used at Middlesex University and vary depending on the content of the modules being taught. Each module has a detailed module handbook with information on teaching and learning strategies, assessment methods and reading material. In addition, each module has a comprehensive range of online resources available to enhance your studies with us. The success of our Master's provision is built on the substantial experience of the staff that combines industry experience with a strong ability to teach, consult and research.

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This programme is specifically designed to:

• Allow the graduating student to begin a career in the field of human resource management or
• For a student already in an early stage career position in human resource management to develop their knowledge to progress their career further or
• For the more experienced HR practitioner to further advance their career and enable them to apply to the CIPD for Chartered Member status.

Programme Content

The MA Human Resource Management and Development programme will be offered in Part-time (2 years) study mode only. The programme will consist of four compulsory modules that students will complete over an academic year. Year-long modules will provide students with more time to assimilate the subject matter in each module. A range of 15 credit modules will be available as optional modules. These will typically last for one term. In addition to these modules, candidates will complete a 60-credit contextual applied dissertation module that will result in the submission of a research report on an approved topic. A variety of learning, teaching and assessment strategies are employed in order to enhance the student experience and ensure that as wide a range as possible of appropriate skills and learning outcomes are met.

These are the modules that you will study in the MA Human Resource Management and Development programme.

NOTE: Not all optional modules may be available each year, as they are dependent upon student interest and minimum numbers of registrations.

Module and programme information is indicative and may be subject to change.

• Applied Dissertation (60 Credits) - Compulsory
• People Management and Development in Business (30 Credits) - Compulsory
• Metrics, Analytics and Data (30 Credits) - Compulsory
• Principles of People Management and Development (0 Credits) - Compulsory
• Effective Individual Learning and Development (15 Credits) - Optional
• Leadership and Management Development (15 Credits) - Optional
• Effective Coaching and Mentoring (15 Credits) - Optional
• Organisation Development (15 Credits) - Optional
• Resourcing and Talent Management Practice (15 Credits) - Optional
• Employment Relations (15 Credits) - Optional
• Employment Law (15 Credits) - Optional
• Employee Engagement in Practice (15 Credits) - Optional
• Performance Management (15 Credits) - Optional
• Reward Management (15 Credits) - Optional

Applied Learning

The programme is structured to include core modules and optional modules.

The core modules of the course provide a platform for students to develop the knowledge, critical thinking and ability to applying theory to practice. This part of the course will enable the acquisition of threshold concepts and models, develop people management and development skills, enhance students’ understanding of the principles of professional and ethical practice, and allow them to explore tools and techniques for influencing others.

Unique to the MA Human Resource Management and Development programme is the development of capabilities in utilising people-related data, metrics, and analytics for insight-driven and informed practice to further the priorities of the 21st-century organisation. The course also utilises a number of activities such as case studies, student-led appraisals and applied to learn experiences, which combine an understanding of the application of theory in practice. In an ever-changing business environment, organisations are looking to HR professionals to respond to and shape future performance and success, facilitate management and development within a global context, and embrace innovative approaches that will ensure they meet the demands they face confidently and proactively.

Aims of the Programme

The MA Human Resource Management and Development programme aims to provide students with a sound platform for those seeking to pursue, or further develop a career in a people management and development role.

This will be achieved by developing students’ professional practice skill set, which is pivotal to successful people management and development practice and to effective leadership. Developing the knowledge to enable students to design, deliver and evidence people management and development activities that strengthen business performance. Students will be required to challenge traditional views of the role and purpose of human resource management and development practitioners and consider how the changing employment landscape is influencing the focus and the desired impact that people management and development activities have on a business.

The programme will enable students to critically analyse the concept of insight-driven people management and development and its connection to the meaningful analysis of organisational data. It will provide them with a critical view of contemporary theory and practice in their chosen areas and develop their abilities to apply this knowledge to their own practice in a current or future role.