University of Bedfordshire Business School
School of Leadership and Management
Welcome to Human Resource Management at the University of Bedfordshire.
Hello, my name is Dr Steve McPeake and I am the Head of School for Leadership and Management where the Human Resource Management courses are based. I am delighted you will be joining us this academic year.
I am proud to lead a diverse and talented team of academics to deliver exceptional teaching and learning.
The University of Bedfordshire Business School (UBBS) is a supportive and close-knit community where we place great emphasis on supporting your academic development, building your confidence and preparing you for the world of work.
This booklet provides you with important information that will help prepare you for your course and for your first few weeks and months at university. Have a read through, and if you have any questions, get in touch with a member of the team.
I look forward to welcoming you to the University very soon.
Dr Steve McPeake Head of SchoolCourse Lead for HRM and HRM with Law
• Dr Victor Akunna, victor.akunna@beds.ac.uk
Course Lead for HRM with Placement
• Brij Naysmith, brij.naysmith@beds.ac.uk
Key contacts in the HRM course team
• Maryam Khodaviren, maryam.khodaviren@beds.ac.uk
• Farzana Choudhury, farzana.choudhury@beds.ac.uk
Student Information Desk (SiD) beds.ac.uk/sid sid@beds.ac.uk
Student Support beds.ac.uk/studentsupport
BedsSU (Students’ Union) bedssu.co.uk help@bedssu.co.uk
Hello, my name is Tracey McPeake and I am a Principal Lecturer in HRM and the Portfolio Lead for all HRM courses.
The team and I are excited that you will be joining us this academic year. The first week in the Academic Calendar is Welcome Week where you will be introduced to your course, course team and fellow students.
You will have a course coordinator, unit coordinators, success tutors and a personal academic tutor (PAT) who are here to support you. Members of the team have weekly office hours so you can book an appointment if you need to discuss any aspect of your course.
Studying Human Resource Management is a people orientated profession and our aim is to prepare you for the world of work by giving you a solid academic grounding along with the practical skills you will need to succeed and thrive. As our courses are accredited by the professional body for HRM (CIPD) you will be work ready once you graduate.
We will be with you every step of the way as you start your academic journey.
Tracey McPeake Principal Lecturer in HRMOur academic induction follows four key sessions which happen at the same time for all Business School students.
We start the week with an online session to say hello, (this will be at lunchtime on Tuesday 19 September for an hour). This is also an opportunity to hear from Faculty Executive Group members. On Thursday and Friday, we host four sessions designed to help you get ready for your studies. You will meet and work with your course team and meet other members of the faculty. You should attend the following sessions which will run for the full day:
Session 1
Meet your course team – get to know members of the teaching team and understand how your course operates
Thursday
Session 2
Take part in the Big Business Challenge – meet faculty executive members along with some of the employers we work with, who will host a fun team challenge
Friday
Session 1
Meet your personal academic tutor (PAT) – get to know them and find out how they can support you throughout your studies
Session 2
Prepare for your first week of study – learn how to access our systems and resources so you can have the best possible start
All the details about the different activities and where they will be held are included on our Faculty Academic Welcome pages. Check this page closer to the time for any changes to the sessions. But be assured that the sessions will take place on Thursday and Friday so you can start planning your week now.
Our colleagues in the student support and learning resources teams will also host sessions for all new starters. These are designed to help you become familiar with all the essential services you will use throughout your time with us.
Of course, Welcome Week wouldn’t be Welcome Week without the Freshers’ Fayre, which is run by the University of Bedfordshire Students’ Union. They will host plenty of events and activities, so keep an eye on their website and follow them on social media to find out more (see p.5).
We use an online noticeboard called Padlet to help our students keep up to date with everything that’s happening. This is linked from BREO, our virtual learning environment, and each subject cluster has its own individual space.
You can only access BREO once you are registered with us as a student. However, the Padlet noticeboard for HRM students can be accessed now via this link
Feel free to take a look and become more familiar with the exciting events, trips and discussions happening in your subject area.
How to find your Timetable
Information about your learning with BREO
Get support with your learning and assignments Study Hub
Visit the Library
Begin@Beds Start your student journey
Thrive@Beds My Beds Life
Succeed@Beds Careers and Employability Service
The course assessment strategy is closely aligned to the University’s teaching and learning strategy which is designed to:
• Have an immediate relevance to practice
• Draw on expertise by experience
• Foster active learning and be learner-centred in approach
A distinct feature of the course is the range of assessment tasks including workplace assessments that can have an immediate impact in practice. This helps put into practice what you are learning in university and can help increase your confidence.
These can vary depending on the course you are studying, but here’s an example of what your assessments might include:
Essays and reports
Posters
Presentations
Case studies
Exams
Skills documents – practice based learning
Role play and simulations
Assessments are purposefully diverse and created to relate to industry practices.
Once you have met the conditions of your offer, you will receive an email to complete your online registration. Keep an eye on your emails and junk box to ensure you don’t miss it!
• Enjoy an amazing virtual tour of our campus
• Find out more about student membership for the CIPD, the professional body for the HRM industry
Hear from some of our students about their experiences of studying at the University of Bedfordshire:
• HRM students’ favourite units
• Dana-Georgiana Mocean
• Lee Smith-Dennis
Take time to familiarise yourself with the layout of our campus and the names of buildings. This will help you get around with ease when you arrive.
• Luton campus
• Eating and drinking on-campus
In the first semester we expect that you attend classes and actively engage in the lectures, seminars workshops and other activities. We will support you to develop your academic skills to futureproof your current and future academic and professional life.
You will study five units in your first year, which typically tend to be:
Beginning Your Professional Business Journey
Semester one
Applied Numeracy for Business
The Role of HR in the Digital Age
Semester two
Human Resource Management Foundations
HR and Work in Organisations
To find out how to access your timetable go to beds.ac.uk/timetable
Academic information
Guide to referencing Study Hub
What is expected of me during the course?
Students are expected to undertake the set preparatory reading, attend all seminar sessions and lectures and be actively engaged in their seminars and tutorials.
Are students involved in the decision making relating to the portfolio?
Yes, students can express their views through the Portfolio Executive Committee (PEC). PEC meetings give student representatives the opportunity to engage directly with staff and feed into decisions about educational provision and support throughout the academic year.
What happens if I miss class due to illness or have difficulties with childcare or travel?
We understand that everyone will face some difficulties now and again and we aim to be flexible. You are encouraged to discuss ongoing issues with your personal academic tutor or unit lead. For independent advice or for ongoing attendance issues you can contact studentengagement@beds.ac.uk
Who can help me with my assessments?
The academic team is always available to guide you with the theory based content and you can book a one-to-one tutorial with your unit lead. If you need more time to complete an assignment, please contact the Student Engagement and Mitigation team (SEAM) who deal with assessment extensions. Their email is: mitigation@beds.ac.uk. You can find our Mitigation Policy and form on our website
What support is available for students with a learning difference or disability?
Our Disabilities team supports students with a range of disabilities including sensory and physical impairments, mental health difficulties, specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, and medical conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, sickle cell anaemia and arthritis. You may be eligible for a Learning and Teaching Agreement, where you can discuss any reasonable adjustments needed for classroom learning and examinations. You can email disability@beds.ac.uk for further information and advice.
Yes, the Students’ Union can tell you everything you need to know about sports clubs, activities and events for all our students. You can even set up your own society! Contact Beds SU by emailing beds.su@beds.ac.uk
Our dedicated Student Money Advice team offers confidential financial advice, information and support. They can advise you on a range of funding options such as grants, loans, bursaries and scholarships, as well as guiding you on the best way to manage your finances. You can contact them by emailing studentmoney@beds.ac.uk
You will have access to top notch support throughout your academic journey via our student success tutors, personal academic tutors and our alumni.
Always remember, our team is here for you!
We know there’s a lot to take in when you start university. We’ll support you throughout, especially at the beginning. Some students adjust to university life more readily than others, and it can take time to feel at home, but this is normal and you’ll soon make friends. Remember, many of your fellow students will be feeling the same.
We are confident that you’ll love our friendly campus and everything the University of Bedfordshire has to offer.
We have high student employability rates with students regularly securing roles in the industry before graduating.
You will be able to network and connect with over 50 industry leading employers.
We provide opportunities for career progression in HRM through placements, graduate programmes and more. Your HRM degree is internationally recognised and equips you with the relevant skills, knowledge and attributes to succeed.
Our Human Resource Management courses are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), which provides students with the opportunity to engage with HRM professionals while working towards their accreditation.
Our lecturers are both academics and HRM practitioners. They have been working as subject experts for many years and have so much knowledge and insight to share with us.
It is one of the few courses that has a dedicated panel of external experts who who bring their expertise into the University and help shape the course.
We have access to career advice to match our aspirations and expectations of this course.
The lecturers work with many CIPD professionals and local businesses to give us practical perspectives on HRM.
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