COURSE: B usiness Ma nagement Human Re with source Ma nagement
DIARY
What will my first year of university be like?
Will I get support with my assignments? What kind of teaching can I How much independent study will I have to do?
expect?
Whether or not you’re moving away from home, going to university is a significant milestone in your life. It can seem like a big step up from sixth form or college, so naturally you’ll have a lot of questions about life as a university student. We’ve put together a snapshot of what your first year as a Business Management with Human Resource Management student at the University of Salford might look like. As well as taking a detailed look at the modules you’ll study, we’ve enlisted Neil, a current Business School student to take you through an average day on campus. Our Business Management with Human Resource Management programme is delivered predominantly on the Peel Park campus. If you have visited us before, you might have already had the chance to explore. However, there are plenty of hidden gems, places to eat and useful facilities to be aware of if you’re joining us in September. We’ve listed a few for you to learn more about below.
Welcome to Salford Before getting stuck into your studies, you’ll have the chance to get a taste of all the amazing activities and clubs you can get involved with during Welcome Week. University isn’t just about what happens in the lecture theatre and Welcome Week means you can experience everything the university has to offer. Packed full of events, socials and parties, your first week on campus is a great opportunity to make new friends and seek out new experiences. If you’re still feeling a little lost on campus, or in the city, there are tours and trips every day to help you get your bearings. Keep up to date with the latest info, events and any changes to activities by following us on Twitter and Facebook. @UoS_Students
@salfordsu
What will I study in my first year? In your first year of Business Management with Human Resource Management you’ll study the following modules:
Digital an d Busines s Skills Understa nding Org anisations Introduct ion to Hu man Reso urces Data Ana lysis for Business The Futu re of Bu siness HR Busin ess Skills
But what do I actually study in those modules? Whether by offering exemptions on industry qualifications, helping you develop practical skills or providing opportunities for real-world experience, we ensure you graduate with far more than just your degree. In each year of your course, you need to obtain 120 credits. The academic year is divided into two terms or ‘semesters’ and in your first year, you’ll study three 20 credit modules in each semester. In this section, we are going to give you a bit more information on each of those first year modules, so you have a better understanding of not just what you will study, but how and the assessments involved. The amount of time you spend in lectures and seminars can vary throughout the year, you are expected to do assignments, reading and independent study as well as your scheduled activities. All your activities should add up to about 35 - 40 hours a week (the same as a full-time job).
MODULE: Digital and Business Skills In this module, you will learn the digital tools and develop the technological skills that you will need both for your University studies and for your business career. You will learn to identify and evaluate the most appropriate tools for business so that you can process and present information to communicate your ideas. Teaching will be delivered in a variety of ways such as weekly lectures, student-led seminars, discussions and a mini conference. By the end of your first year, you will have built an E-portfolio of work representing your business and digital business competencies which you can use in interviews for a work placement or job. / One-hour lecture each week – your tutor introduces the concepts and guides you through the module / Two-hour seminar each week – you will work individually or in small groups and get feedback from your tutor to help your understanding / Independent study – support your learning using module-specific online content available through the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE), in the University library or as directed by the tutor. Every course also has an online programme hour each week when you meet as a programme group with your tutor. At level 4, in the first term, you will focus on the academic skills you need to move successfully from college to University; in semester two, you will look at how to develop the soft skills you need for your career path. This is a core module which is studied by all first year Business Management students.
Aims and objectives of the module: Recognise key workplace technologies Analyse and identify the key elements of professional communications Create a portfolio of professional communications, presentations, and a professional profile Understand the relationship of digital business communications in the wider business context
What will the assessments be like? You will be assessed via a digital portfolio of your work, which builds across 10 weeks (9 marks available for each week, and 10 marks available overall for attendance/engagement). Once you have completed these online workbooks, you will also complete a 500 word summary of the work you have completed and a 500 word self-reflection of what you have learned.
Who will teach me? The number of tutors on a module can vary, but you will usually have three to four tutors teaching you throughout this module.
MODULE: Understanding Organisations The business world is made up of various types of businesses in a range of industry sectors. Though some challenges will be specific to the business, most have common issues. These organisations are also made up of different functions – finance, marketing, HR etc – ideally all working together for a common goal. On this module, you will develop an appreciation of the different types of business organisations, learn to recognise the common functional areas and develop a basic understanding of the core areas of people management, finance, marketing and operations. / One-hour lecture each week – your tutor introduces the concepts and guides you through the module / T wo-hour seminar each week – you will work individually or in small groups and get feedback from your tutor to help your understanding / I ndependent study – support your learning using module-specific online content available through the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE), in the University library or as directed by the tutor. Every course also has an online programme hour each week when you meet as a programme group with your tutor. At level 4, in the first term, you will focus on the academic skills you need to move successfully from college to University; in semester two, you will look at how to develop the soft skills you need for your career path. You will also visit one of our partner organisations to support your learning. Where possible these will be face to face visits but may be virtual tours. This is a core module which is studied by all first year Business Management students. However, seminars will be delivered in your pathway group so that you can work on cases and examples drawn from your area of specialism.
Aims and objectives of the module: Undertake comparisons of different businesses types, sizes, structures and the challenges that each uniquely face Describe the purpose of each function within a business and understand the necessary interrelationship between these functions in order for a business to succeed Identify the ways that changes in the external environment affect different types of businesses
What will the assessments be like? You will be assessed via a poster report (worth 30% of your result) and a business report (worth 70% of your result). These will demonstrate your ability to gather and analyse information from diverse sources and present your work in visual and report formats.
Who will teach me? The number of tutors on a module can vary, but you will usually have three to four tutors teaching you throughout this module.
MODULE: Introduction to Human Resources This module aims to give you an understanding of the role of communication and communication methods within an organisation. It will also provide you the opportunity to develop the soft skills you will need to be an effective HR Practitioner/ General Manager / One-hour lecture each week – your tutor introduces the concepts and guides you through the module / Two-hour seminar each week – you will work individually or in small groups and get feedback from your tutor to help your understanding / Independent study – support your learning using module-specific online content available through the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE), in the University library or as directed by the tutor. Every course also has an online programme hour each week when you meet as a programme group with your tutor. At level 4, in the first term, you will focus on the academic skills you need to move successfully from college to University; in semester two, you will look at how to develop the soft skills you need for your career path. This is a pathway module. You will work with other students on the Human Resource Management pathway on cases and examples drawn from this specialism.
Aims and objectives of the module: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the main principles of HRM and of the processes and practices for effective people management within private and public organisations Identify factors in the external environment that impact on the employee lifecycle and the application and effectiveness of HRM policies and practices Recognise the diverse sets of interests that exist between different stakeholders within organisations and the resulting co-operative and conflictive forms of behaviour within the employment relationship Understand the HRM specialist’s input to the resourcing, development and management of human resources Understand the influence of globalisation on the practice of HRM
What will the assessments be like? You will be assessed via a group online presentation and written coursework in which you explore two connected topics in depth.
Who will teach me? The number of tutors on a module can vary, but you will usually have three to four tutors teaching you throughout this module.
MODULE: Data Analysis for Business On this module, you will develop the ability to make numbers meaningful and therefore aid informed decision-making. We will focus on understanding the concepts of mathematical and statistical modelling in business, recognising the demands for dealing with big data. You will learn to use and interpret quantitative methods, to analyse business data and to critique articles and news stories that include statistical and quantitative information. Teaching is delivered via formal lectures, small group seminars, tutorials in a computer room and problem-based drop-ins in a classroom. These will be augmented by activities from the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE) and relevant course-based websites. / One-hour lecture each week – your tutor introduces the concepts and guides you through the module / Two-hour seminar each week – you will work individually or in small groups and get feedback from your tutor to help your understanding / Independent study – support your learning using module-specific online content available through the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE), in the University library or as directed by the tutor. Every course also has an online programme hour each week when you meet as a programme group with your tutor. At level 4, in the first term, you will focus on the academic skills you need to move successfully from college to University; in semester two, you will look at how to develop the soft skills you need for your career path. This is a core module which is studied by all first year Business Management students.
Aims and objectives of the module: Select, organise and present relevant information clearly and logically Discuss and interpret results and present a well-structured report (written and verbal) in support of findings Present data in a variety of formats Formulate, derive and assess quantitative modelling approaches to solving problems
What will the assessments be like? You will be assessed via a computer-based assessment and an exam at the end of the module. The assessments will use real or realistic data and include a mixture of computer-based questions, calculations, interpretation and drawing reasonable conclusions.
Who will teach me? The number of tutors on a module can vary, but you will usually have three to four tutors teaching you throughout this module.
MODULE: The Future of Business This module introduces you to economics and the influence of the economic environment on businesses and their opportunities for growth. You will learn the skill of horizon scanning for a business manager to understand the external environment, looking at ways in which this might influence your business activities and provide opportunities to innovate. You will also develop an understanding of the role of digitisation and industry 4.0 and their impact on businesses. / O ne-hour lecture each week – your tutor introduces the concepts and guides you through the module / T wo-hour seminar each week – you will work individually or in small groups and get feedback from your tutor to help your understanding / Independent study – support your learning using module-specific online content available through the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE), in the University library or as directed by the tutor. Every course also has an online programme hour each week when you meet as a programme group with your tutor. At level 4, in the first term, you will focus on the academic skills you need to move successfully from college to University; in semester two, you will look at how to develop the soft skills you need for your career path. This is a core module which is studied by all first year Business Management students.
Aims and objectives of the module: Learn to use the principal theories in economics to assess the impact of change Analyse current economic issues and use techniques of economic analysis within a problemsolving context Identify alternative forms of economic systems and structures and their translation into different business models Define the meaning, purpose, impact and promise of Industry 4.0 and digitisation
What will the assessments be like? In your first assessment, you will undertake a horizon scanning exercise for a sector or industry appropriate to their pathway area. You will then go on to analyse a specific business issue in the second assessment, to consider how business could respond.
Who will teach me? The number of tutors on a module can vary, but you will usually have three to four tutors teaching you throughout this module.
MODULE: Human Resource Business Skills Communication is at the heart of a well-run business. This module will provide you with the understanding of key communication methods and how to use these effectively. This module has a focus on soft skill development, an area that industry has expressed a particular need for in graduates. These soft skills will also benefit you in your future career, being able to connect with all types of people – a must for an effective HR professional. / One-hour lecture each week – your tutor introduces the concepts and guides you through the module / Two-hour seminar each week – you will work individually or in small groups and get feedback from your tutor to help your understanding / Independent study – support your learning using module-specific online content available through the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE), in the University library or as directed by the tutor. Every course also has an online programme hour each week when you meet as a programme group with your tutor. At level 4, in the first term, you will focus on the academic skills you need to move successfully from college to University; in semester two, you will look at how to develop the soft skills you need for your career path. This is a Pathway Module. You will share this module with other students from your course.
Aims and objectives of the module: Provide a critical appreciation of the role and importance of personal awareness and selfreflection in the effective management of people and teams Provide an understanding of the role and how this has an effect on the type of communication strategies chosen Develop interpersonal skills including effective communication, influencing and negotiating, agile working, openness and responsiveness to feedback Develop an overarching management skill set and understand its importance in relation to developing a professional identify
What will the assessments be like? An individual presentation will be used as one of your assignments for this module, helping to build soft skills that employers seek when employing graduates. You will also undertake a group simulation project. Working on a true to life assignment, you and your group will work to present a project, simulating project work in modern business.
Who will teach me? The number of tutors on a module can vary, but you will usually have three to four tutors teaching you throughout this module
How does my week look? Don’t put these in your calendar just yet, timetables change each year and you will get your actual timetable during your induction week!
9 Mon
MORNING 10 11 12
1
Digital and kills Business S 10-11
AFTERNOON 2 3 4
Group project; meet in library
HR Business Skills 4-5 Business society meet-up
Lunch w ith Chaz
Tue
Underst anding Organisa tions 11-12
Wed Library!
Meeting with
Digital and Employability Business Skills 2-4 Football training 2-4
Thu Understanding
HR Business Skills 4-6
Organisations ess 9-11 Busin
HRM with e ramm prog hour
Fri Chat through group presentation
5
Coffee
Stan
with
Bandioke night!
Sat Sun
Lectures
Seminars
Day in the life
eil Meet N
Resource ar Human s, 2nd ye Neil Evan t student en Managem
How does your typical day start? My timetable varies: some days I start at 9AM and others at 10AM or later, so it’s always nice to have a lie in! In the mornings I shower, eat breakfast then set off walking from my flat at IQ Student Quarter. Both Peel Park halls and IQ Student Quarter are located super close to the university which is highly convenient - I can live in comfort and be close to my studies at the same time.
What Lecture/Seminar does your day start with? Each day is different but my favourite day is Tuesday because it starts with Professional Development. This module is taken by all business school students and helps to improve employability skills. Every week we cover something new about the recruitment process, whether it’s learning how to create a detailed LinkedIn profile or how to create a stellar CV and covering letter. This module is really useful in preparing students for their placement year or graduate job applications. The skills I’ve learnt are already helping me in getting closer to my dream job.
Lunch time For dinner, me and my course mates head to Atmosphere Kitchen and Bar in the student union. Atmosphere serves the tastiest food and drink on campus and is a bustling student hub to relax in after classes or in the evenings.
Afternoon Lectures/Seminars On Tuesday afternoons, I have an Organisational Behaviour lecture. Organisational Behaviour teaches about business culture and how effective leadership and strategy can increase efficiency within an organisation. It also teaches how a bad organisational culture and poor HR delivery can negatively impact employees and the external environment. This module is interesting as we apply our knowledge to real life businesses, identifying good and bad HR strategies to judge how well their Human Resources is delivered.
Just a t en minute t rain ride to the centre o f Manches ter
After University At Salford I am part of the student representative programme which means that I am the voice of the HR students within the university. It is my job to make sure that everyone is happy with their course and their studies. It’s fantastic that the university has multiple societies and initiatives you can take part in. On the evenings when I am not studying, I often meet up with my course mates for drinks in the student union or take the train from Salford Crescent station (right here on campus!) to Manchester, using my student discount for meals and going out in the city’s vibrant student night life.
Peel Park campus Our main campus, Peel Park, offers you the best of both worlds: state-of-the-art learning facilities within minutes of a world-class city, set against beautiful green spaces to relax and socialise in. As well as being home to the ornate Peel Park Building which opened in 1896, the Maxwell, Lady Hale and Chapman Buildings, where most of your classes will take place, are all on campus. With student shops, cafés, study spaces and computer labs, the Peel Park campus is a great environment for study and downtime.
Here are a few places to look out for:
rary The Lib
Clifford Whitworth Library The ‘library in the park’ is a fresh, modern learning space with PC suites, Mac computers, laptops available to loan, bookable work rooms and café. The library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can study at a time that suits you. You’ll also find study spaces across the University, so a quiet place to study is never far away.
Peel Park Peel Park was the first public park in the United Kingdom funded entirely by the people’s subscription, to officially open. Created in 1846, it was free to use and brought all Salford residents together. Benefiting from a recent £1.6 million transformation, the park provides a beautiful green space to relax outside of lessons.
Peel Park
Student Union
Atmosphere Kitchen and Bar The central social hub of your Students’ Union! Atmosphere is open every day until late serving up amazing food and drink right in the heart of campus. Atmosphere is the place to go to get some tasty food or your favourite beverage, all at student friendly prices. Grab the best coffee on campus or head to the café for a quick bite to eat and chill after a day of studying.
Want to see more? Take a whistle stop tour of Peel Park Campus here: vimeo.com/312989861
Want to see more? Follow a video of a typical first day on campus
We hope you’ve found this information useful and you know what to expect in your first year studying Business Management with Human Resource Management at the University of Salford now! Remember, this is just a sample of the information you’ll receive in your induction week so some of the information may change a little, especially the timetable! Meet other applicants, ask questions, share your thoughts; join the applicant Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/ salfordstudents2021
What Happens Next? Learn about your next steps at: www.salford.ac.uk/undergraduate/ applied-what-next