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Foundation Degree in Retail Management - Learning outcomes

Educational aims

This qualification aims to provide you with:

  • a foundation in business and management disciplines sufficient to enable a clear understanding of the key management functions of a retail business
  • an understanding of the nature of retailing in terms of organisation, structures and cultures, wider considerations such as environments, markets and processes, and how all these inform retail management
  • knowledge of the management and development of people within and beyond the organisation
  • an understanding of concepts, analytical approaches, ability and skills relevant to problem solving in a retail context
  • an understanding of how you can contribute to and develop skills in retail management in your working life
  • relevant practical and professional skills that will enhance employability
  • the necessary skills to engage in a process of lifelong learning, including progression to higher awards, and to develop as a reflective practitioner.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You will gain knowledge and understanding of:

  • key organisational functions in the retail environment, their interactions and contributions to organisational success
  • how retail organisations operate; the structure, culture and operational processes of different approaches to organisational management
  • an understanding of processes of leadership, influence and change within the day-to-day operations of retail organisations
  • how retail organisations analyse and respond to management challenges and problems
  • your own learning, its role and impact in the workplace.

Cognitive skills

On completion of this foundation degree, you will be able to:

  • use critical thinking, analysis, and synthesis to evaluate and apply concepts and techniques drawn from the study of retail management to work-related problems and issues
  • assess and respond to structured and unstructured problems and issues in a retail context
  • relate theory to practice in a business and management context
  • reflect on, evaluate and apply the impact of your learning in your professional, occupational and work-place contexts.

Practical and/or professional skills

On completion of this foundation degree, you will be able to:

  • use relevant knowledge and key skills to engage critically with a range of problems and issues in your workplace
  • use specific knowledge, analytic skills and methods as a basis for enhancing your future employability and career progression.

Key skills

On completion of this foundation degree, you will be able to:

  • communicate arguments, ideas and issues effectively using appropriate styles and language
  • read and interpret different types of information presented in various forms and perform relevant tasks for analysis and evaluation
  • use ICT skills and numeracy skills appropriately, effectively and efficiently
  • plan and manage your learning towards the achievement of established aims and objectives by engaging in reflective, adaptive and collaborative learning
  • learn and work independently.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods

You will learn independently, using the following types of material, provided by us:

  • printed teaching texts
  • directed readings from textbooks and papers
  • online activities and resources.

We will support your learning with:

  • self-assessment questions and exercises, included in the teaching texts
  • feedback and guidance from a tutor, including support via tutorials, telephone or email, depending on location
  • online forums
  • study guides.

We will assess your learning with:

  • tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
  • interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs)
  • end-of-module assessments (EMAs)
  • formal examinations
  • learning contracts.

You will develop cognitive skills by engaging with study materials and exercises, which are presented in different formats: paper-based and online.

These skills are assessed by iCMAs and TMAs that focus on your ability to apply concepts in various contexts.

You will be supported in developing these skills by guidance in the study materials and feedback from your tutor.

Online forums are an integral resource in several modules and you are expected to take part in module forums and tutor group forum discussions moderated by your tutor who will give guidance as needed. Some of these discussions will form part of your assessment.

Assessment of your written communication skills will be integral to the programme.

You will be encouraged to combine the skills you acquire from studying the study materials with your work-based knowledge.

Assessment will mainly be based on study materials and your practical work experiences.