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Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management - Learning Outcomes

Educational aims

The scope of the knowledge, skills and applications covered in this diploma aims to provide the learner with postgraduate level educational experience in human resource management broadly located within the QAA’s business and management subject benchmarks. In terms of the prospective student population the qualification is aimed at recent graduates or early career human resources professionals.

The key objectives of the qualification are to: 

  • enable you to understand the role of the HR professional, the nature of professionalism and approaches to addressing ethical dilemmas. 
  • provide you with the skills and understanding needed to address business and change management issues and to work at a strategic level in the organisation . 
  • provide you with the skills and understanding needed to develop specific organisational strategies in relation to HR issues such as employee relations, employee engagement, learning and development, employee resourcing and talent management. 
  • enable you to investigate and report on a business issue from human resource management
  • provide you with the skills to assess the relevance of theory for practice and apply it where appropriate to improve practice. 
  • develop people management skills essential for HR work such as interviewing, coaching, managing conflict and managing performance. 

Learning outcomes

This qualification provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas: 

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of this diploma you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
  • the role of the HR professional, the nature of professionalism and approaches to addressing ethical dilemmas.
  • organisational theory and behaviour, including the future of organisations and the management of change, and their relevance for the choices made about human resource management strategy 
  • the impact of the external context on the choices made about human resource management strategy; this includes globalisation and international forces, social and technological change and government policies and regulation 
  • the leadership management and development of people within the organisation
  • employee relations and employee engagement strategies, learning and development strategies and interventions and employee resourcing and talent management. 

Cognitive skills

On completion of this diploma you will be able to:
  • access and evaluate relevant published research and information across a range of areas relevant to the management and development of people in organisations 
  • assess the relevance of theory for practice and apply it where appropriate to improve practice 
  • develop and justify original arguments and reference the work of others. 

Practical and/or professional skills

On completion of this diploma you will be able to:
  • lead and influence others effectively 
  • learn through reflection on practice and experience 
  • recognise ethical issues and use professional and ethical values to address these 
  • use digital information technologies as articulated in the Digital Information Literacy Levels Framework
  • demonstrate people management skills essential for HR work such as: selection interviewing; appraisal interviewing; disciplinary interviewing; delivering training; making presentations; project management and; managing performance. 
  • interpret financial information and manage financial resources 
  • manage and communicate information using IT applications and software packages, in accordance with the requirements of the Digital Information Literacy Levels Framework.

Key skills

On completion of this diploma you will be able to:
  • communicate effectively, orally and in writing, using a range of media and including writing assignments and business reports 
  • demonstrate self-awareness and the ability to reflect on experience and to plan and carry out continuous personal development 
  • manage interpersonal relationships, demonstrate sensitivity to diversity and perform effectively in a team environment. 
  • use information technology effectively in communicating and working collaboratively with others, and in accessing and managing information in accordance with the requirements of the Digital Information Literacy Levels Framework.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods

The overall teaching across the qualification will offer an integrated student experience using a wide range of teaching and learning resources and assessment approaches. The learning design for each module will be informed by the learning outcomes for the qualification. The module content, student activities and support and guidance will be planned to achieve the learning outcomes.

The four dimensions of learning design will include study of materials supplied by OU, online tuition provided by a tutor, student activities including reflective exercise, practical exercises, literature review, critiquing and collaboration with other students and finally, continuous and end of module assessments.

The materials will include a range of specially written module materials, case studies, original texts, study guides assignments and multi-media material.

An Associate Lecturer will be appointed to each module who will communicate via a tutor group forum. They are the first point of contact for students, to answer questions on materials, mark assignments and run online tutorials.

Students will be expected to engage in range of activities including reading texts, and scenarios, researching and using relevant literature on contemporary issues in HR and applying theories to practical situations. Cognitive and practical skills are developed through a range of activities within the modules including prompted and guided search and retrieval of information, literature and databases

The materials and Associate Lecturer support will help students to develop their skills in managing workload. Students will spend a large percentage of time working under their own direction and initiative.

Student progress and learning is measured by tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and examinations. The compulsory modules (B863 and B864) have two TMAs and one examination. The two option modules (B866 and B867) have two TMAs and one end-of-module assignment (EMA).

HR management residential school (BXR868)
This module is only if you are seeking Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) accreditation of this qualification. This residential school, or online alternative, will give you the opportunity to practise and receive feedback on the skills introduced in the human resource management (HRM) modules: The role of the human resource professional (B863), Human resource management in context (B864), Managing research in the workplace (B865), Employment relations and employee engagement (B866) and Workplace learning with coaching and mentoring (B867).

The residential school is available to register on when you have successfully completed B863 and B864. The residential school is offered in two formats; a three day face-to-face residential school or as an online alternative residential school where there is daily contact that includes some real-time synchronous tutorials over an extended time period. The learning objectives and outcomes are related to professional skill development and are complementary to the learning outcomes of the HRM modules.

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