BSPT59

2012

Programme Specification

Postgraduate Programmes in Healthcare Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Management (SWSHA)

Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that students are expected to achieve if full advantage is taken of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes, content and teaching, and learning and assessment methods of each module can be found in Module Specifications and other programme documentation and online at

The accuracy of the information in this document is reviewed by the University and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Awarding body/institution;
Department; / LoughboroughUniversity
School of Business and Economics
Teaching institution (if different); / Not applicable
Details of accreditation by a professional/statutory body; / Not applicable / Being sought
Provisional 
Established 
Award;
(e.g .BA, MSc etc) / MSc in Healthcare Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Management, Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Management, Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Management
Programme title / Postgraduate Programmes in Healthcare Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Management (SWSHA)
Length of programme / Certificate (12 months)
Diploma (24 months)
Masters (36 months)
UCAS code; / Not applicable
Date at which the programme specification was written or revised. / January 2012
  1. Programme Aims:

This multi-disciplinary Postgraduate Programme in Healthcare Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Management is aimed at professional healthcare managers, those wishing to move from another field within healthcare and those working in specialist management areas wishing to broaden their expertise.

The programme is delivered as a series of short courses for part-time study and aims to:

  • Provide a current view of Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Management in healthcare encompassing both organisational issues and specialist areas. It particularly focuses on the integration of emergency preparedness and business continuity management into strategic and operational planning for the provision of a high quality health service;
  • Develop participant’s knowledge and increase job competencies in healthcare emergency preparedness.
  • Develop participants knowledge and increase competencies in business and service continuity management within health and social care

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

The Programme conforms to the benchmarks published by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in respect of Masters awards in business and management in 2002. Specifically the programme meets the requirements of a specialist Masters degree (Type 1) for career development.

The following reference points also provide a benchmark for programme development, delivery and content.

  • Loughborough University and departmental teaching and learning strategies
  • Loughborough Academic Quality Procedures Handbook
  • Loughborough University Equal Opportunities Policy
  • Loughborough University Periodic Programme Review
  • Criteria of the Framework for Higher Educational Qualifications (FHEQ)
  • Competencies for Membership of the Emergency Planning Society
  • Criteria for Specialist Membership (SBCI) of the Business Conuinuity Institute

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of

K1 – the framework of emergency planning in healthcare

K2 – the framework of business continuity systems in healthcare

K3 – emergency planning, principles and practice in healthcare

K4 – business continuity principles and practice in healthcare

K5 – the law relating to emergency planning and business continuity management

K6 – Guidance issued by statutory and advisory bodies in relation to emergency planning, civil contingencies and resilience.

K7 – systems and healthcare emergency planning and business continuity management

K8 – research methodology

Learning, teaching and assessment methods to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

K1 - this will be taught by means of lectures by university staff and external presenters who are practising experts in their subject areas, directed reading and the use of information sources including on-line databases to research topics.

K2 - this will be taught by means of short lectures, group discussions and directed reading.

K3 - this will be taught by means of short lectures, group discussions, syndicate exercises and directed reading.

K4 - this will be taught by means of short lectures, analysis of case studies and the presentation of results and directed reading.

K5 - this will be taught by means of short lectures, case study analysis and directed reading.

K6 - this will be taught by means of directed reading, group work and syndicate exercise, case study analysis and the use of information sources including on-line data bases to research topics.

K7- teaching and learning will be achieved by means of short lectures, directed reading group work and discussion.

K8 - this will be taught by means of short lectures group work, directed reading and the use of information sources including on-line data-bases.

Assessment of learning is by:

  • Assessed coursework for all modules requiring research using a range of information sources
  • Research project (requiring the collection of original data, its analysis and interpretation

3.2Skills and other attributes:

  1. Subject-specific cognitive skills

C1 - Identify methods for establishing an effective and integrated emergency planning system

C2 – Identify methods for establishing effective, emergency preparedness systems

C3 – Identify methods for establishing and consolidating robust business continuity systems

C4 – Assess a range of risk assessment tools and select the most appropriate for use in given situations

C5 – Critically analyse healthcare emergency planning and business continuity management issues and present possible intervention strategies

C6 – Evaluate the effectiveness of any intervention

Learning, teaching and assessment methods to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

C1 - This will be taught and learned by means of short lectures, syndicate exercises and group discussions and directed reading

C2 - Learning will be achieved by means of group discussions, case study analysis,the presentation of results and directed reading

C3 - This will be taught by means of Group work, discussions, syndicate exercises, directed reading and the use of other information sources

C4 - This will be taught by means of short lectures, group work and syndicate exercises and the presentation of results, case study analysis and directed reading

C5 - Learning will be achieved by means of the analysis of case study materials, group work, syndicate exercises including field exercises in clinical settings and directed reading

C6 - This will be taught by means of short lectures, group work, case study analysis and results presentation and guided discussions

  • Participants will be encouraged to make use of a variety of information sources including on-line databases to research topics

Assessment of learning is by:

  • Assessed coursework for all modules requiring research using a range of information sources
  • Work based research project (requiring the collection data, its analysis and interpretation)
  • Group presentation
  1. Subject-specific practical skills

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to

P1 - Produce major incident, business continuity and related policies for their organisation.

P2 – Use a range of risk assessment tools and carry out risk assessment within their own organisation.

P3 – Devise and maintain systems for the collection of data on exercises, structured debriefs and in serious untoward incidents.

P4 – Develop effective command and control systems for healthcare.

P5 – Design a research tool appropriate to healthcare emergency planning or business continuity management.

Learning, teaching and assessment methods to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

P1 - Learning will be achieved by means of short lectures,group work and syndicate exercises and directed reading

P2 - This will be taught by means of short lectures, group work, directed reading and the use of a range of information sources including on-line databases

P3 - This will be taught by means of short lectures, group and syndicate work, directed reading and the analysis of case study material.

P4 - This will be taught by means of short lectures,group work and guided discussion, case study material analysis and directed reading

P5 - Learning will be achieved by means of short lectures, group and syndicate work discussions and guided reading and the use of a range of information sources.

Assessment of learning is by:

  • Assessed coursework for all modules requiring research using a range of information sources
  • Work based project
  1. Generic skills

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to

T1 – establish management systems

T2 – communicate with a range of stakeholders

T3 – Motivate others to take action

T4 – present technical and complex concepts in a form which is understandable to managers.

T5 – use information and communication technology appropriately in acquiring, analysing and communicating information.

T6 – develop research skills, including data collection and analysis

Learning, teaching and assessment methods to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

T1 - This is taught by means of short lectures, group and syndicate work, guided reading. Case study analysis and the presentation of results

T2 - Learning will be achieved by means of group and syndicate work, role play and directed reading

T3 - This will be taught by means of short lectures,group and syndicate work, discussion and directed reading

T4 - This will be taught by means of lectures and practical demonstrations, group work and presentations, guided reading and on-line tutorials and seminars relating to the use of specific data management tools and systems
T5 - Learning will be effected by means of short lectures, demonstrations guided reading and the use of on-line data and information sources

T6 - The development of research skills will be facilitated by means of short lectures, group and syndicate work,on-line tutorials and directed reading.This will include where appropriate individual tutorials conducted on-line in the utilisation of appropriate data analysis tools.

Assessment of learning is by:

  • Assessed coursework for all modules requiring research using a range of information sources
  • Research project (requiring the collection of original data, its analysis and interpretation).
  • Group presentation

4. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and awards:

The award available is the Loughborough University Postgraduate Certificate (Postgraduate Certificate) (60 credits), Post-graduate Diploma (120) credits and master of Science (180 credits). The programme is available only by part-time study.

Full details can be found in the Programme Regulations at:-

5. Criteria for admission to the programme:

Full details can be found at:

6. Information about the programme assessment strategy:

Full information about our assessment strategy can be found in section 6 of our comprehensive statement to supplement this programme specification which is available on our web site at:

7. What makes the programme distinctive?

This programme is the first of its type in the United Kingdom which examines specifically the complex issues relating to healthcare emergency preparedness and business continuity. Collaboration with such organisations as the Health Protection Agency, the Business Continuity Institute and the Emergency Planning Society will make this programme the professional qualification for Hospital Managers whose specialist role is related to these complex disciplines.

A combination of blended learning, work-based projects and group work making use of real life scenarios will ensure that this programme provides a firm basis for further professional development.

8. Particular support for learning:

Information about the support offered by the School of Business and Economics for this programme and the general support offered by the University for all programmes is available on our web site at:

9. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standards of learning:

The official University statement about improving quality for all programmes is available on our web site at:

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