Executive MSc in Global
Supply Chain Management
Course Member Handbook
— 2010-2011 Edition —
WELCOME
Welcome to NottinghamUniversityBusinessSchool. This handbook is a guide for new Executive MSc Global Supply Chain Management Course Members, and should be retained as a first point of reference for information on the BusinessSchool. Included are relevant BusinessSchool contacts and procedures, details of University and BusinessSchool services and information, an overview of academic practice and regulations, and some guidelines for the preparation of coursework materials.
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACTS
MBA Programmes Manager
Elaine KayTelephone x15501
e-mail:
Room A10, SouthBuilding
MBA Administrator (Reception)
Christine DinwiddieTelephone x15500
e-mail:
Room A1, SouthBuilding
MBA Administrator (Reception)
Julie DawsonTelephone x67740
e-mail:
Room A1, SouthBuilding
Hours: Mon & Tues, 9.30 – 2.30pm; Weds-Fri, 9.30-1.30pm
Executive Programmes Administrator
Sue CotterillTelephone x 66111
e-mail:
Room A2, SouthBuilding
MBA Programmes Administrator
KathleenVisserTelephone x66633
e-mail:
Room A2, SouthBuilding
MBA Examinations Administrator
Sylvia PerkinsTelephone x15502
e-mail:
Room A2, SouthBuilding
MBA Admissions Administrator
Wendy WillanTelephone x15094
e-mail:
Room A2, SouthBuilding
Senior MBA Tutor/ Student Support
Alyson McLintockTelephone x66971
e-mail:
Room C43, SouthBuilding
Student Support Officer / Disability Liaison Officer
Teresa BeeTelephone x15251
e-mail:
Room A7b, NorthBuilding
CAREERS GUIDANCE
Postgraduate Careers Service
Julie Blant/ Gillian Murchie Telephone x66478
e-mail:
EXECUTIVE MSc GSCM PROGRAMME DIRECTOR
Dr James TannockTelephone x 14023
Director of Exec MSc GSCM Programme
Room B36, SouthBuilding
Dr Jane GuineryTelephone x 14145
Deputy Director of Exec MSc GSCM Programme
Room C23, SouthBuilding
A list of all Academics can be found at:
nottingham.ac.uk/business/Staff_Academic.html
Making Enquiries
Your first points of contact should usually be Susan Cotterill, Executive Programmes Administrator, or Dr James Tannock as your Personal Tutor. However, if you have an enquiry about a particular module, you can address it with the appropriate Module Convenor, and then if necessary with the Director of the Executive MSc GSCM Programme.
NEXUS
The BusinessSchool’s virtual learning environment is Nexus, and can be accessed at nottingham.ac.uk/business/nexus. Access is password protected (use your Novell password).
CONTENTS
1. STUDYING IN THE BUSINESS SCHOOL
1.1 Personal Tutors
1.2 The University Quality Manual
1.3 Attendance at the University
1.4 Information for Students with a Disability
1.5 Religious Observance...... 8
1.6 Personal Information and Data Protection
1.7 Responsibilities: staff and course members
2.SERVICES & INFORMATION
2.1 The MBA Reception Office
2.2 Computing Facilities
2.3 Electronic Learning Resources
2.4 The Business Library
2.5 Access to Academic Staff
2.6 The Business School Student Support
2.7 University Student Services
2.8 University Counselling Service
2.9 The Postgraduate Careers Service...... 20
3.PRACTICES & PROCEDURES
3.1 How to Submit Coursework
3.2 Late Submission of Coursework
3.3 Extenuating Circumstances
3.4 University Classification Marking Guide
3.5 Postgraduate Assessment Regulations
3.6 Missing Examinations and Repeating Assessments
3.7 Referencing
3.8 Academic Offences: Plagiarism and Cheating in Exams
3.9 Procedure for Further Discussion on Confirmed Marks
4.METHODS OF ASSESSMENT
4.1 Examinations
4.2 Essays
4.3 Reports
4.4 Presentations
4.5 Case Studies
4.6 Dissertation Guidelines
5.TIME MANAGEMENT & STUDY SKILLS
5.1 Organising Your Time
5.2 Making Notes
5.3 Reading
5.4 Group Working
5.5 Revision
1.STUDYING IN THE BUSINESSSCHOOL
We hope that you will enjoy your time as an Executive MSc GSCM course member at the NottinghamUniversityBusinessSchool.
You will be taking nine core modules and *threeelective modules during your study period, which is a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years from your initial registration date.
(* This varies if you choose to take the Supply Chain Group Project which is a double weighted module worth 20 credits.)
Each taught module (with the exception of the Supply Chain Group Project) will count for 10 credits (100 hours) of student work. In addition to formal classes, which will constitute 33 hours of work for a typical 10 credit module, you will also be expected to spend about 67 hours per module in self-directed study. This should include time spent working through your notes after lectures; researching, reading and making notes on both hardcopy and on-line materials; coursework and presentation preparation; group work activities; and examination revision. It is very important that you allocate enough time to each of the subjects that you are studying.
1.1Personal Tutors
Every course member studying for the Executive MSc GSCM programme is allocated a Personal Tutor. This will be an academic who will usually act as your main point of academic and personal contact with the BusinessSchool and University throughout your studies.
The role of the Personal Tutor in the BusinessSchool is as follows:
To make themselves available to their personal tutees for meetings when required by course members and to have a reasonable availability to meet with their personal tutees.
To discussany queries regarding module choices, examination marks, assist with initial discussions in respect of the Dissertation and to review academic performance, if required.
To provide references as required for employment applications.
To advise course members when they should see the BusinessSchool’s Student Support Officer (Alyson McLintock or Teresa Bee) concerning personal and/or extenuating circumstances,
To act as a gateway to the wider student support and development provision of the University.
To attend appropriate personal briefing meetings and training events.
1.1.1Student Support & Development Coordination
Student Support and Development (SSD) activities, including the operation of the personal tutor system, are coordinated by the BusinessSchool’s Senior Tutor, Christopher Barnatt. Please contact Christopher if you have questions or concerns relating to the personal tutor system and in particular your relationship with your own personal tutor (e-mail ).
1.2The University Quality Manual
In order to constantly maintain and improve its academic and administrative standards, and to ensure equity across all modules, courses and programmes, the University of Nottingham has created a Quality Manual of standards and procedures to which all Schools must comply. The Quality Manual is available on-line at nottingham.ac.uk/quality-manual
1.3Attendance at the University
All Executive MSc GSCM Course Members are required to attend lectures and other classes as the School Director prescribes. In the BusinessSchool, registers will be taken in all lectures and non-attendance will be followed up with individual course members. Executive MSC GSCM course members are expected to attend all sessions of the one-week block modules.
Any absence from lectures or other formal classes due to illness should be notified to Susan Cotterill, along with a medical certificate, if applicable.
1.4Information for Students with a Disability
The BusinessSchool is strongly committed to equality of opportunity in its provision for students, and as the Disability Liaison Officer (DLO), Teresa Bee has a specific role in assisting students with disabilities:
- The DLO provides a point of reference, advice and guidance for students with a disability and will be able to give you information about the specialist support services available.
- If you have a disability, dyslexia and/or a long-term medical condition you are strongly recommended to contact Teresa as soon as possible. Early disclosure can assist in ensuring the timely provision of appropriate support services.
- No information concerning any disability you declare will be released to any third party without your explicit permission.
- You should also note that it is your responsibility to declare in advance any disability (including dyslexia) that may impact on your academic performance as the University is unlikely to accept any such evidence as part of any appeal or related process if it is submitted retrospectively.
If you need additional time for your exams,you must apply to Teresa Bee or Academic Support. There are specific deadlines for each Semester to submit your request, these are:
29 October 2010 for Semester 1 exam period,
11 March 2011 for Semester 2 exam period, and
8July 2011 for September exam period
For further details please refer to Academic Support via the University website:
nottingham.ac.uk/academicsupport/
If you feel that you may need additional help in the event of the emergency evacuation of a University building, you should notify Academic Support (x13710) as well as Teresa Bee and Susan Cotterill so that an appropriate Personal Emergency Egress Plan (PEEP) can be developed.
The University's Disability Statement can be viewed online at:
nottingham.ac.uk/disability/disability-statement.html
Further information can be found at: nottingham.ac.uk/disability.BusinessSchool disability documentation and disclosure information is also available on Nexus (see section 2.3) and in the Executive MSc GSCM Induction File. More information on student support services is provided in sections 2.7.
1.5Religious Observation
The University of Nottingham respects the rights and religious views of its students. The University's protocol relating to absence from an examination for reason of religious observance sets out the procedure for students who are unable to take examinations on a particular day during the published examination periods for reasons of religious observance.
Students should complete a Religious Observance Form available from:
This form should be authorised by the Student Support Officerand submitted to the Susan Cotterill.
The deadline for submission of completed forms is:
Friday 8 October 2010
Friday 11 February 2011
Failure to submit a completed form by the deadline will mean that a student's request cannot be taken into consideration for the forthcoming round of examinations.
1.6Personal Information and Data Protection
We respect the right to privacy of all present and former course members, and expect all parties maintaining records containing personal or confidential information to comply with the Data Protection Act (1998). You should therefore note that no personal information held on you in the BusinessSchool in either electronic or hardcopy format will be released to any third party without your explicit permission. The only exceptions are where such information is required on a matter of internal University business or where disclosure may be required by law.
The above means that the Business School cannot and will not disclose or discuss your marks, academic performance and/or other circumstances with any third party – including your family, employer/sponsor or other course members – without proof of your consent for such personal information to be disclosed.
1.7Responsibilities: staff and course members
In terms of staff responsibilities, course members within any module should expect:
the provision of a hardcopy module outline that includes the syllabus covered by the module; the duration and scheduling of all formal contact hours; a detailed reading list; explicit details of all module assessments; and identification of the knowledge and understanding, intellectual skills, professional skills, and transferable skills that the module seeks to develop.
in the initial lectures of any module involving coursework, a hardcopy handout explicitly setting the key details of coursework topic and deadlines(unless notification has been provided in writing that the coursework will be set at a later time.)
a module’s syllabus and assessment to be consistent with that published on the BusinessSchool website, Nexus, and in other on-line learning environments.
courteous and professional conduct in all interactions, bothin person and when communicating via e-mail and all other forms of electronic or hardcopy media.
a level of library provision which gives course members reasonable access to all recommended material, where necessary through the short-loan system and/or on-line, and availability of core texts in a University Bookshop.
return of coursework with appropriate feedback as quickly as possible and no later than 28 days after the submission date.
punctuality and where possible advance notification of and explanation for any changes in teaching times or locations.
a reasonable level of access to staff outside formal class times, with an indication of office hours.
In turn, staff will expect of course members:
punctuality and a high level of attendance at all formal teaching sessions (including lectures and group work meetings).
active participation in all University and Business School administrative processes, and in particular those related to annual on-line registration processes, module and examination registration and coursework submission.
courteous and professional conduct in all interactions, bothin person and when communicating via e-mail and all other forms of electronic or hardcopy media.
use of their University e-mail account for all communications with module convenors and administrative staff, coupled with a regular checking of Nexus.
thorough reading of key reference materials and the consultation of additional sources such as academic and professional journals and on-line materials.
thorough preparation for and active participation in discussion groupsand case studies.
active and full participation in group work activities, including assessed group projects.
professional organisation and scheduling of work so that submission deadlines are adhered to.
strict compliance with University regulations relating to academic offences (for example plagiarism or cheating in examinations) and acceptance of the penalties for non-compliance.
constructive feedback on teaching via the completion of module and evaluation processes.
2.SERVICES & INFORMATION
It is important that you familiarise yourself as soon as possible at the beginning of the semester with the wide range of sources of information and support services available to you, as detailed below.
2.1The MBA Reception Office
The Executive MSc GSCM Programme is administrated via the MBA Office. Unless otherwise notified, Susan Cotterill will be available 8.45am – 5pm, Monday to Friday, in Room A2, (Ground Floor), Business School South) to deal with any queries. The MBA Reception Office (Room A1, ground floor,BusinessSchoolSouthBuilding) is also open, unless otherwise notified, between 9.30am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday to answer general enquiries, and for the submission of coursework in the absence of Susan Cotterill. (For more information on the submission of coursework via the MBA Reception Office seesection 3.1).
The database used to managethe Executive MSc GSCM Programme is administered by Susan Cotterill. You should therefore ensure that any changes to your contact details or other personal circumstances are notified to Susan Cotterill as soon as they occur. (Please note, as the Database is not linked to the Student Portal, therefore, any updated information you register on the portal is not transferred to the BusinessSchool’s records.)
Telephone conference facilities are available in Room C22and C46 South Building. Please email Susan Cotterill to arrange this, giving 24 hours notice.
2.1.1Administrative Staff Support situated within the MBA General Office complex, BusinessSchoolSouthBuilding
The MBA Administrative team willbe happy to help with your queries during office opening hours. Details can be found on page 2. If you need to see the Elaine Kay, MBA Programmes Manager, please see one of the staff in the MBA Offices, who will make an appointment for you or alternatively, please email directly.
2.1.2Return of Coursework
Coursework for part-time course memberswill be posted to the correspondence address on our records. The MBA office aims to return all coursework within 28 days of the submission date.
2.1.3Course members' Photocopier
This is located in the MBA Resource Room, room C30. Photocopy cards may be purchased from the MBA Reception during office hours (£5 for 80 copies).
2.1.4Computer Laboratory
Opening hours and instructions for use are shown on the Computer Laboratory timetable. All queries, faults etc., should be directed to the Computer Technicians, Steve Moore (ext. 18604), Kieran Woodward (ext. 66645) and ChrisBates (ext. 66613). A user name, together with 1,500 sheets of printing will be allocated to all course members. After this allocation has been used, if you require further credit please contact the MBA Reception Office where this request will be considered. USB keys can be purchased from the Student Union shop.
2.1.5MBA Resource Room and Internal Telephone
Room C30, BusinessSchoolSouthBuilding is a study area reserved for the use of all MBA and Executive MSc GSCM Course Members.
The code for the MBA Resource Room and the other rooms with key pads on the doors within the BusinessSchool which you can access are listed in the table below. It is important that these codes are not passed to anyone. There is a telephone in the MBA Resource Room that may be used for internal calls only.
MBA Resource Room, C30 / C1960Teaching Rooms C1 and C2 / C1958
MBA Breakout Rooms
C22, C24, C46, C48 / C1960
Computer Laboratories, Rooms A3 and A9 / C4681
Please note that the MBA resource room is partitioned to give course members a quiet place in which to work and a place to relax. There are tea and coffee making facilities (30p per cup) a kettle, fridge and microwave, as well as daily newspapers for your use. Could you please be considerate of other course members when using the resources part of the room. You are requested not to take food and drink into this section and to keep all areas tidy.
2.1.6Room Booking Procedure
There are seven breakout rooms which are available for you to book on Floor C of the BusinessSchoolSouthBuilding:
Rooms C22, C24, C46 & C48 are a dedicated facility for MBA/Executive MSc GSCMcourse members and room bookings for these breakout rooms are administered via the MBA Reception Office, room A1.
To book the above rooms please provide at least one and a half working days’ notice and e-mail your request to Christine Dinwiddie, or Julie Dawson,
As these rooms are dedicated for your use, always see if these rooms are free first. However, if they are all fully booked, you can request to book rooms C26, C28 & C44 through Emma Woodward at . Again, to book any of these rooms please provide at least one and a half working days’ notice.
All breakout rooms seat 8 people and bookings are taken on a first come first served basis.
2.1.7Car Parking Permits
If you are planning to bring your car on to the campus between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, (with the exception of attending one-week block modules) please check you are eligible to apply for a Car Parking Permit by referring to the University’s Estate Office web page at You will be able to download a car parking permit form from this site. (Wheel clamping is in operation on the campus for cars without a permit.)