Programme titleBSc (Hons) Human Resource Management
Nature and duration of programme4 years full-time
DIT award soughtBachelor of Science (Hons) Human Resource Management
Classifications of awardsHonours: First Class Honours, Second Class Honours, 1st Division, Second Class Honours, 2nd Division and Pass
Response to Validation Committee Report
The course team welcomes the outcome of the validation process for the B.Sc. Human Resource Management. The validation report highlighted a number of recommendations and the course team undertakes to implement all of these. It is the view of the course team that the proposals presented by the validation committee provide significant enhancements to the programme. As an indicator of our commitment to implement the recommendations the course team is very pleased that the industry panel member has accepted our invitation to join the Industry Advisory Board for this programme. The recommendations by the panel highlight the benefits of the validation process and in this case the manner in which the validation committee completed their assignment in the process.
In the next section, the recommendations are presented in italics and responses are presented below each recommendation.
Recommendations of Panel in relation to award sought
(i)Need to consider replacing optional modules to include more HR specific modules in years 2 & 3. These optional modules could include psychology, coaching and mentoring, negotiation and conflict resolution, career management and development, talent management and leadership. This should be done in conjunction with the proposed industry advisory board. A report should be submitted to College Board by March 2011 to confirm the optional modules to be offered in years 2 and 3 of the programme.
Response: The course team will consider appropriate options as suggested by the panel. These will be identified taking account of the feedback from the industry advisory board as well as availability of teaching resources. A report confirming the new options will be submitted to the College Board by March 2011.
(ii)The guidelines for students and workplace mentors should be included as an appendix to the programme document. This should include the assessment criteria and marking scheme for each element. A contingency plan should be considered if appropriate work placements cannot be sourced.
Response: These guidelines have developed for the B.Sc. Logistics and Supply Chain Management and will be included in the appendix of the programme document. A contingency plan has been identified and will be submitted for approval by College Board in advance of any work placement (first placements will take place in 2012/13).
(iii)The Individual Project guidelines and assessment criteria should be included as an appendix to the programme document.
Response: The individual project guidelines along with assessment criteria will be included in the appendix of the programme document.
(iv)The school should pursue discussions with the CIPD to ensure appropriate recognition of the programme. The Industry Advisory Board should include representation from the CIPD.
Response: A provisional meeting has taken place since the validation and a commitment has been undertaken to ensure appropriate recognition by the CIPD programme at the earliest date possible. A key objective of the course development plan is to achieve and maintain accreditation. DIT has agreed with the CIPD and the CIPD will be invited to nominate a representative to the Industry Advisory Board.
(v)In year 1 HR Administration should be specified in the Introduction to HR and its visibility should be increased across the programme.
Response: HR Administration will be specified in this module as well as across other programmes. Module descriptors will be revised to include specific reference to HR Administration.
(vi)A schedule of assessments should be included in student handbook. This should be reviewed to ensure a consistency of workload across modules and a staggering of assessment throughout the programme. Consideration could be given to having some 4th year modules delivered within one semester.
Response: It is normal practice for all programmes in the School to include a schedule of assessment in the student handbook and this practice will be applied on this programme. Regarding consideration of 4th year modules delivered in one semester, this proposal will be examined. It has not however been the practice of the School to deliver 10 ECTS modules in one semester however the recommendation will be evaluated by the course team in conjunction with students.
(vii)The calculation of the final award should be included in the programme document.
Response: This was an oversight in the document submitted for validation. The final award is based on a weighted average (based on ECTS allocated) of the modules and project work in the final year of the programme. A statement explaining this will be included in the programme document.
(viii)All module descriptors should be reviewed in terms of consistency of information, CA breakdown, learning outcomes, currency of reading lists, journals & web resources, and to ensure visibility of HRM content.
Response: This will be addressed in time for student year books to be published.
(ix)Strategic human resource management should be incorporated more visibly in years 3 and 4 of the programme.
Response: Module descriptors will be amended to ensure strategic human resource management content is highlighted.
(x)Employee Resourcing could be amended to include the inclusion of psychometric testing.
Response: The course team will assess different models of psychometric testing available and determine the optimal way in which to include psychometric testing in the programme.
(xi)The Managing Cultural Diversity module could be expanded into a managing diversity module.
Response: This will be addressed.
(xii)The Learning and Development module needs to have the module content included in the descriptor.
Response: This will be addressed.
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