Course overview
Study at Teesside University International Business School
See what it’s like to study at our modern, enterprising and dynamic business school
The apprentice should be employed in a relevant role, while studying for a work-based BA (Hons) Management Practice degree from Teesside University International Business School. Successful completion of the course gives the apprentice an honours degree and full Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Chartered Manager status. Chartered Manager is the highest achievable status in the management profession, is awarded only by the CMI, and is recognised and valued across all sectors.
This course is for apprentices who want to become professional managers – taking responsibility for projects, people, operations and/or services to deliver long-term organisational success. Apprentices could be at the start of their leadership career, from any sector, in any size organisation, aspiring to become a professional manager, or an existing manager with practical experience, but wanting a more structured learning approach and further development.
Course details
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
This module introduces you to the principles underpinning markets operating in a modern western economy and deals with the micro and macro economic environment. You will also consider the environment from the viewpoint of the firm and society as a whole, looking at ways of manipulating the market through marketing. You will also study welfare economics, government operations and legislation.
Introduction to Business Finance
You are introduced to the principal areas of business finance and related commercial activities – ideal if you have limited training or experience in this area. Key topics include the principles of financial management accounting, planning and budgeting, and procurement. During this module you critically reflect on the links between theory and practical application.
You develop personal and professional effectiveness through an awareness of yourself and others in an organisational context. You develop key skills including developing and managing your awareness, effective communication skills and understanding learning opportunities. The focus of the module is on creating a personal development plan to demonstrate learning.
Marketing plays a significant role in any industry, but particularly in the service sector. Organisations cannot operate without promotion or market research for communicating with a range of customers. Examine factors that influence the marketing of products and services and analyse the effectiveness of promotional campaigns for organisations to achieve their marketing objectives.
This module introduces students to business planning, growth, resourcing and implementation. You are introduced to key theories, concepts and models, which develop knowledge of appropriate management tools to stimulate business growth. Attention is put on resource analysis, which identifies key relationships within the operating system. Resource analysis takes in to account the relationships which exist between the organisation and its suppliers and the organisation and its customers.
You prepare to become an effective higher education work-based learner by focusing on reflective practice. This module equips you with the skills to critically reflect on professional practice. You are provided with a personal perspective on your own learning, encouraging professional and personal development.
Year 2 core modules
You develop your knowledge and understanding of the diversity of technologies and approaches available to exploit new business opportunities by using advanced contemporary technologies. You expand your understanding of a range of e-based technologies and their use in supporting business operations including e-commerce, e-customer relationship management and e-marketing.
Dynamics of Organisational Change
You learn knowledge and skills in planning, managing and reflecting on organisational change. It is suitable for aspiring leaders in a range of professional contexts, involving consideration of change processes and impacts at a variety of scales. You develop understanding of the complexities and challenges in organisational change including organisational culture and resistance, as well as being creative and innovative in application of theory to propose solutions and overcome barriers in changing organisations.
Human Resource Management and Talent Management
You develop knowledge and understanding of some of the theories in the human resource elements of the business including the nature of human resource management and HR as a strategy capability, talent recruitment and selection, employee retention and total reward, employee engagement and development, and performance management and consider conflict management, negotiation and dispute resolution
Leading and Managing People in Organisations
This module helps you understand the concept of leadership and management in the 21st century. It focuses on the skills required for collaborative working relationships to improve performance within a diverse range of organisational situations. You develop an understanding of your own leadership style and how this can be adapted within different contexts.
You conceptualise the fundamental principles of planning and managing projects whilst also being introduced to key tools and framework used in Project Management industry. The role of the project manager will be investigated in managing teams and providing support for organisational change, whilst also introducing established project planning techniques. You develop competent awareness of project planning value and helping to plan large, complex projects.
You learn knowledge and skills in conducting effective research in preparation for future research projects you will undertake. You gain an understanding of the principles underpinning ethical and rigorous research methods and how to conduct yourself in a research setting or project
Year 3 core modules
Advanced Leadership Performance
You learn how to identify authentic and ethical leadership by considering the importance of concepts such as trust, resilience and adaptability to meet business needs and achieve organisational goals. Developing professional knowledge, evidencing competencies and action planning underpin the learning on this module.
Contemporary Issues in Management Practice
You develop an understanding of contemporary issues in management practice and the diverse issues faced by organisations. You explore the key concepts of corporate social responsibility, managing across cultures, knowledge and talent management, and the importance of the global regulatory frameworks affecting international trade – all essential issues irrespective of your industry.
Through negotiation between the University, workplace and learner, you design and carry out an inquiry-led activity (project) demonstrating research and development approaches to your own professional development and the development of your organisation. You manage a work-based project to initiate and lead change. The content and context of your project is unique to you or your group.
Strategic Management and Intrapreneurship
You are provided with an overview of strategic management and intrapreneurship. You take a transdisciplinary approach to strategic management to enable deep learning to support a negotiated, flexible pathway that addresses your individual learning requirements and your organisation’s strategic development needs.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
The course is a degree apprenticeship and the learner must be in relevant full-time paid employment throughout the duration of their studies.
The CMDA has been developed to recognise the workplace as a centre of knowledge building, and the tutors support the apprentice by combining learning opportunities within the workplace and the learning environment of the University. This approach enables the apprentice to meet the higher learning and skills required for their success and yours, as an employer, now and in the future.
A workshop style is adopted that enables sharing and creation of knowledge and engaging with others to identify solutions to organisational problems. The assessments provide the opportunity to apply this knowledge and learning directly to the workplace setting.
How you are assessed
The apprentice is assessed as part of the BA (Hons) Management Practice degree and each of these assessments forms the basis of a portfolio which evidences the achievement of the CMDA. They have regular reviews with you as the employer and the University to track their progress. At the end of their study they present their portfolio to the CMI and engage in a short viva examination to achieve Chartered Manager status.
The assessments are designed to test the apprentice's knowledge, understanding and skills and include:
- A portfolio containing work that covers the whole of the Chartered Manager Standard they need to meet.
- In their final year, a 360 degree feedback on their performance from managers and peers.
- A work based professional project - a substantial piece of work undertaken in the final year. You as the employer and the University work with the apprentice to agree the project, and they are supervised and supported by the University and you as the employer.
- An end point assessment, comprising an interview and presentation assessed by a panel of representatives from the University, you as the employer and an independent assessor (appointed by the CMI).
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
The apprentice must be employed in a relevant job role to undertake this apprenticeship and agreement from you as the employer, including the commitment to 20% off the job training.
You as the employer sets the general internal selection criteria but the apprentice is also required to meet the entry requirements specified by the University. A typical learner would have 96 tariff points from at least two A levels (or equivalent), together with maths and English at GCSE, grade 4 (grade C) or above (or equivalent). However, the University would also welcome mature learners without conventional entry requirements, and can take into account alternative qualifications and experience.
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Information for employers
As an employer you may have:
- current managers who have progressed in the organisation with no or little formal qualifications
- next generation managers, high potential team leaders/supervisors ready to take the next step into management, and so maximise their organisational contribution
- new joiners and school leavers aged 18+. Recruiting school leavers could attract high calibre entrants, capable of becoming your next generation of managers*
Benefits include:
- a route to develop your existing workforce into managers of the future
- work-based assessments which provide the opportunity for employees to adopt a more holistic perspective of the entire organisation and add real value to your future growth objectives
- an award underpinned by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and informed by key employers across a range of sectors, in liaison with a number of higher education institutions and the Chartered Association of Business Schools
Funding
- Apprenticeship levy
Large organisations who pay the levy - 100% fee paid monthly directly from the levy - Government co-investment
Non-levy paying organisations pay 5% of the total cost with the government paying the remaining 95% through co-investment.
Find out more here
*Entry criteria applies
Employability
Career opportunities
The CMDA is for individuals from a range of sectors and in a variety of roles at manager or senior management level who want to develop their career.
With dual accreditation at Teesside University, as well as the degree the apprentice receives a Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), which is the only chartered professional body for management and leadership. Dual accreditation means the apprentice automatically receives a second professional qualification upon successful completion of the programme. By adding this CMI qualification to their University qualification, they are really on the road to success.
