This module aims to:

Provide students with knowledge of the principles and current issues relevant to strategic learning, training and development;

Support students’ development of subject specific and key transferable skills necessary for employment positions related to the management of human resources;

Provide opportunities for students to acquire a range of analytical techniques required for the effective operational and strategic design of learning, training and development platforms.

(LE1) A team player.
By participating in group activities and discussions students will become team players, and will experience the value of peer support and critique in cross-cultural teams.

(LE2) Internationally aware.
International examples will be provided in the module content to provide a global perspective and students may choose a multinational company in their assessment.

(LO1) Students will develop a critical understanding of the strategic importance of international learning, training and development for multi-national organisational performance, innovation and creativity.

(LO2) Students will be able to understand and critically evaluate learning theories and their relevance to planning, performance and knowledge management across national and cultural boundaries.

(LO3) Students will be able to explain the importance of micro-level activities, systems and processes that influence the development of learning in a dynamic and culturally complex organisational context.

(LO4) Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of the training cycle including needs analysis, training design and methods, implementation and delivery of training, transfer of learning, and evaluation.

(LO5) Students will be able to describe and evaluate individual, organisational, cultural/environmental influencers of learning, training, and development in a variety of contexts.

(LRE1) A lifelong learner.
Students will engage in life-long learning by critically reflecting on their work experiences and applying their learning to their current or future organisation.

(LRE2) IT literate.
The nature of the module in terms of online delivery will enable students to develop skills in using a virtual learning/communications environment.

(LRE3) Ethically aware.
Students will learn about the important ethical considerations and issues relating to training and development in organisations in a global context.

(LRE4) A problem solver.
By developing a training and development programme for a company of their choice and engaging in other weekly activities (e.g. reading case studies and answering questions) students will enhance their problem solving skills.

(LRE5) An excellent verbal and written communicator.
Students will develop their writing skills by completing their coursework and their verbal skills by participating in group discussions online.

(LRE6) Organised and able to work under pressure.
This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and coursework and by meeting coursework deadlines.

The module will be delivered over an 8-week period through weekly e-lectures. Module content will be delivered through a range of different interactive methods including videos, podcasts and written materials. The e-lectures will be supplemented by a combination of individual and group online learning activities including case studies, reflection, quizzes, problem solving, viewing multimedia content and posting on discussion boards. These activities will be moderated by the module instructor. Students will critically reflect on their own professional experience of learning, training and development in a workplace context and will be encouraged to link this to existing theory and broader issues pertaining to skill and knowledge development. Students will be expected to engage in wider reading to further develop their engagement with the topic, and relevant sources will be suggested.

Unscheduled Directed Student Hours: 10 hours
Description: The e-lectures will equate to 1.25 hours/week over 8 weeks undertaken asynchronously.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Students will also participate in eight weekly e-seminars where they will engage in peer discussion of key concepts and application to their own work contexts. Seminars will be conducted via a discussion board with input from the module instructor.

Unscheduled student hours: 8 hours
Description: The e-seminars will equate to 1 hour/week over 8 weeks undertaken asynchronously.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Self-directed learning hours: 132 hours
Description: This will involve independent research and wider reading about learning, training and development to support their assessment and engagement.

Theories of organisational knowledge and learning;

The learning organisation;

Cultural and diversity dimensions of learning; knowledge and learning in global organisations and in a global context;

Identifying training needs;

Design, implementation and delivery of training;

Training transfer, embedding of learning and evaluation;

International Human Resource Development;

Knowledge management;

Communities of practice, talent management and succession planning;

Social, organisational and environmental influencers of effective learning, training and development.