Since the publication in 1996 of Lean Thinking (Womack and Jones), ‘Lean’ has established itself as the most effective and most widely adopted improvement methodology for operations in the world. With roots in the Toyota Production System and in earlier approaches, Lean has expanded vertically into accounting, marketing, HR, IT, design and R&D, and logistics, and horizontally into service, health, government, and banking. Lean is now integrated with other effective approaches including Systems Thinking and Six Sigma. The Buckingham degree is titled ‘Lean Enterprise’ rather than ‘Lean Operations’ . The focus, however, is on integrated operations rather than on learning a range of diverse disciplines or tools.
Whilst today not everyone agrees with the term ‘Lean’, the principles learned in this degree are now ‘mainstream’ in any aspiring operation.
Find out more about our Business School on http://www.buckingham.ac.uk/business.
The 22 month, part-time Buckingham MSc is specifically designed for practising managers working, or aspiring to work, in the delivery of services or products. The degree is in ‘enterprise’ because most organisations rely on the integration of employees, customers and suppliers to deliver value. This involves end-to-end value streams from understanding customer requirements, through design and operations and on to product or service delivery. Knowledge of accounting, quality, design, innovation, service are all necessary.
The typical age of participants is 30s and 40s. All participants have considerable experience and are contributors as well as recipients.
Buckingham has an ethos of student support, consistently leading the National Student Survey for student satisfaction. As a private university with a Royal Charter, Buckingham has great opportunities for innovation. The MSc is part of the Buckingham Lean Enterprise Unit (BLEU).
The staff of the programme are all experienced Lean, Systems, and Six Sigma practitioners as well as all having years of experience in hands-on Masters-level Lean teaching.
The philosophy of the programme is that Lean can only effectively be learned with hands-on practice. Hence, a considerable part of the programme is held on-site at plant and service locations. By the end of the programme, participants will have taken part in real exercises (not just case studies) in several organizations in several sectors.
Mentoring is an important part of learning about Lean. Detailed mentoring, feedback, and discussion are important incorporated aspects. Networking, of course, is also a valuable aspect that results from the class profile.
The student group is deliberately small to allow both practical hands-on participation and personal interaction with some of the leading practitioners in the UK.
During the first 13 months, students take eight 5-day modules, all of which are assessed by assignment. Extensive use is made of electronic meetings and mentoring. An iPad is recommended.
The modules are a set, one flowing into the next, building into an integrated system. Hence there are currently no elective modules. Several staff contribute on more than one module.
Modules on the course are as follows:
By the end of the programme participants will have taken part in real exercises (not just case studies) in several organisations and sectors.
Mentoring is a fundamental part of learning about ‘Lean’. Feedback and discussion are all important aspects of the programme. Networking is also a valuable aspect; our class profile and student group is deliberately small to allow both practical participation and personal interaction with some of the leading practitioners in the UK.
In year two, students write a dissertation and regular feedback sessions take place, both face to face at various locations and electronically.
This unique MA programme is designed for students who intend to start and run innovative businesses where the way you do things is as important as what you do. It is based in a university but run by leading practitioners from the creative industries, ensuring you receive the highest-quality practice-based learning.
Students learn all necessary skills using 'rapid prototyping' and 'lean' entrepreneurship tools together with inventive practices from the creative industries.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits), and a research dissertation (60 credits).
Core modules
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project working with a real-world mentor from the London creative start-up community and a supervisor from the Creative and Collaborative Enterprise MA teaching team. The project culminates in a 10,000-word dissertation and includes a high-quality business or new venture plan.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of practical tutorials, lectures, seminars, masterclasses, and class discussion. Students are given the opportunity to attend weekly lectures from leading global entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Assessment is through presentations, coursework, long essay, class participation, open-book and unseen examination, and the dissertation.
The MA is aimed at students who want to work in one of the nine creative sectors recognised by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; these include advertising, architecture, IT, and the visual arts.
Employability
The creative sector now accounts for around 10% of the UK’s GDP. In recent years employment in the sector has grown four times faster than the workforce as a whole. By graduation students will have acquired a range of essential business skills, be well versed in developing and harnessing their creative powers, and will have learnt how to appreciate the environment within which their businesses will operate.
Students will learn to initiate a creative enterprise project; to apply creative arts practice approaches to enterprise and business activities; to think critically about the relationship between ethos and delivery in starting a business; to master the lean start-up skills needed to initiate, grow and establish a new enterprise; and to critically assess and reform enterprise activities.
Students follow UCL School of Management's lean start-up model and learn creative practices to provide them with the understanding, critical abilities and skill sets that will enable them to develop innovative, desirable and distinctive new products and start up the value-rich, ethos-driven companies that will take those products to market and thrive in the contemporary world.
Students have access to a wide range of innovation-focused initiatives and events at UCL, including the London Entrepreneurs' Challenge, weekly networking events and the Knowledge Exchange Associates scheme. UCL is based near London's 'Tech City'.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Anthropology
68% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
Develop your writing skills in a challenging and stimulating environment, supported by teaching staff who are published writers and experts in their field. Explore the dynamic relationship between creative production and critical awareness of literature for children and young adults, and discuss a range of work by established writers and consider the theoretical, social and cultural contexts of contemporary writing for children and young adults.
This well-established programme encourages you to develop new creative work, to give and receive feedback in weekly workshops and to experiment with new forms, audiences and voices. The academics teaching on the programme are all professional novelists, scriptwriters, poets, critics, playwrights or non-fiction writers. They are supported by guests – most recently, children’s writers Marcus Sedgwick, Mark Lowery, Tanya Landman and Andrew Weale, Editorial Director Emma Layfield (Hodder), and literary agents Ella Kahn (DKW) and Jenny Savill (Andrew Nurnberg).
You complete five core modules: Fiction for Children, The Writer as Researcher, The Publishing Project and two modules on independent study. In The Publishing Project, you develop a personal writing project to the point of submission for publication, such as the development of a publishing proposal, initial chapters and a letter to an agent or publisher.
You also choose one optional module from a selection including Fantastic Fiction for Children, Writing Non-fiction for Children, Contemporary Scriptwriting for Film and Television, and Advanced Contemporary Poetry. After the taught modules, you complete an independent study with tailored supervisory support leading to the dissertation – usually an extended piece or pieces of fiction for children amounting to 20,000 to 30,000 words.
Many graduates of the course have gone on to become published writers – some award-winning. These include, most recently: Ally Sherrick, Mark Lowery, Sarah Rubin, Sarah Lean, Meaghan McIsaac and David Owen. Others have careers in teaching, storytelling, publishing and the arts.
UK, EU, World
The annual University of Winchester Writers' Festival provides volunteering and hosting opportunities for students.
The academics teaching on the programme are all professional novelists, scriptwriters, poets, critics, playwrights or non-fiction writers. They are supported by guests - most recently, children's writers Marcus Sedgwick, Mark Lowery, Sarah Lean and Andrew Weale, Editorial Director Emma Layfield (Hodder), and literary agents Ella Kahn (DKW) and Sallyanne Sweeney (Mulcahy Associates). Weekly workshops develop students' own writing through constructive critical feedback.
Taught elements of the course take place at King Alfred or at our West Downs, Winchester.
Modules are assessed by a combination of creative and critical work. Students undertake a dissertation of 20,000-30,000 words (or an appropriate equivalent) as part of their independent study, with full tutorial support. This comprises a creative piece, or pieces, of work for children or young adults in the form of fiction, poetry, script, creative non-fiction or picture books.
At the University of Winchester, validated programmes may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances. The University is committed to ensuring that all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used in the programme you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day/Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.
Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.
We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.
We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.
For more information about our regulations for this course, please see our Academic Regulations, Policies and Procedures.
This course is one of a very few aimed at mid-career professionals wishing to make the move to senior management within industrial and manufacturing organisations.
We designed it to provide the business expertise essential for senior managers by combining specific engineering subjects with managing technology and manufacturing systems.
You examine the latest business thinking and gain expert knowledge of engineering and technology issues and theories.
We combine topics such as
with modern industrial issues such as
This mix of subjects reflects the challenges faced by today’s traditional manufacturing organisations.
The course includes the SAP Production Planning e-academy (USCM4e). You also have the opportunity to sit the SAP certification at extra cost.
Sheffield Hallam University is a SAP Student Academy and a founding member of the SAP University Alliance.
Why study for an MBA?
The role of the engineer is changing and in an industrial company the engineer is likely to be the manager who has to implement new practices and technologies.
In this role you are likely to be the primary instigator of change in the organisation and for this you need specific skills and knowledge. It is important that you widen your knowledge and skills in management areas if you are to be and effective senior manager in a manufacturing industry.
This course complements your technical degree by completing your education in the wider areas of management that usually include subjects such as • finance • marketing • human resource management • lean operations • management strategy. It also enables you to progress quickly in your career – usually through fast track promotion into very senior management posts.
This course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) on behalf of the Engineering Council and will meet, in part, the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Accredited MSc graduates who also have a BEng (Hons) accredited for CEng, will be able to show that they have satisfied the educational base for CEng registration. It should be noted that graduates from an accredited MSc programme, who do not also have an appropriately accredited Honours degree, will not be regarded as having the exemplifying qualifications for professional registration as a Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council; and will need to have their first qualification individually assessed through the Individual Case Procedure if they wish to progress to CEng.
Full time - September start - typically 12 or 18 months
Full time - January start - typically 12 or 18 months
Part time - September start - typically 36 months
Part time - January start - typically 36 months
Core modules
MBA
By final examination, coursework and project reports
As an MBA graduate you will be well-versed in management knowledge, skills and techniques, as well as technical engineering abilities. Both your sponsoring company and you benefit from the knowledge you gain, both during and after the course.
An MBA gives you the confidence to apply your skills to develop strategies for growth for your employer, giving you a much sought after edge in your career progression.
This course is for engineers or graduates who want to become technical specialists or managers in industrial and manufacturing companies.
It increases your career potential by improving your
This course helps you understand concepts and theories behind developing, manufacturing and managing engineering products and systems. You learn to explore and apply developments in engineering and management academic thinking and industrial practice.
You study
There is a wide range of optional modules including • lean operations and six sigma • advanced manufacturing technology • applicable artificial intelligence • computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture • advanced computer system architecture • network applications.
The international product development module involves working in multidisciplinary teams to develop a new product in a global market. This allows you to develop much sought after advanced technical and business skills and improves your career prospects in engineering industry, and public service. This project also develops your particular interest in a supported environment.
This course is accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), on behalf of the Engineering Council, for the purposes of partly meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer; graduates who have a BEng (Hons) accredited for CEng will be able to show that they have satisfied the further learning requirement for CEng accreditation.
This course is also accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) on behalf of the Engineering Council and will meet, in part, the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Accredited MSc graduates who also have a BEng (Hons) accredited for CEng, will be able to show that they have satisfied the educational base for CEng registration. It should be noted that graduates from an accredited MSc programme, who do not also have an appropriately accredited Honours degree, will not be regarded as having the exemplifying qualifications for professional registration as a Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council; and will need to have their first qualification individually assessed through the Individual Case Procedure if they wish to progress to CEng.
This programme is CEng accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and fulfils the educational requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer when presented with an CEng accredited Bachelors programme.
Core management modules
Core technical modules
Optional modules
Two from
• lean operations and six sigma • management of strategy, change and innovation • manufacturing systems
plus two from
• advanced control methods • advanced investigatory techniques for materials engineers • advanced manufacturing technology • advanced metallic materials • advanced vibration and acoustics • applicable artificial intelligence • computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing • communication engineering • communication media • computer networks • competitive design for manufacture • competitive materials technology • control of linear systems • digital electronics system design • digital signal processing • embedded systems • equipment engineering and design • industrial applications of finite element methods • industrial automation • machine vision • microprocessor engineering • advanced computer system architecture • network applications • object-oriented methods • operating systems • robotics • software engineering • VSLI
MSc
If you are a new graduate, this course gives you the knowledge and skills to begin a career as a technical specialist or manager. If you are already employed in engineering, it improves you career potential and can lead to roles with greater responsibility.
It can also help towards a career teaching engineering.
Driven by the rapid growth of global manufacturing and services, the management of global supply chains and logistics have become vital to business success for organisations around the world. This course gives you the knowledge and skills required to manage global supply chains and associated logistics.
This course is suitable for
Developed by academics with extensive research and consultancy experiences, the course covers strategies, management, technology and systems. You learn modern approaches to supply chain management such as lean, six-sigma and operations management which are integral elements of the course. SupplyChainGuru, an award winning modelling platform is used to demonstrate design and operation principles.
In modern supply chains, technology plays a critical role. For example, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is now widely used to track shipments through supply chain. This course covers essential technologies required to operate global supply chains which also include warehouse automation and transportation.
Modern IT systems integrate different elements of supply chain to provide the total visibility and information required to drive supply chain operations. The course uses the world’s leading Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform, SAP, to demonstrate how modern ERP systems are used to integrate supply chain operations.
As a member of the SAP University Alliance, we use SAP software modules to enhance your learning experience and the course includes a SAP training academy. You also can take examinations at extra cost, which lead to SAP qualifications in one of the world's leading business technologies.
The dissertation project enables you to apply what you learn on the course. The course team has extensive links with the industry, which means it is likely that you will be able to work with a company during your dissertation. It is also possible to work on on-going research projects which are managed by the course team.
You attend a series of guest lectures and industry visits to enhance your learning experience and to make you understand how theories and technologies are used in industry. Guest speakers include supply chain professionals from manufacturing, retail, health, food and pharmaceutical industries.
The courses enhances your career potential by improving your knowledge and skills in
This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT UK) and offers full exemption from the education requirements for Chartered Membership for graduates achieving an overall average mark of 50% or more.
This course is also accredited by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS). Learners who successfully complete this programme and meet the conditions specified may apply for MCIPS, the globally recognised standard for procurement and supply management professionals.
Core modules
MSc
You gain the knowledge and experience to work as a logistics and supply chain management professional in a range of areas. Graduates of this course can find themselves working for companies such as
• Caterpillar – world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines
• Dematic – the market leader in innovative logistics automation systems
• NYK Logistics – delivers fully integrated logistics solutions tailored to the needs of their customers
• Tuffnells – leading parcel delivery company
Typical graduates roles are • logistics coordinator • supply chain analyst • solutions analyst • supply chain coordinator • demand analyst.
After five years’ experience you can typically move onto management roles in areas such as • warehouse operations • supply chain • inventory • logistics planning.
The construction industry is facing unprecedented change that is being driven by digital transformation. This course focuses strategically on these changes, and is designed with the aim of educating and supporting professionals in responding to current and future challenges in client expectations and wider societal needs.
This programme aims to provide extensive knowledge in the fields of BIM, Lean, and integrated design and project delivery approaches to deliver better whole life value through digital built environments. It is intended primarily for practitioners and graduates in the fields of architecture, engineering construction, and built environment, who wish to specialise in this area of industry digital transformation.
This course provides the skills and competences that will enable you to support integrated design and delivery approaches as well as equipping you with the skills necessary to coordinate roles and responsibilities for the financial, environmental and social performance of built environment assets. Building upon leading edge research and practice, you will be able to up-skill and take a principle role in the digital transformation of practices in work settings, delivering better whole life value through integrated design and project delivery approaches.
The School of the Built Environment enjoys excellent links with the local, national and international built environment industry. This course meets the needs of the industry by providing formal postgraduate level education and technical knowledge in the highly advanced and emerging area of BIM and Digital Built Environments. Guest lecturers from industry with expertise in relevant areas are invited to provide lectures throughout the duration of the course, enriching your learning experience. Field trips and site visits to innovative projects will allow the analysis and critical evaluation of cases in which high quality design and the adoption of technology has led to benefits for clients, users and/or communities.
This course can be studied (a) full-time on campus, (b) part-time on campus or (c) part-time by online distance learning. Admission onto the course is in September.
The Masters award consists of three core taught modules and one elective module, followed by a dissertation. The PgDip requires the completion of three core taught modules and one elective taught module. The PgCert requires the completion of two of the core taught modules. All modules are delivered over a 15 week period and are assessed through coursework.
For the full-time study option:
You will study two 30 credit modules in each of your first two semesters on campus; these are designed to give you the core knowledge and experience required. In the final semester you will progress to the dissertation.
For the part-time on campus study option:
Part-time students attend the university one day per week, usually on day release from employment in industry. A 30 credit module is studied each semester. Throughout the final two semesters you undertake the dissertation.
Distance learning study:
A 30 credit module is studied each semester. Assessment of these modules is driven by real-world problems aligned to your workplace and job role. Teaching is based around a virtual learning environment supported by interactive online sessions. In the final two semesters you progress to the dissertation worth 60 credits, which is also delivered online and incorporates extensive tutor engagement and support. You have the option to attend the university for specific activities like field trips, Salford study days and summer schools, which enable face to face interaction and knowledge exchange.
On campus study is delivered by a variety of learning and teaching methods. Lectures introduce new material and provide the core knowledge base for each module. Tutorials offer the opportunity for discussion and debate with personalised instruction from tutors. Design project work is an important aspect of the course enabling you to initiate and control research and design techniques to develop solutions to prescribed tasks.
Distance Learning uses an internet-based learning environment backed up by intensive tutor support. Weekly online tutorials are led by tutors with student interaction. Our online repository of learning material enables you to undertake self-directed study at your own convenience. Learning is driven by real-world problems aligned to your workplace and job role.
Additional learning support will be provided through optional study days for both on-campus and distance learning students along with a summer school which will include seminars, group working, presentations and guest speakers from industry.
Full-time: Approximately two days per week
Part-time: Approximately one day per week
Distance Learning: Two to three hours online contact time with up to five hours personal study time per week
You will be assessed through:
The uptake of BIM is growing worldwide and therefore there is a clear need for professionals with appropriate process and technology skills. This course will enable architects, designers and design/project/construction/facility managers to specialise in the use of BIM and the implementation of integrated design and delivery.
You will develop managerial, technical and interpersonal skills to deliver better value through integrated design. You will be able to work collaboratively throughout design development. You will also be able to apply digital and media technologies to generate, represent and communicate innovative design solutions.
On completion of this course you will have developed skills and knowledge in a highly advanced specialism and the expertise gained is at the forefront of industry requirements. The technical and reflective skills you will develop are of immediate advantage to employers in construction, engineering and design roles across the built environment.
