s
MINUTES of the PGDip/MSc Human Resource Management Course Board held on
Tuesday 17th February 2014, 1:00pm, Room M150.
Present: Penny Simpson (Chair), Patrick Galpin (Student Representative, 2nd year MSc),
Alison Bone, Keith Mattacks, Kim Donovan and Carolyn Lewis.
Louise Letchford in attendance.
1.
Welcome and apologies
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and the attendees introduced themselves,
including Kim Donovan, who is the new Assistant Information Adviser for BBS at the
Aldrich Library.
Apologies were received from Jenny Knight, Bob Smale, Maura Sheehan, Sue Will,
Peter Stock, Colin Harris, Lesley Berry and Amy Humphries.
2.
Minutes of previous meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 19th November 2014 were agreed to be
an accurate and true record of the meeting.
3.
Matters arising
From the prior course board minutes: There was a request for classes to finish earlier.
Keith queried what was decided regarding this. Penny confirmed that at the last course
board it was agreed that the second years would finish at 7.00pm, with a half hour gap
between sessions. Patrick commented that this had been working well so far from the
perspective of the students. Following the discussion with the student reps at the prior
course board, no change had been made to the timing of the first year sessions.
From the prior course board minutes: Laptop loans while working within the library will
be available from next semester.
Kim explained that this is not available yet, but hopefully will be later in the semester.
Penny noted at this stage that she wished to express apologies as Programme Leader
for the error which occurred with the release of the HRM93 exam results. Patrick
responded that this was a simple mistake, which, although it left some students agitated,
he did not feel the need to dwell on.
4.
Student Feedback
Penny noted that there were no first or third year student representatives present to
feedback.
Year 2:
 The HRM93 (Strategic and International HRM) sessions were fun and the tutors
were clearly very interested in and knowledgeable about the subject. The culture
sessions, in particular, were well received. The wine and mince pies at the last
session were also a nice touch. Patrick offered the following constructive feedback:
 In terms of reading materials, it was felt that there was too much material and
that the materials were difficult to navigate; page numbers on the materials


5.
would be beneficial to both staff and students e.g. with discussion of the
article “on page X”.
 The interim mini assessment would have had added value. However, as it
was rushed, it was felt that this value was lost. It was suggested that it would
be beneficial to give greater priority to this assessment. There was also not
enough time for the formative feedback sessions for the three or four groups
with a small case study.
 Also regarding the case studies, it was expressed that some of the questions
felt a bit basic (at a lower academic standard) and the number of questions
etc to answer differed on each case study. It was expressed that it would be
beneficial if the case studies were kept the same, and the questions written
by the tutors for the case studies to ensure consistency, be more tailored and
at the appropriate level.
Regarding HRM77, the sessions with Penny focussed on assessment were useful,
but felt to be a little bit late for some of the students who had already begun work on
their assignment. It would be helpful to schedule this session earlier in future years
or for the students to know the date of this session earlier. Penny added that this
was raised on the module feedback, so the team will be looking to change this for
future years and to formally embed these sessions in the schedule. Penny had also
passed on this feedback she had received immediately onto the module leads for
MER and Employment Law. It was felt that the guest speaker on job design may
benefit from some coaching in presentation skills.
Exams: Patrick also wished to raise a point about exam format. As all work, essay
writing etc is now done with a computer, he expressed that it was now out of the
norm to sit and write at length with a pen and paper. This, therefore, creates a
fundamental tension between this assessment method as compared with an
individual’s usual ability to craft arguments, edit etc when writing. Patrick added that
he appreciates that this has probably been raised before and obviously has financial
implications, but felt it was worthwhile mentioning. Penny responded that she would
feed this back at school level.
Staff Feedback
Year 2/HRM80 (Carolyn Lewis):
 Only two sessions have taken place so far, but it is a great group who are very
engaging with a good cross-section of workplaces and a variety of employee voice
mechanisms.
 The shorter time seems a bit rushed at the moment as Carolyn appreciates having
interactive time to engage with the students as well as the taught/talking element.
 All speakers have been booked including David Lebrecht from BA, Dilys Robinson
and Dereck Luckhurst.
 Vicky Richard and Bob Smale are also on the HRM80 teaching team and Bob will
handle the topic of unionisation.
 This year’s assessment will be a participative case study looking at Royal Mail. This
year’s submission date of 2nd June is earlier than last year in order to allow enough
time for marking, particularly for anyone who has been granted an extension. Carolyn
introduced the assessment last week and Bob will revisit this soon, following
feedback from students.
 Actors will be coming in for one session on dignity at work, though Carolyn usually
aims for two sessions.
Year 2/LWM14 (Alison Bone):
 Only one session has taken place so far, so the new times are still being trialled.
Year 1/HRM92 (Keith Mattacks):
 Keith has not seen the group in a while, but Colin had been covering academic
writing with them, which seems to have gone well.
 The group will be looking at leadership next week.
 One to one meetings will be taking place, which is new for this year.
Year 2/HRM92 (Keith Mattacks):
 There is due to be a “HRM92 revisited” session for second years with Derek Osborn,
the former Chair of Sussex CIPD.
Year 2/HRM77 (Penny Simpson):
 This module finished in the last couple of weeks. Presentations were generally very
good and assignments are due in shortly.
 Module feedback mentioned guest speakers, the timing of additional support (as
mentioned above) and also a couple of suggestions to complete the whole module
before Christmas. Patrick commented that this was not raised with him.
 Regarding the assignment submission timings, currently there are four weeks
between the end of the module and the assignment submission date. Penny is
currently looking at whether we need to make this period shorter. As a point of
reference, at another University of which Penny is aware, on one of the modules
there was one week between the end of the module and the assignment submission
date. Penny and Patrick both agreed that this would not leave much time for the
latter module content to be reflected in the assignment.
 Penny also mentioned on the module feedback that a range of module topics has
been highlighted and one student again mentioned Jenny Knight’s passion for her
teaching, which was feedback noted in the prior course board minutes.
6.
Information Services update
The Aldrich library’s business team were given extra funds before Christmas and have
subsequently purchased the following new texts:
Author
Title
Adams, Alix
Law for Business Students
Armstrong,
Gary
Armstrong,
Michael
Marketing: An Introduction,
Global Edition
Armstrong's Handbook of
Human Resource Management
Practice
Corporate financial
management
Arnold, G
Edit.
8th
Year
Publisher
2014
Pearson
LW270,
LW212,
LW272
Pearson
13th
2014
Kogan
Page
5th
2012
Pearson
Arnold, G
Modern Financial Markets &
Institutions
2011
ed.
2011
Pearson
Atrill, P.
Mclaney
Accounting and finance for
non-specialists
9th
2014
Pearson
Atrill, P
Accounting and Finance: An
Introduction
Constitutional and
Administrative Law
7th
2014
Pearson
10th
2013
Routledge
Barnett,
Hilaire
Module
code/s
HR388,
HRM74,
HRM77.
AA3F9, F9,
FN281, FN350
FN163,
FN243,
FN504, IT502,
ML188
FN163, ML188
LW161,
LWM03,
LW245
Barrow, Colin
The Business Plan Workbook
7th
Beardwell,
Julie
Berk,
Jonathan B
Human Resource Management
7th
Corporate finance
3rd
2014
Pearson
FN350 + other
FN modules?
Berry, Aidan
Accounting in a Business
Context
Macroeconomics
5th
2011
Cengage
FA183
6th
2012
Pearson
EC161
Essentials of marketing
3rd
2013
Pearson
Financial accounting
5th
2009
FT/Prentic
e Hall
MK187,
ML212
FA183
Drury, C
Cost and Management
Accounting – An introduction
7th
2011
Cengage
MA182
Dixon, Martin
Modern Land Law
9th
2014
Routledge
Elliott,
Catherine and
Frances
Quinn
Finch, Brian
English legal system
15th
2014
Pearson
LWM07,
LW365
LW189,LW212
, LW390
How to Write a Business Plan
4th
2013
Kogan
Page
Gillespie, Ian
Principles of financial
accounting
Organizational behaviour
3rd
2004
8th
2013
Pearson
Hull, John
Options, Futures and Other
Derivatives: Global Edition
8th
2013
Pearson
HR173,
HR388,
HRM74,
HRM77, CMI
FN368
Krugman,
Paul
International Economics:
Theory and Policy, Global
Edition
Regulatory policy and
behavioural economics
International financial
management
10th
2014
Pearson
ec385
1st
2014
OECD
4th
2014
Cengage
FA350,
FN368, FN381
McIntyre,
Ewab
McLaney,
Eddie
Business Law
7th
2014
Pearson
Business Finance
10th
ed.
2014
Pearson
Parkin,
Michael
Economics
11th
2013
Pearson
LW212,
LW272
AA3F9, F9…,
FN243,
FN281,
FN350, FN368
EC161
Blanchard,
Olivier
Brassington,
F
Britton, Anne
Huczynski,
Andrzej
Lunn, Pete
Madura, Jeff
2012
Kogan
Page
DB150 (key),
FN163,
ML188, ML212
Pearson
DB150 (key),
ML212.
FA183
Saunders,
Mark
Schneider,
Susan
Sloman, John
Research Methods for
Business Students
Managing across cultures
6th
2012
Pearson
3rd
2014
Pearson
Economics for Business
6th
Smith
Property Law
8th
2014
Pearson
Helen Dancer
Stutely,
Richard
The definitive business plan:
the fast-track to intelligent
business planning for
executives and entrepreneurs
Human Resource Management
3rd
2012
Financial
Times
DB150 (key).
9th
2014
Pearson
Financial Accounting: an
Introduction
5th
2011
FT/Prentic
e Hall
HRM74,
HRM79,
HR173,
HR511
FA183
Torrington,
Derek
Weetman
DB250
Pearson
On the topic of e-books Alison Bone explained a scenario where she recently tried to
access an ebook, but the system said she was third in a queue and would be emailed
when it was free. She has heard nothing since. Kim explained that the book was likely to
be a single licence book, which a user can usually have for only 24 hours. Once the
screen is closed, the book should become available. Kim will follow this up.
Library room bookings: Patrick mentioned that he and his fellow students often struggle
with not being able to book the library’s meeting rooms more than two weeks ahead of
time, despite the diary having 52 weeks per year. Kim responded that the team is
looking to take the booking system online, which will allow students to book rooms
earlier, but she will feed Patrick’s comments back. Penny added that, as part-time
professional students are trying to schedule these meetings around work, anything that
can be done to prioritise such students in the booking of rooms and allowing longer lead
times would be most appreciated.
Carolyn queried if the University’s subscription to Expert HR was to be kept. As far as
Kim is aware there is no plans to cancel the subscription, but she will double check.
7.
Any other business
A postgraduate feedback survey will be conducted at the beginning of March. Staff and
student representatives are asked to encourage students to complete the survey.
Employment law exam: Currently careful consideration is being given to the timing of the
examination.
Next meeting:
 Wednesday 29th April 2015, 1.00pm – 2.00pm in room M153.
The meeting was officially closed.