MA in Work Based learning (Middlesex UK)

Middlesex university in the UK is offering a DL program MA in 'Work based learning'. This is different than what Lawrie Miller has for the MA in 'Life long learning' on his site.

Anyone looked at this (UK guys could help) since it is an unusual program.

http://www.mdx.ac.uk/subjects/wbl/mamspgdcwbs.htm#programme

http://www.mdx.ac.uk/apply/postgrad/fees.htm

J.R (ic)

 

I think there are loads of "Work Based Learning", master's. If I am correct, they are to be found in the prospectuses of most UK universities, and yes, they are quite different from the 'Lifelong learning' postgraduate degree I list.

 

Work-based and independent studies in UK

The Middlesex programme was one of the first in the world to also offer a doctorate around issues to do with work-based learning. The University has a major research centre re work-based learning whose head of department (recently retired) is widely regarded as one of the world's leading authorities on the subject. However, having spent most of this year looking at such propgrammes in the US and UK it does, generally speaking, seem to me that the UK has (RA equivalent type) far more indepedent/design your own course/work-based type programmes at the master's degree and doctoral degree level than the USA. The US seems to be getting 'stricter' and more course-centred whereas we seem to be 'lightening up' and even allowing substantial transfer of credit and/or the assigning of credit for prior learning and professional experience. The better US unaccredited and/or state approved programmes of the last ten years (which now seem to be disappearing because of very conservative accrediting agency regulations) were doing this ages ago. A UK university doesn't have an accrediting agency or local state board breathing down its neck to gain approval for such programmes. That's not to say 'approval' does not have to be sought because it does - via endless university committees and from the Quality Assurance Agency in certain cases but, by and large, there is a much greater sense of 'lets give it a try' than there seems to be these days in the US. I was recently speaking with the Dean of a well-known US distance/distributed learning institution and she was telling me about the diffiulty they've ahd getting a new PhD programme launched. When I look at the 6 year programme I wonder why anyone is going to do it and at what cost!

What is interesting in the UK is that the 'traditional/Russell Group' of so-called top-tier universities don't offer these more innovatory programmes! They stick with the PhD and perhaps an EdD and a DBA and that's it! All very 'contained' and not particularly learner focussed.

'telfax'
Anyway, I offer this for what's worth.

'telfax'

 

Re: Re: MA in Work Based learning (Middlesex UK)

Kingston University
Masters of Science (MSc) in Technology by Learning Contract (Work based learning)
http://technology.kingston.ac.uk/Herobac/

MA/MSc Work Based Learning
University of East London
http://www.uel.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/workbased_learning/index.htm

MSc/Prof. D Podiatry by Work Based Learning
Glasgow Caledonian University
http://www.gcal.ac.uk/ppr/podwbl.htm

University of Leeds
Work-Based Learning, MA,
Work-Based Learning, MSc,
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/wrl/

University of Coventry
MA in Management Workbased Learning
http://www.coventry.ac.uk/wbl/cbs/course3.htm

Sheffield Hallam University
MSc Radiotherapy and Oncology by work based learning
http://www2.shu.ac.uk/prospectus/op_pglookup1.cfm?id_num=HSC025&ey=2003

MSc Medical Imaging Programme by work based learning
http://www2.shu.ac.uk/prospectus/op_pglookup1.cfm?id_num=HSC010&ey=2003

University of Portsmouth
MSc Mathematical Studies Work Based Learning
http://www.courses.port.ac.uk/course2.php?hemis_code=C0407g

MSc Engineering & Management Work Based Learning
http://www.courses.port.ac.uk/course2.php?hemis_code=C0407h

Leeds Business School Work Based Learning
MSc/Postgraduate Diploma in Management by Action Research
http://www.lmu.ac.uk/lbs/hrm/module/actionrs.htm


Lawrie Miller
author: BA in 4 Weeks and Accelerated Master's Degrees by Distance
Learning
http://geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks/

 

Telfax, as noted (Middlesex that is) and of course when a search is done for 'work based learning', almost every UK University has these programs, as noted by Lawrie.

What I was trying to get from the posting was some further details and explanation of just how the program works, in getting someone to the MA/MSc.

For example a seasoned Manager that runs an SME business unit $10-$50 million, with some activities surrounding the usual responsibilities for bottom lines, sales & marketing, HR, operations and what ever else thrown in. This person may not be a degreed manager but may have taken CPD, company training, written several high level workplace reports, business plans, strategic contracts, provides on site company trianing to junior employees etc , all along the lines of work based learning.

If this person was deemed a suitable candidate for the MA/MSc in work based learning, then how would you see us getting him there?

For this scenario, I hope that John Speirs wont mind us using him as a test case? If you read some of the threads, John S is near completing his degree through the BA in 4 weeks route, he is also a mid career manager with some CPD.

I would be interested for the site, your views (unqualfied I understand) and feedback from the program at Middlesex or elsewhere in the UK.

Appreciate your response to the first post.

J.R (ic)

 

John, thanks for using me as a test case as I would be very interested in any options available to earn my Masters degree. I have been concentrating my search on MBA's but perhaps a Msc will serve just as well. The fact that I (will) have a Masters at all will be impressive to potential employers in the club industry. thanks all!

 

It's a different scenario...

Virtually every UK university will consider someone over the age of 30 and with quality work experience for admission to a master's degree, providing the candidate can demonstrate at the point of application his/her determination/motivatrion. Lack of a bachelor's degree doesn't matter. In an evet, the majority of work-based learning programmes attract a different type of learner and they are usually not the type of likes doing endless courses, taking tests and written examinations (Heriot-Watt type approach. This is not to rate one against the other. There has been a rapid increase in master's level programmes in the UK as an alternative to the MBA in recent years. So, someone with no bachelor's level degree can be considered for a master's programme and someone with a professional qualiciations (e.g. Higher National Diploma) would probably get on. What tends to happen is that the master's is usually taken in two parts and if you get through Part 1 with a required pass mark you can complete Part 2 and go on to the full master's. This happened to me years ago. Some people left at Easter (with a diploma), depending on how they did in the written examinations and course work in the previous two terms and those of us who reached the required did one more term and 9 written examinations and coruse work, plus a three months 20,000 word dissertation/project.

Hope this helps.

'telfax'

 

I have earned certification as a private club manager and have years of experience. Also, I will have my BS degree in the next month or so. Is it possible to enter one of these work-based programs and get a degree in that field? Or will it be a generic degree like liberal studies? I really want either a MSc in Hospitality Management, an MBA, or best of all, an MBA with a concentration in hospitality. Of course, from the best school I can afford!!
I certainly meet all of the qualifications stated by Telfax re: gaining admission. I just need to find the right program.
thanks everyone!

 

Telfax, this is good info that you have provided for John Spiers, and its true that the Brit system allows an easy path to a graduate degree for earned credits based on some post secondary education with lots of PLA.

The traditional Masters (as you stated) is accessable to everyone (MBA excluded from this discussion) usually has the 2 components, the Diploma at 2/3 way through the program and, then the 15,000-25,000 dissertation/report.

In John Speirs case, with his imminent undergrad degree, lots of experience & PLA, I was wondering if the particular program like the one at Middlesex would, and I assume based on his CV, actually get him the Masters with minimal assessment?

For John, it may be worthwhile approaching the course leader & program cooridinator at Middlesex (in the previos post link) and say that you wish to do the MA/MSc work based learning (have your cv & portfolio ready to send to her) and see if you qualify for that MA/MSc.

John you may wish to start preparing a portfolio for this purpose?

If telfax is willing to coordinate, and try to get to the route of the final process through Middlesex, I would be plesed to also offer any help.

Cheers.

J.R (ic)

 

John, I really appreciate your help. This method may save me a lot of time and money. As suggested, I will email Middlesex and see what they can do for me. Any additional guidance by you or Telfax would be helpful and appreciated as well. thanks, John

 

I have ordered a prospectus. Now I am trying to get the program head's (Dr. Kathy Doncaster) email address. I am emailing admissions with a request for her to email me back. Any other suggestions? I could not find an email directory.

 

...and unless I am reading the fees page incorrectly, the cost is over $8K GBP. I may still be better off going with Sheffield, Oxford Brookes, HW, or UniSA/Cordon Bleu. The timeframe may be better, but I would rather have a degree in hospitality or an MBA than a degree indicating 'work-based learning'. Is any of this info incorrect? Please let me know your thoughts...

 

I have heard back from the head of the program and this sounds great. The cost will be anywhere from GBP 3960 to 2600, depending on the results of my assessment. Timeframe is 1-1.5 years.
I sent an email back to confirm that the pricing would apply to me; a US student, studying via distance. Also, I was instructed to apply to the school to start the assessment process, and I have done so. She understood the need for expediency due to enrollment dates at my other choices, so I hope to have an answer soon re: assessment and costs.
Oh, one other thing. The degree will read something like 'Msc in Work-Based Learning - __________(your field). I am going to put in 'Private Club Administration' as I don't think there is anything similar out there. The best part is that this degree will be VERY field-specific, something that is not readily available.
Once I get the additional info I will post again. All in all, it sounds like this may be the ticket!

 

John S, I have also communicated with the school to try to get info, since you had mentioned earlier that you had not received a response.

My feedback and other reseach on the MA/MSc work based learning from Middlesex is that as long as you can prove progressive learning, academic and career buiding knowledge that would be compatible to someone at Masters level that would have gone the normal academic route, then your on track for the MA/Msc.

My first suggestion would have been that you get the undergrad degree first, document the skills and learning levels that you have achieved and can demonstrate (look at the learning objectives of a Masters program in Hospitality to get the ideas for constructiing your documented evidence) which should put you in a good position when submitting you evidence to Middlesex.

However with you post as of today, its looks like your on your way to that Masters that you always wanted, with 1-2 years for the work and a reasonable fee too boot.

The specialty of the degree name..well ask Dr. Doncaster if she would suggest something else more general that will carry weight for you 10-20 years from now?

Beyond this, Middlesex also offers the Doctor of Professional studies 'DProf'..just a teaser to keep you going for the top dog degree.

Good Luck.
J.R(ic)

 

Hello again,
Just received unconditional acceptance at Middlesex. Since the Queen Margaret process is taking so long, I will also have the assessment of prior learning done at Middlesex. This may cause me to change my mind re: where to enroll depending on the assessment outcome. Hopefully, it will result in less time and money spent!
Will update as I get more info.

 

Where folks go wrong with this!

Where folks go wrong when considering work-based learning programmes is that they think they have done this, that and the other and they will then virtually earn a degree. What many people don't understand is that is only part of the degree process, even for the so-called 'professional degree'. A degree is essentially an 'academi' activity and rightly so. It is about gaining the skills and levels of competence to be able to know how to deal with and apply theoretical concepts and ideas and the litearyures that surrocund and underpin them. This is where people fall down. Richard Branson (owner of Virgin int he UK) is one of thw world's wealthiest and most successful business people and yet he never went to university. He clearly has many of the gifts/skills, etc needed to be a successful business person but as an academic he is quite hopeless! He would not be able to discuss in any depth the various approaches to business management, organizational behaviour and so forth. Of course, he does not necessarily have to do so and there are many academics, even with degrees in business, who will never be as good a business person as Branson . Horses for courses! Interestingly enough, there is little or no empirical evidence to show that taking an MBA degree makes the person, or the organization from which they come, any better at his/her job! Yet, (at least in the UK), 1 in 7 students at university/college is studying business management related programmes!

'telfax'

 

John Spies, have you decided to enrol in Middlesex then? If so, what has been your experience like? I am curious about the assessment of prior learning, actual duration and fees, the planning and project phases etc.
Thanks!

 

Sorry,
I did not go with Middlesex. Not because it isn't a great program, only because I found something that more fit my needs.
Good luck!

 

I talked to Middelsex (a few months ago) about their DProf but it is not available by DL at this time.

 

Middlesex University's MProf/DProf program

Two questions...

Recently, I applied to Middlesex University's MProf/DProf program and am scheduled for an application interview next week. Since I live in Germany, the interview will be held by phone. Any advice on how to prepare for an application interview?

The program is work-based learning (WBL) via distance learning with regular but brief on-campus visits. At earliest possible date upon admission (if admitted), I will visit the London campus to meet the organizational and academic staff and to discuss the learning contract. Have any of you had experience in this or other WBL programs?

Thanks,

Russell