Course description
We designed this course in response to the increasing internationalisation and workforce diversity of organisations.
You explore human resource management (HRM) in an international setting, including managing human resources (HR) in organisations that operate across national borders and the cross cultural issues of people management.
It is for HR advisers and managers wanting to develop their expertise in people management, and recent graduates wanting to follow a career in HRM in multinational companies.
You develop your professional expertise and improve your employability and career prospects by gaining broader international business, management and leadership knowledge.
We begin by introducing you to organisation theory, covering stakeholder management, organisational design and structure, and managing culture and change.
You then study specialist theory and practice from an international perspective, giving you practical expertise across key areas of HR including
• people resourcing
• performance and reward management
• employee relations
• individual and organisational learning
• international HRM
To enable you to manage and interpret financial and management accounting information, you learn skills such as budgeting and ratio analysis.
A dissertation develops your ability to research new ideas and approaches from a cross cultural perspective. Typical projects include • stress management • absenteeism • rewards • learning • equality of opportunity.
Central to the course is our professional development programme. This improves your personal reflection and planning skills by completing intensive study blocks and work-based learning. For aspiring HR professionals this broadens your experience helping you to gain your first role.
You can also attend a two day residential held outside Sheffield, which gives you hands on experience of managing various HR activities, such as an assessment centre.
During the course, you develop the skills to formally present your research findings to your fellow students and course tutor.
We have guest lectures from leading practitioners, visiting professors and Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development professionals to ensure you learn the latest developments in HRM. Recent guests include the director of clinical operations of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation and an information systems specialist from BT
Associated careers
Our previous students have taken up careers in human resource management with companies and organisations such as • United Airlines • DLA • American Express • Derby City Council. Some have followed careers in consultancy or academia.
Course content
Semester one – postgraduate certificate modules
• understanding organisations and leadership • international people resourcing: strategies and policies • performance and reward management in a international context • challenges for HR management
Semester two – postgraduate diploma modules
• information management and financial analysis for HR managers • individual and organisational learning • contemporary issues in international employee relations • perspectives on international HRM
Semester three – MSc modules
• research and methodology • dissertation – this is a major project geared to your interest and based on an area of strategic international importance