Target Group

ENTRY REQUIREMENTSStudents who apply for a master’s programme are usually interested in advancing or changing their career, enhancing their personal development, gaining more knowledge in a subject that they love and creating more opportunities for themselves.

This programme targets students who have previous qualifications in a related Level 6 programme, and persons who have a Level 6 qualification in a non-related field, however require management skills in their current/future job. Other students may be life-long learners with a Level 6 qualification who are interested in achieving their Master of Business Administration (MBA). Other learners who may be interested to join might include those who have completed a Postgraduate Diploma from Ascencia Malta or elsewhere, seeking to advance their studies to obtain the MBA qualification.

Entry Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree or post-graduate degree in business, administration, management, or a related field
• Minimum 180 ECTS previously acquired at a Higher Education institution
• 2 years of work experience
• A GPA score of 2.5 (C+) or higher (or equivalent) will be required
• Proof of C1 level of Englishor equivalent
• Individuals may apply and ask for consideration to be given to considerable high level leadership experience in lieu of some of typical academic requirements.

Candidates will be asked to present their previously obtained qualifications and their transcripts (if any).

Graduates of this programme will be prepared for the following career paths:

• Chief Executive Officer
• Chief Operating Officer
• Chief People Officer
• Director of Organisational Development
• General Manager
• Change Specialist
• Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
• Organisational Diversity and Inclusion Manager
• Executive Coach / Leadership Consultant
• Director of Business Development
• Public Relations Manager
• Entrepreneur

Knowledge and Understanding

The learner will be able to:

• Critically review and analyse the framework of leadership and consider the nature, strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches and leadership styles
• Examine the traits, behaviours and corresponding likelihood of what goes into making a great leader within various organisations
• Gain a holistic view of the drivers, behaviours, group dynamics and leadership practices that influence the culture, environment, change and performance of an organisation
• Synthesize theoretical and practical knowledge of the business landscape to successfully navigate business challenges
• Synthesize practical and theoretical knowledge of how an organisation is structured and operates at all levels
• Draw on insights from management, human resource management and organisational psychology to focus on individual, group and organisational level themes for performance and development
• Critically evaluate theories on perception, attitudes, values, personality, motivation and performance, the nature and management of teams, leaders and leadership, communication, conflict and decision-making, as well as organisational structure, organisational culture and organisational change and development
• Develop a solid foundation in the principles of effective leadership as well as knowledge of the practical tools and techniques necessary to inspire and guide diverse teams towards success
• Critically evaluate theories, models and frameworks to provide insights on how an organisation's life cycle evolves through various stages to reach maturity and sustainable growth
• Critically evaluate the concepts and theories that provide an in depth understanding of the fundamentals, key features and effective methods for project management
• Critically evaluate how a business functions, including how it organises, markets, finances and accounts for its business activities
• Critically evaluate how business functions interrelate and contribute to the overall operation and success of an organisation
• Critically analyse a wide range of management theory and management practices and their application in today’s complex environments
• Critically evaluate the interrelationship among strategy, stakeholder expectations and organisational performance
• Critically evaluate the issues in business ethics and their potential effect on personal, managerial and corporate decisions
• Critique and apply the rules of domestic and international professional ethics
• Critically evaluate the effectiveness of communication within an organisation by reviewing principles and barriers in workplace communication

Skills

The learner will be able to:

• Recognise and adapt to complex and changing workplace environments
• Apply management and leadership theory to support organizational direction
• Demonstrate leadership and critical thinking skills
• Develop and implement interpersonal skills and leadership strategies to effectively lead teams and organisations
• Apply theories, frameworks and models to evaluate a business's internal and external environment
• Strategically align leadership actions with an organisation's core values and goals to impact and enhance the overall culture
• Evaluate strategic objectives that enhance organizational effectiveness and operational performance
• Apply established leadership values to translate strategic commercial decisions into sustainable trends
• Manage complexity and change and develop innovative approaches to tackle the challenges facing teams and organisations
• Critically analyse business data in the context of organizational decision-making
• Evaluate operational data and information for decision-making
• Investigate business dilemmas and create detailed action plans to address workplace issues
• Embed research activities into applied strategic business plans
• Develop professional business reports, showcasing the ability to research and synthesize relevant ideas, theories, models, frameworks and cases
• Analyse and solve complex business problems
• Explore various technological solutions for facilitating and/or automating business processes across organizational functions
• Develop strong communication skills including the ability to analyse different models of workplace communication, demonstrate proficiency in interpersonal interactions, and effectively communicate organisational objectives and corporate goals
• Engage in current debates on the issues and challenges faced by leaders today
• Act responsibly in delivering value to all stakeholders

Teaching, Learning, and Assessment

General Pedagogical Methods

When it comes to pedagogical methods, we have included quite a variety of methods, to cater for different learning styles. Therefore, our lecturers deliver classes and supervised hours in traditional methods, or using case studies, promoting collaborative learning, through simulations and experiential learning, field trips, seminars, tutorials and workshops.

Throughout the programme, students will engage in lectures and case studies, allowing them to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world setting. The modules will be delivered through face-to-face lectures and face-to-face tutorials whereby relevant literature is reviewed with students and discussions are encouraged.

Students are expected to be proactive in their own learning through independent study and self-directed learning. Students will develop a sense of responsibility through class discussions on various ethical issues involved in leadership decisions.

Both students who apply for the programme on a part-time or full-time basis will receive the same style of teaching and learning (i.e. mixed methods to cater for different learning styles as indicated in the different modules mentioned below), however for part-time students, the duration of the programme will be double that of the full-time students, and part-time students will have between 1–2 modules per semester, to ensure that they are able to manage their time well.

For the online programme, all components will be delivered online. Modes of delivery include podcasts, video clips, assigned readings, asynchronous forums, virtual office hours, and pre- recorded expert interviews. The material will draw from academic and professional literature, present real-world case studies, and present opportunities for collaborative learning through group projects, case study discussions and peer feedback.

General Assessment Methods

Assessment throughout the programme is varied and designed to measure different aspects of student learning and competence. Methods include:

Individual assignments requiring critical analysis and application of theory to practice; group projects that foster collaborative skills; case study analyses that develop analytical thinking; presentations to build communication competence; reflective journals for personal development tracking; examinations that test theoretical understanding; coaching sessions demonstrating practical application of leadership skills; and a research dissertation that showcases advanced research capabilities.

All assessments are designed to align with the programme learning outcomes and are subject to internal and external quality assurance processes. Students receive constructive feedback on all assessed work, enabling them to identify areas for improvement and build on their strengths.

Grading and Progression

For each module, students are required to achieve the minimum pass mark. Students who fail the module have an opportunity to resit. Should the student fail a second time, they will need to repeat the complete module.

The programme uses a grading scale that reflects student achievement across different levels of performance. The grading criteria are communicated to students at the start of each module, and detailed marking rubrics are provided for each assessment. Internal verification and external examination processes ensure consistency and fairness in grading across the programme.

Upon successful completion of the programme, the following award is conferred: