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Programme Specification

Postgraduate

Applicable to postgraduate programmes

Please click here for guidance on completing this specification template.

Part A: Programme Summary Information

1. Title of programme: DPS Football Management

2. Programme Code: BLFB

3. Entry Award(s):

Credit: Level:

☐ MA

☐ MSc

☐ PGDip

☐ PGCert

☐ PG Award

☒ DPS 120 FHEQ Levels 5, 6 or 7, with

no more than 30 credits at

FHEQ Level 5.

☒ CPS 60 FHEQ Levels 5, 6 or 7, with

no more than 30 credits at

FHEQ Level 5.

☐ Other (please

specify below:

4.

Exit Awards: Credit: Level:

☐ PGDip

☐ PGCert

☐ PG Award

☒ CPS 60 FHEQ Levels 5, 6 or 7, with

no more than 30 credits at

FHEQ Level 5.

Exit awards will automatically bear the name of the entry award. If an exit

award is to be unnamed (i.e. it will show only the qualification achieved) or

if it is to have a different name from the entry qualification you must

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indicate this below:

5. Date of first intake: May 2014

6. Frequency of intake: Annually

7. Duration and mode of

study:

12 months part time

8. Applicable framework: University Framework for the

Diploma/Certificate in Professional Studies &

Postgraduate Continuing Professional/Personal

Development (CPD)

Framework exemption

required: Please indicate the applicable

boxes:

☒

No (please go to section 9)

☐

Yes (please provide a brief summary

below)

Date exemption

approved by AQSC:

9. Applicable Ordinance: Ordinance 41 Certificate/Diploma Professional

Studies

New/revised Ordinance

required:

☒

No (please go to section 10)

Please indicate the applicable boxes:

☐

Yes (please provide a brief summary

below)

Date new/revised

Ordinance approved by

Council:

10. Faculty:

Huamnities and Social Science

11: Level 2

School/Institute:

The University of Liverpool Management

School

12. Level 1 unit: NA

13. Campus: Delivered off site at St Georges Park

14. Other contributors from

UoL:

NA

15: Teaching other than at

UoL:

Some elements of the programme will be

delivered by practitioners who will be

approved as recognised teachers of the

University of Liverpool

16: Director of Studies: Dr Sue Bridgewater

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17: Board of Studies: The University of Liverpool Management

School Postgraduate Board of Studies

18: Board of Examiners: The University of Liverpool Management

School Postgraduate Board of Examiners

19. External Examiner(s):

Name

Institution

Position

Professor Robert Simmons

Lancaster University Management School

20. Professional, Statutory

or Regulatory body:

NA

21: QAA Subject benchmark

Statements(s):

Business and Management

22. Other reference points: AACSB

EQUIS

23. Fees: This is not an open enrollment programme -

see supplementary contract with the League

Managers Association (LMA)

24. Additional costs to the

student:

NA

25: AQSC approval: April 2014

Part B: Programme Aims & Objectives

26. Aims of the Programme

This is a CPD programme. The programme will not have open access.

Delegates will be nominated by the LMA.

This programme has been designed to professionalise the pathway into

football management; providing a recognised qualification for football

managers. The aim of the programme is as follows:

No. Aim:

1 To enable students to develop an understanding of pragmatic managerial and

commercial models and theories.

2 To encourage students to apply relevant theories and models to issues and

challenges found in their own workplace.

3 To promote the adoption of entrepreneurial approaches to the solving of

business-critical issues and problems.

27. Learning Outcomes

No. Learning outcomes – Diploma Professional Studies

1 To develop understanding of the challenges of football management as a career

among senior players, coaches and young football managers

2 To provide understanding of different aspects of the football manager’s role

within a football club, specifically:

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the strategy and governance structure of the club

the finances of the club

the operations of the club

how to market yourself as a football manager

managing upwards (to boards and owners), sidewards to media and

other stakeholders, downwards to players and staff

how to manage the stresses of football management effectively

3 To develop analytical and reflective abilities in football managers which will

better equip them to learn and develop in their roles

Learning Outcomes

No. Learning outcomes – Certificate Professional Studies

4 To develop understanding of the challenges of football management as a career

among senior players, coaches and young football managers

5 To provide understanding of different aspects of the football manager’s role

within a football club, in the following areas:

the strategy and governance structure of the club

the finances of the club

managing upwards (to boards and owners), sidewards to media and

other stakeholders, downwards to players and staff

how to manage the stresses of football management effectively

6 To develop analytical and reflective abilities in football managers which will

better equip them to learn and develop in their roles

27a. Mapping of subject-based learning outcomes:

Learning outcome

No.

Module(s) in which

this will be delivered

Mode of

assessing

achievement of

learning

outcome

PSRB/Subject

benchmark

statement (if

applicable)

1 All modules This will be

assessed both

informally in

group and

individual tasks

and formally

through individual

and group written

assignments.

Business/

Management

2 Each of the above will

be delivered in the

relevant module

below:

Strategy and

structure:

1. Football Strategy

Football finance:

2. Football Finance

Each subject will

be assessed both

informally in

group and

individual tasks

and formally

through individual

or group written

assignments as

specified for each

module.

Business/

Management

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Marketing yourself as a

football manager:

3. Marketing in

Football

Managing upwards,

sidewards and

downwards:

4. Managing People in

Football

Managing the stresses

of football

management:

5. Personal

Effectiveness for

Football Managers

Operation of football

clubs:

6. Football Operations

3 All modules These will be

developed

throughout the

process of

individual study,

class participation

and module

assessments.

Business/

Management

4 All modules This will be

assessed both

informally in

group and

individual tasks

and formally

through individual

and group written

assignments.

Business/

Management

5 Each of the above will

be delivered in the

relevant module

below:

Strategy and

structure:

3. Football Strategy

Football finance:

4. Football Finance

Managing upwards,

sidewards and

downwards:

4. Managing People in

Each subject will

be assessed both

informally in

group and

individual tasks

and formally

through individual

or group written

assignments as

specified for each

module.

Business/

Management

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Football

Managing the stresses

of football

management:

5. Personal

Effectiveness for

Football Managers

6 All modules These will be

developed

throughout the

process of

individual study,

class participation

and module

assessments.

Business/

Management

28. Skills and Other Attributes

No. Skills and attributes:

1 Communication Skills: Students will have opportunities to develop written and

oral communication skills through group discussions, in-class presentations and

coursework.

2 Problem Solving and Decision Making: Students will be challenged to think

critically about organisational issues and dilemmas. They will do this by

gathering and synthesising information, analysing alternative perspectives and

options and presenting a considered opinion or course of action in their course

assessment.

3 Numeracy Skills: Students will learn quantitative techniques for analysing data.

4 Information and Communication Technology Skills: Students will have

opportunities to improve their ICT skills. Students will demonstrate skills in the

use of software applications including word processing, visual presentations,

data bases, spreadsheets and using the internet for information searches in the

course of researching and presenting coursework.

5 Group Working Skills: Some in class assignments for students will require them

to work in groups and manage the interaction and relationships with other

group members. In doing so, they will gain experience in negotiation,

persuasion, influencing and managing conflict.

6 Time management. This applies to all modules of the programme and is

relevant for planning scheduled work and meeting assessment deadlines. This

will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments

and coursework and by meeting coursework deadlines.

28a. Mapping of skills and other attributes:

Skills and other

attributes No.

Module(s) in which

this will be delivered

and assessed

Learning skills,

research skills,

employability

skills

Mode of assessing

achievement of

the skill or other

attribute

1 Communication Skills

will be developed

within all modules but

in particular,

These skills are

based on

extensive research

of the abilities

In most modules,

these skills are

informally assessed.

In Football Strategy

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marketing yourself as

a football manager

provides training in

public speaking,

presentation and

media skills

required to be a

football manager

and are endorsed

by the League

Managers

Association, (LMA)

the managers’

union.

and Football

Operations, formal

assessment

involves

presentations in

which

communication

skills will be formall

assessed.

2 Problem-solving skills

will be developed

within all modules

As above Not formally

assessed but these

will be developed

through group and

individual exercises

and activities

3 Football Finance As above Assessed in the

Football Finance

assignment.

4 This is not explicitly

delivered but these

skills will be practised

in independent

research and in

preparation of

assessments.

Additional support is

provided in these areas

by the LMA outside of

this course.

As above Not formally

assessed but will be

developed through

independent

research and

preparation of

assignments.

5 Each module contains

group work activities

which are not formally

assessed.

As above These will be

developed but are

not formally

assessed in most

modules but are

formally assessed in

Football Finance in

which a group

assignment will be

submitted.

6 Time management will

be a topic within the

Personal Effectiveness

Module but will also be

developed in

independent study and

in completing tasks

throughout the course.

As above Not formally

assessed but

developed through

independent study

and in submission

of assignments.

29. Career opportunities:

Delegates of the programme will go on to take up roles as football

managers.

Part C: Entrance Requirements

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30. Academic Requirements:

This is not an open enrolment programme

31. Work experience:

This is not an open enrolment programme

32. Other requirements:

The League Managers Association and Professional Footballers Association

will promote the programme to their members and sit on a selection

committee with ULMS programme team.

Part D: Programme Structure

33. Programme Structure:

The programme will be split in to six modules as follows:

1. Football Strategy

2. Football Finance

3. Marketing in Football

4. Managing People in Football

5. Personal Effectiveness for Football Managers

6. Football Operations

Each module will be worth 20 credits.

34. Industrial placement/work placement/year abroad:

Not applicable

35. Liaison between the Level 2 Schools/Institutes involved:

Not applicable

Part E: Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategies

36. Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategies:

The programme seeks to develop, via its teaching and learning strategies, a

holistic and integrated understanding of football management. The programme

emphasises the development of football management skills in solving problems

via analysis, problem solving, decision-making, effective communication and

leadership, which can be applied.

The programme will be delivered on a part time basis over 17 days. Delivery of

the programme will be at St Georges Park. St Georges Park is a state of the art

training facility with appropriate teaching space and break out areas for

students. All teaching rooms have the latest audio visual technology and a

laptop will be provided to speakers. There is high quality social space and

catering facilities.

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36a

.

Learning, Teaching and Assessment methods:

Delivery of the programme syllabus is via small group lectures, practical work,

case studies and group work. Lectures will provide the principal approach to

imparting subject knowledge and constitute most of the formal contact time

with students. In addition, a concerted effort has been made to include a

significant amount of case study material and practical work in order to

demonstrate the application of principles and theories delivered within the main

lecture programme. The practical elements of the programme take the form of

both team-based and individual or self-directed exercises. The programme is

characterised by a multitude of assessment methods used to evaluate student

performance and progress. These comprise essays of varying length, problem-

oriented group assignments and presentations.

37. Assessment information for students:

Code of Practice on Assessment

The University has a Code of Practice on Assessment which brings together the

main institutional policies and rules on assessment. The Code is an authoritative

statement of the philosophy and principles underlying all assessment activities

and of the University's expectations in relation to how academic subjects design,

implement and review assessment strategies for all taught programmes of study.

The Code of Practice includes a number of Appendices which provide more detail

on the regulations and rules that govern assessment activity; these include:

The University marks scale, marking descriptors and qualification descriptors;

The framework for modular, postgraduate programmes;

Information about students’ progress, including guidance for students;

The procedure for assessment appeals;

Regulations for the conduct of exams;

The University’s policy on making adjustments to exam arrangements for disabled

students.

The code of practice relating to external examining (see also below)

The Academic Integrity Policy, which covers matters such as plagiarism and

collusion and includes guidance for students;

The policy relating to mitigating circumstances which explains what you should do

if you have mitigating circumstances that have affected assessment; and

The policy on providing students with feedback on assessment.

Please click here to access the Code of Practice on Assessment and its

appendices; this link will also give you access to assessment information that is

specific to your cohort:

A summary of key assessment information is also available in the ‘Your University’

handbook.

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Marking criteria:

Individual assignments will be based on an assignment which asks the

candidate to reflect on their own experiences in professional football

combined with independent research to gather more data to provide an

analysis and recommendations for this club.

70+

The candidate showed mastery of the issues with which they were

confronted, and demonstrated an excellent understanding of the

marketing challenges facing the football manager. The assignment

made good use of models and concepts from the course, referenced

these appropriately and added a high level of reflective insights based

on this analysis. Clear and well justified recommendations.

60-69 The candidate showed a good level of understanding of the issues

with which they were confronted, and demonstrated a good

understanding of the marketing challenges facing the football

manager. The assignment made appropriate use of models and

concepts from the course and these were well understood. Analysis

was used to provide clear and well justified recommendations.

50-59 The candidate showed a fair level of understanding of the issues with

which they were confronted, and demonstrated a reasonable

understanding of the marketing challenges facing the football

manager. The assignment identified and made some use of models

and concepts from the course and these were mostly well understood.

Analysis was used to provide clear and justified recommendations.

40-49 The candidate partly understood the issues which which they were

confronted by showed some areas of poor understanding alongside

others which were well understood. The assignment used one or two

models and concepts from the course but tended towards description

rather than analysis and did not fully justify its’ recommendations.

<40 The assignment showed weak understanding of the issues and made

insufficient use of models and concepts from the course. Many areas

of poor understanding and poorly developed and justified

recommendations.

38. Student representation and feedback:

A Staff-Student Consultation Committee will be established in accordance with

the University Code of Practice on Student Representation.

The Staff-Student Committee will normally meet twice per semester. The

membership of the Staff-Student Committee, its terms of reference, and the

manner in which it conducts its business will conform to the requirements of the

Annex to the Code of Practice on Student Representation. Elections to the

Staff-Student Committee will be carried out within the structure determined by

the University Student Representation Steering Group, and Programme

Representatives will be encouraged to attend the training provided for them

through the Liverpool University Student Training Initiative.

The Director of Studies will forward the student views and feedback to the

Board of Studies and if appropriate to the module coordinator concerned.

Actions and recommendations for actions by the board of studies resulting from

the student feedback will be communicated back to the students through the

Staff-Student Committee and informal channels (email, notice board etc.)

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One student will be elected by his/her fellow students on the course to act as the

spokesperson to liaise with the Director of Studies on any general course issues

which may arise during the course. In addition, this student will be co-opted

onto the Staff-Student Committee and will liaise back to the student cohort.

At the completion of the programme each student is requested to fill in an

evaluation form covering the overall structure, delivery and perceived benefit to

the student. Results of the evaluation are fed back to the programme team and

the board of studies.

Part F: Status of Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body Accreditation

39. Status of Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body Accreditation:

Not applicable

Part G: Diversity & Equality of Opportunity and Widening Participation

40. Diversity & Equality of Opportunity and Widening Participation:

The programme design, structure and content are consistent and compliant

with the University’s Diversity and Equality of Opportunity Policy.

ANNEX 1

Annex Of Modifications Made To The Programme

Please complete the table below to record modifications made to the programme.

Description of

modification (please

include details of any

student consultation

undertaken or confirm that

students’ consent was

obtained where this was

required)

Minor or

major

modifications

Date

approved

by FAQSC

Date

approved

by AQSC (if

applicable)

Cohort

affected