Executive Higher Diploma in Business in Management (part-time)

Introduction

The Executive Higher Diploma was developed to provide executive managers on the ascendancy of their careers with a fast track intensive honours degree level business qualification. The School of Business at Waterford Institute of Technology created a programme that supports development needs of managers and encourages high performers to undertake relevant educational development. Upon successful completion of the programme, participants will be awarded a Higher Diploma in Business in Management. The award will be at NQAI level 8 which is equivalent to honours degree standard. Executive managers will be enabled to undertake additional programs of study at a more advanced level with WIT.

The Higher Diploma in Business in Management was developed in response to needs identified within the AOL Company in Waterford. Having undertaken research as part of the development of this programme, it was established that many of the individuals working within AOL in Waterford while on the ascendancy of their careers, expect and need a higher level of investment in their professional development than may be common in larger and more traditional organisations. Within the management team, a group of middle managers, who form part of the company’s ‘Top Talent’ group, are currently relatively inexperienced with respect to leadership and therefore require a strong foundation in the principal issues associated with leadership, strategy, finance, marketing and change management.

Programme Aims and Objectives

The programme aims to prepare candidates to perform effectively at an executive level and contribute to the management of their organisation’s policies with clarity, consistency and capability. It is a challenging program that will enable candidates both professionally and personally, to play a key role in the strategic management of their organisations.  This programme allows middle-level executives to enhance their career with cutting-edge knowledge and insights. In a broader business context, a key aim is to equip candidates with modern tools for effective decision-making and to provide them with the ability to evaluate their decisions in the context of real-world case examples.

The programme should provide participants with:

1. An in-depth knowledge of the management process and of the key issues affecting decision making in organisations.
2. An awareness of the requirements needed to compete in an international business environment.
3. The ability to engage with financial and operational techniques to assist them with decision making.
4. An exposure to the core aspects of organisational leadership criteria.
5. The capability to manage change and complexity in business operations.
6. An insight that will allow them to source, identify and assess elements of world class performance in their operational context.
7. The potential to continue a course of professional development at a higher level.