It's all about the people - and their potential

Jan 18 2007 By The Journal

Finding a good manager is never an easy task, but more often than not organisations are brimming with unrealised management potential.

There are huge benefits when managers develop within an organisation; not only do they have a greater understanding of the organisational culture, but their enthusiasm and loyalty will form an important part of their management style.

By making an investment in the right skills and behavioural development for a potential, inexperienced or even experienced but unqualified manager, they will feel valued as an individual and their confidence and effectiveness will be enhanced, as will their contribution to the organisation.

The Business Solutions team at City of Sunderland College offer development through training and education, giving greater opportunity for career progression. A framework of qualifications covering a wide range of skills, including leadership and management, training and development as well as general management skills, is in place up to Foundation Degree level.

Its Foundation Degrees are built upon the extensive experience of the University of Sunderland and City of Sunderland College in successfully meeting the needs of business for flexible work-based approaches to higher education programmes. The key to a Foundation Degree is that classroom-based theory is put into practice in the work environment through a range of ongoing projects and personal development activity.

Foundation Degrees are two-year, part-time programmes with learners attending classroom or workshop sessions. Just one example is the Foundation Degree in Leadership and Management, a newly developed programme which includes the following modules:

Year 1

* Leadership and Organisational Behaviour

* Management and the Business Environment

* Managing Operations

* Personal Development 1

Year 2

* Business Planning and Innovation

* Managing Financial Resources

* Managing Human Resources

* Personal Development Planning 2

Other modules are available to meet specific industry needs. Assessment for the Foundation Degree is via work-based assignments and projects, so there are no written exams and there is an opportunity to progress to an Honours Degree in Applied Management at the University of Sunderland.

In addition to Foundation Degrees, Business Solutions offers a range of both classroom and work-based management and leadership qualifications.

• If you would like to find out more about our range of Foundation Degrees, or any other management qualification, contact the Business Solutions team on (0191) 511-6441 or email solutions@citysun.ac.uk