MSc International Human Resource Management
Attendance
Full-time
Full-time
September start – typically 12 months
January start – typically 15 months but it can be completed in 12 months
At a glance
About this course
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 in organisations that operate across national borders and the cross cultural issues of people management.
The course enables you to
• develop a critical understanding of the philosophies and general practices of international HRM
• appreciate and critically evaluate the latest theoretical concepts, principles, standards and frameworks of HRM practice
• develop skills in solving complex scenarios related to improving the activities and functions of modern HRM
• develop a holistic approach to examining issues and solving complex international HR problems
It is for those wishing to develop careers in HRM at a strategic and international level within organisations operating in the international environment.
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, which covers organisational design, organisational theory and methodologies for understanding complex organisations together with developing your critical thinking on issues such as organisational change and innovation.
You then study specialist theory and practice from an international perspective, giving you practical expertise across key areas of international HR, including
• the context of HRM
• cross cultural leadership
• international human resource development
• comparative approaches to International employee relations
• organisational ethics and corporate social responsibility
To enable you to manage and interpret financial and management accounting information, you learn skills such as budgeting, ratio analysis and using IT in an HR environment.
A dissertation develops your ability to research new ideas and approaches from a cross cultural perspective. You also develop the skills to formally present your research findings to your fellow students and course tutor.
Previous students have completed research in cross cultural management and expatriate development programmes. They have also worked on projects for their sponsoring company including • the development of under- represented groups in home countries • the relevance of western practices to home country organisations • migrant labour • global reward.
The course includes attendance at a three day residential held outside Sheffield. The residential gives you hands on experience of managing an HR activity in a strategic and international context.
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 IHRM.
Associated careers
Our students have taken up careers in human resource management with companies and organisations such as • Carrefour • Lenovo • International Hilton Hotels • the banking sector in Nigeria • Da Nang University and many organisations across Russia and the Middle East.
Course content
Semester one – postgraduate certificate modules
• organisation analysis and design • cross-cultural leadership • international human resource development • research methods (part1)
Semester two – postgraduate diploma modules
• comparative approaches to international employee relations • international strategies for HRM • information and financial management for HR • organisational ethics and corporate social responsibility • research methods (part 2)
Semester three – MSc modules
• dissertation – this is a major project geared to your interest and based on an area of strategic or international importance. Your research must be carried out in an organisational setting.
Module descriptions
The context of HRM
This module provides learners with an understanding of the principal external and internal environmental contexts of contemporary international organisations, including the managerial and business context, within which HR professionals, managers and workers interact in conditions of environmental turbulence, change and uncertainty. Secondly, the module examines how those leading organisations respond to these dynamic environmental contexts in terms of developing and implementing HR practices and policies. Thirdly, the module indicates how those in the HR function, and line managers with HR responsibilities, need to recognise and acknowledge that corporate decisions and HR choices are not always shaped by managers alone; they are also shaped by internal and external forces beyond their immediate control.
Organisation analysis and design
The aim of this module is to enable the development of the ability to critically evaluate those aspects of organisation theory that are closely related to organisation design and the human architecture of organisations. To be able to place those understandings in and international and multinational context and develop the students understanding of the key controversies in organisational design.
Cross-cultural leadership
The aim of the module is to raise students' awareness of how leadership behaviours are influenced by both background and organisational context and that leadership has a profound impact on organisational success. The module focuses on how leadership and culture influence and are enacted in the international environment whether this be in emergent or mature economies.
International human resource development
The module aims to develop students’ understanding of the strategic importance of human resource development. The module focuses on how HRD can impact on organisational success, exploring international HRD strategy making and the value and impact of individual, team and organisational approaches to people development. The module also explores the skills and competences required of HRD professionals.
Comparative approaches to international employee relations
The aims of this module are to enable students to develop a comprehensive and systematic knowledge of the employment relationship and how this impacts upon organisational management and performance. Importantly the module aims to connect how employee relations reflect the changing nature of work within society, politically, economically and socially. Drawing upon differing theories and concepts of power and conflict the module will reflect the differences in views about employment regulation, policy and procedure and ask students to critically analyse the implications and impacts upon organisational practice locally, nationally and globally.
International strategies for HRM
The aim of the module is to raise students' awareness of how they can contribute to management decision-making and strategic HR policy-making in an international and comparative contextual environment. The module focusses on how international strategies for HRM impact on employment, resourcing and management development issues in a complex global environment and explores the impact of political, social and economic change on HRM in both mature and emergent economies.
Information and financial management for HR
Information is essential to the effective management and efficient operations of any business organisation, but the increasing use of technologies in delivering that information has meant today’s managers are continually bombarded with data and facts from multiple sources. As a consequence all managers including those responsible for managing human resources should be able to interpret, manage and analyse these facts and data to provide quality information capable of informing their decision making, planning and control.
Organisational ethics and corporate social responsibility
The module aims to equip students who will be working in an international context with an awareness of the role of the HR professional in shaping organisational strategies for ethical behaviour and corporate social responsibility. As future global HRM citizens the module will seek to develop a critical awareness of the current and future issues facing HR practitioners and to provide them with the expertise to give advice and guidance in the policy areas of the subject discipline. The students will also be challenged to explore their own professional and personal practice as HR practitioners.
Research and methodology
This module prepares you for your dissertation and equips you with the skills to interpret and evaluate published research so you can develop evidence-based HR policy. You develop your knowledge and understanding of methodological and philosophical issues in research and also your capability to design a research project and select, justify and execute appropriate research methods.
Dissertation
The dissertation enhances your personal and professional development through an in-depth independent study in an area of your choice. You develop your autonomy, academic and professional skills in order to design and conduct a thorough piece of research. You must seek real issues in real companies when working on your dissertation.
Assessment
• coursework • dissertation
There are no examinations
Entry requirements
Normally one of the following
• a good degree (2.1) or equivalent in a subject that requires a high level of discursive writing and critical analysis and is relevant human resources such as history, geography and international business
• professional equivalent
We may consider you without a first degree if you have the necessary experience and can demonstrate an ability to complete the course.
Overseas applicants from countries whose first language is not English must normally produce evidence of competence in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in all skills (or equivalent) is the standard for non-native speakers of English. If your English language skill is currently below an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in all skills we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English level.
Fees
Home and EU students
2013/14 academic year
Typically £5,355 for the course
International students
2013/14 academic year
Typically £12,060 for the course
2014/15 academic year
Typically £12,150 for the course
How to apply
To apply online for this course select the start date below
• September 2013
• January 2014
Or you can complete an application form available at www.shu.ac.uk/study/form
Contact details
For more information contact Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Stoddart Building, City Campus, Sheffield S1 1WB. Phone +44 (0)114 225 2820, fax +44 (0)114 225 5268, e-mail sbs@shu.ac.uk