BA (Hons) Organisational Capability Development

Why study this subject?

This programme provides an accessible and phased entry undergraduate programme for UK Armed Forces personnel that maps the skills of staff to the characteristics of typical civilian businesses.

It has also been designed to meet the needs of students who are, or who aspire to be, employed as managers in specific sectors such as civil aviation, security and resilience. There are many military personnel that have long-term experience and are seeking validation and evidence of this through the achievement of a degree qualification.

The programme will attract personnel with a specialist interest in the following areas and sub-disciplines:

• aviation operations and management
• security and resilience
• business and management

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Our BA (Hons) in Organisational Capability Development will help successful graduates to stand out and gain the competitor edge against their peers who may not have taken such an approach.

Throughout the distance-learning course, you will learn from skilled lecturers within the School of Aviation and Security who have a high level of working knowledge based on their military experience. Our tutors will give you the practical, managerial and intellectual skills that will help you to excel in a business management, aviation operations or resilience role.

We offer students a supportive and flexible environment in which to develop and be able to apply this with confidence in their workplace. To support distance-learning, all students will have access to our Virtual Learning Environment meaning that those who are often deployed to remote areas have a comprehensive student experience, combined with a flexible approach to tutoring sessions.  

The University has strong links with the military and is a holder of the Silver Military Covenant Award. We recognise the value serving personnel (both regular and reservists), veterans, and military families contribute to our business and country. As a member of the UK Armed Forces, you may be able eligible to received funding for this programme under the UK Ministry of Defence Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) scheme – our ELCAS number is 1682.

As a BNU student, you will automatically become a member of Bucks Students’ Union giving you access to a wide range of services that we offer for free. Upon graduation, you will become a member of the University’s alumni community giving you access to a wide range of benefits throughout your lifetime.

What will I study?

The course includes core business modules that explore operations, organisational resilience and strategic management. If you choose the aviation route, you’ll learn about airline and airport management and the wider aviation industry. If you decide to go down the resilience route, you’ll look at corporate and strategic security management.

How will I be taught and assessed?

This programme is intended to link and build your capability, that will use previous experience and knowledge as the foundation and basis for study.

Throughout the course, we provide a high level of support both face-to-face and electronically using our Virtual Learning Environment. Our online learning platform helps you make the most of your time studying and allows you to focus on the issues relevant to your company (as well as minimising your time away from work).

The structure of learning for each module is as follows:

• One month before module start date, pre-course study materials will be released. The aim will be to ensure that students are prepared for activities well in advance of starting the module.
• A one-day workshop will then introduce and discuss the range of theories and concepts involved in the subject area. The workshops will be designed to allow students to fully participate in working groups to discuss and analyse in a participative and pragmatic way.
• This is then followed by distance-learning, comprised of self-directed study and online tutor and group interaction with students.
• A second one-day workshop allows students to discuss and develop further responses to formative assignments; as well as build upon theories and ideas that are the results of their studies and research.
• More distance-learning will then follow in the same manor as above.
• At the end of each module, students will be required to validate learning by submission of assessments.

The assessments are made up of both formative and summative assignments. In a formative approach, feedback given will support a collaborative environment between individuals, groups and tutors, providing opportunity for dialogue and reflection on their practices, and allowing responsibility for acknowledging areas of strength and areas requiring further improvements. In a summative approach taken at the completion of each assignment checkpoint, evidence will be sought to recognise that the learning outcomes of the assignment have been achieved at the appropriate level.

Where summative assessments take the form of examination or Time Constrained Assessments, there will be optional methods of conducting the assessment based upon the availability of students. The primary option will be to conduct examinations at RAF stations, and the secondary option will be to run examinations online using Blackboard where timed "examination windows" will be set up for students to complete and submit their work electronically.