In addition, Aston University is now ranked 5th in the UK in The People and Planet Awards 2010 (from a position of 93rd in 2007) and was recently placed 11th in the Guardian Green League and has a Gold EcoCampus Award.
This programme combines both academic and practical perspectives and is suitable for those people interested in working in roles related to CSR and Sustainability in commercial business, the public sector, social enterprises or the not-for-profit and charitable sectors.
It provides the opportunity to study a specialist MSc for those currently working in this area as well as those who aspire to do so.
The programme aims to:
- adopt a transdisciplinary approach, enabling students to explore social responsibility and sustainability from multiple perspectives in a business context.
- engage in intellectual debates that reflect core issues and dilemmas and explore theories and practices relating social responsibility and sustainability.
- provide flexible, comprehensive programmes of study that meet the ideas and needs of local, national and international students enabling them to learn by the exchange of experience as well as formal academic study.
- provide students with an excellent learning experience that develops intellectual, subject based and transferable skills through drawing on the research and experience of academic staff at Aston and beyond.
- ensure relevance by maintaining and enhancing the School’s links with business, professional, public and third sector organisations.
- combine both academic and practical perspectives relating to this area to enable students completing the programme to be prepared for roles related to social responsibility and sustainability in commercial business, the public or third sectors.
- enhance life long learning skills and personal development to enable students to work with self direction and contribute to business and society at large.
- enable students to develop their capacities as an informed and self-aware individual contributing to progressive organisational and social change.
Modules
Part-time distance learning will allow you the flexibility to take control of your own learning and balance study with professional and personal obligations.
Applying yourself to two modules per term, combined with the final dissertation, will allow you to complete the course in the recommended two year period. However you are able to spread your study over a maximum of five years, affording you the opportunity to study at a slower pace or take breaks where necessary.
The programme is designed to cater for distance learners and is supported online with a sophisticated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), with each module being designed specifically to cater for the needs of online distance learners.
One of the following: - A UK honours degree.
- Equivalent overseas degree recognised by Aston University.
- A degree equivalent professional qualification.
- Consideration will be given to equivalent professional qualifications and in exceptional circumstances those qualified by extensive relevant experience. Candidate interview would be required for those with non- standard qualifications and experience.
As well as: - Two professional references – at least one must be from an academic referee.
- An official academic transcript of your university grades to date.
- A completed application form.
- GCSE or equivalent standard in maths.
For International Students: - An overseas degree recognised by Aston University.
- An official academic transcript, with an official English translation, of your university grades.
- Students whose native language is not English will also need to satisfy our English language requirements Pre-sessional English language programmes are available for good applicants whose English qualification falls just short of these requirements.
Consideration will be given to equivalent professional qualifications and in exceptional circumstances those qualified by extensive relevant experience. Candidate interview would be required for those with non-standard qualifications and experience.
A sophisticated but easy to use Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) offers a platform where linked readings and audio/visual presentations, discussion forums, webinars, videos and group activities make for a rich and exciting learning experience.
Assessments vary according to the nature of the module but all are designed to ensure that your learning and achievement are of the highest quality and directly related to the programme’s goals of promoting and realising social responsibility and sustainability in the private, public and third sectors.
This programme combines both academic and practical perspectives relating to this area and would be suitable for those interested in working in roles related to CSR and Sustainability in commercial business, the public sector, social enterprises or the not-for-profit and charitable sectors. It also provides the opportunity to study a specialist MSc for those currently working in this area as well as those who aspire to do so.
We have an established global reputation for offering a unique educational experience. We provide a high quality education and emphasis is placed on personal and professional development through knowledge and skills gained during the programme and personal reflection. We put you at the heart of what we do - providing a truly transformational learning experience. We develop future leaders, encouraging you to be the best you can be, and to be an inspiration to others.
Through the Social Responsibility and Sustainability MSc you will develop and demonstrate valuable transferable and practical skills including: presentation skills, negotiation, team work, report writing and ICT skills.
Blackboard 9.1 is the Virtual Learning Environment that is used at Aston University. All students will have access to Aston University’s comprehensive e-library and other extensive online resources. There will be links to online activities and edited recordings of some key events, industry lectures and workshops occurring at Aston.
Full guidance and induction on how to use Blackboard and to configure your computer for webinars, etc., will be available from the university.
Dr John Blewitt
BScEcon, MA, MEd, PhD, FRSA
Distance Learning Programme Leader: MSc Social Responsibility and Sustainability.
John is author of The Ecology of Learning (Earthscan, 2006) and Understanding Sustainable Development (Earthscan, 2008) and Media, Ecology and Conservation (Green Books, 2010).
He has research of urban sustainability, green architecture and city design and new media communications. His most recent project, Connecting Spaces and Places: the right to the city, involves working with the Library of Birmingham project on civic engagement and sustainability communications in the city.
He is a member of the Commission for Education and Communication of the IUCN, a Distinguished Schumacher Fellow and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Tel: +44(0)121 204 4284
Email: j.d.blewitt@aston.ac.uk
Teaching staff are drawn from a range of different disciplines within and beyond the Business School.
External speakers also provide insights that add to the applied nature of the programme.
Teaching staff include:
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