Master of Science in Advanced Information Technology and Business Administration Student Handbook 2009/2010

Robert Kennedy College Switzerland

Table of Contents
Table of Contents............................................................................................................................ 2 Introduction and Welcome .............................................................................................................. 3 Structure of the Scheme ................................................................................................................. 4 General Structure............................................................................................................................ 4 The MSCAITBM modules ............................................................................................................... 5 Order of Modules within the Scheme ............................................................................................. 6 Stage 1 ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Stage 2 ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Assessment Methods & Module Completion ................................................................................. 6 Registering and Withdrawing from a Module ................................................................................. 7 Online Modules ............................................................................................................................... 7 Class Participation .......................................................................................................................... 7 Individual Assignments ................................................................................................................... 7 Unfair Practice ................................................................................................................................ 8 Verification .................................................................................................................................... 12 Appeal ........................................................................................................................................... 12 Module Completion ....................................................................................................................... 14 Grading Scheme ........................................................................................................................... 14 Pass Marks ................................................................................................................................... 15 Fail Marks...................................................................................................................................... 16 Timeframe for the Dissertation ..................................................................................................... 19 Submission Process ..................................................................................................................... 19 Personal Issues ............................................................................................................................ 21 General Issues .............................................................................................................................. 21

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Introduction and Welcome

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Robert Kennedy College and to the start of your MSCAITBM studies. In your first few days you may find it strange finding your way around the College campus, but you will be surprised how quickly you become used to logging on and communicating with your fellow students. This handbook presents the information you will need to help you succeed in your studies. Keep it readily accessible for future reference. You are joining a highly international group of experienced people who all believe that a pursued programme at RKC will help them solidify or extend their business activity. At the last count we had over 87 nationalities in our programme, an achievement which very few other schools can match, and one of which we are justifiably proud, since a large part of the value of the programme comes from the shared experiences of our students. Inevitably you will never physically meet many of your colleagues at RKC, but even so you will forge many friendships that will endure for years. Best wishes, Prof David Y. Costa, Wharton Fellow, Dean

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Structure of the Scheme

General Structure
The University of Wales MSCAITBM programme at Robert Kennedy College is structured in two stages: Stage 1 eight taught modules Stage 2 the MSc dissertation Every module in the MSCAITBM programme counts for 15 credits, while the dissertation counts for 60 credits. Therefore, in order to graduate with the MSCAITBM award a student must complete 180 credits within a maximum of 5 years from the commencement date. The total study time is based on the notion of 10 hours-study per credit. The 150 study hours for a module are generally divided as follows: 50 hours textbook and other reading matter; 45 hours case preparation; 40 hours case and other class discussion on-line; 15 hours interim and final exam preparation. The dissertation is an exception to this general principle, requiring a total of 600 hours of largely independent study time.

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The MSCAITBM modules

The eight (8) taught modules in this programme, which total 120 credits, are:

Core modules (mandatory): Organizational Behaviour Marketing Management Financial Management Entrepreneurship Project Planning and Control Strategic Context of Project Management Management of Information Systems eBusiness (15 credits) (15 credits) (15 credits) (15 credits) (15 credits) (15 credits) (15 credits) (15 credits)

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Order of Modules within the Scheme

The academic calendar at Robert Kennedy College is split into three terms: Autumn (September - December), Winter (January - April) and Spring (May - July). A module must be started and finished during the same term.

Stage 1
Preparatory Module A student starting the MSCAITBM programme has to complete the Induction Power Learning for Managers module, which is not accredited. First Taught Module The first module in the scheme is Organisational Behaviour. Second To Last Modules All other modules can be taken in any order the student wishes. They can also be combined, for a maximum of two per term.

Stage 2
Dissertation The dissertation must be, in principle, completed within one year from the end of the last completed module, and should be handed in no later than 5 years from the commencement of studies. The dissertation process itself should last from 4 to 6 months from proposal to final dissertation, and you are encouraged to start this process as soon as you finish the last taught module of Stage 1. See also the chapter on The Dissertation below.

Assessment Methods & Module Completion

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Registering and Withdrawing from a Module

Online Modules
You can register for the modules running during the upcoming term online, via the OnlineCampus. Registrations usually open one month before the start of the term. Withdrawal from an online module is possible at any time before the commencement of the module, and during the first two weeks of the term in special cases, upon a formal request. Special circumstances may entitle a student to request withdrawal from an online module during the term. However, work overload does not qualify as a special circumstance. Please contact the director of the MSCAITBM programme with details on your specific case if this situation arises. A maximum of two exceptional withdrawals is allowed during the MSCAITBM programme. Subsequent withdrawals will be subject to an administrative fee of 500 CHF. NOTE: Before withdrawing from a module, kindly check the updated withdrawal policy available under Support, in OnlineCampus.

Class Participation
Since the MSCAITBM programme draws to a certain degree on the knowledge and experience of its participants, it follows that class participation in case studies and other discussions is an important part of the assessment of each student.

Individual Assignments
During a term, there will generally be two individual assignments: a mid-term and an end-term. The weights of the assignments is as follows, unless otherwise stated: mid-term 30%, end-term 70%.

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All assignments are to be submitted anonymously. You should remove all references to yourself from any documents you submit via the OnlineCampus upload system. Anti-plagiarism checks are performed on a regular basis and all cases of unfair practice are dealt with according to the University of Wales Unfair Practice Regulations (available on the University webpage http://www.wales.ac.uk/). [ direct link: Unfair Practice Procedure 2008/2009 - Click to open ] All assessments are subject to double marking by an Internal Examiner, and will only be confirmed at the following Examining Board, by the External Examiner. Feedback and provisional grades on the individual assignments is normally given in two to four weeks from the final deadline for the assignment. Late submissions will be penalised as follows: for a 1 to 3 days delay, one grade level, 4 to 6 days delay, two grade levels, and 7 or more days delay 3 grade levels. For example, a paper submitted on the 5th day from the deadline that is graded B will be penalised and marked as a D. Should the same paper be submitted 7 days after the deadline, the grade would be an E (fail). Extenuating circumstances should be brought to the attention of the module leader at least one week before the assignment start date.

Unfair Practice
Unfair practice refers to all breaches of assessment regulations that might give an unfair advantage to a student in gaining a higher grade than his/her ability would merit, and includes: communicating with others on examination assignments; copying or using unauthorised materials or the work of another student; impersonating another student, or allowing yourself to be impersonated; submitting someone elses work (or parts of it) for assessment as though it were your own (plagiarism); claiming to have carried out research or obtained results which in fact you havent; presenting false information about special circumstances, intended to mislead; use of services of essay banks and/or any other agencies use of unacknowledged material downloaded from the Internet

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The above list is not exhaustive. The College instructors are recommended to inform the Deans office on any possible irregularity occurring during the submission of assignments and /or class discussion. Plagiarism can take many forms, and ranges from the copying of a short passage from another source, without indicating that it is a quotation from someone else, to the failure to acknowledge the real source of an idea contained in your work. This includes altering the order of words or sentences in a passage so that it does not appear to be a word-for-word copy. Remember that the person who marks your assignment and/or dissertation has probably read the same publications and journal articles as you have and would normally recognize copied passages and even altered passages in your work. It is recognized that you are expected, throughout your course, to deal with other people's ideas and to justify everything you say by referring to their work. You are expected to use a proper referencing system to do this and to acknowledge all sources of information. It is your responsibility to ensure that there is no danger that your writing could be thought to involve a deliberate attempt to deceive the reader into believing a borrowed or copied idea or passage is your original work. This includes academic sources and any use of material obtained from other students. All quotations from other sources, whether published or unpublished, must be properly acknowledged. The referencing system required by the course concerned must be followed (generally this is the Harvard Referencing System) please check with your tutor and make sure that you understand it properly. At the same time, you must avoid quoting substantial amounts of material even though you put them within quotation marks and acknowledge the sources properly. You are supposed to be using information to come to your own conclusions through critical analysis and use of conceptual frameworks.

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Fitness to Practice Procedure

On enrolling on a scheme of study offered by the University of Wales, students are required to comply with the regulations and procedures of the University. These regulations and procedures apply equally offsite and in various placement settings arising as a requirement of a validated scheme of study. In addition to meeting the learning outcomes of a scheme of study candidates must satisfy the University that in respect of their health and conduct they do not constitute a risk to patients or professional clients and meet the requirements of professional bodies. Any candidate registered on a programme of study offered at a Collaborative Partner Institution of the University of Wales which leads directly to, or which satisfies a necessary condition of a professional qualification, and/or which gives the right to practise in one or more professions shall not engage in any conduct which renders him/her not fit to be admitted to and practise that professional or calling. These examples are not exhaustive and other cases may fall within the general definition of unfitness to practise: chronic drug or alcohol abuse; offences against the vulnerable, including children, the elderly and the mentally incapacitated; conviction of a criminal offence; failure to rectify behaviour that has been subject to any disciplinary actions under the Universitys regulations; any other circumstance which may call into question a students fitness to be admitted to and practise their professional calling. The above list is not exhaustive. Any concerns that a student enrolled on a programme coming under the scope of these regulations may have acted in a way, or may suffer from a health problem, which may render that student unfit to practise should be made to the Head of the Collaborative Partner Institution in writing. The person who makes the information known should identify himself or herself. In exceptional circumstances the Head of the Collaborative Partner Institution may allow the person offering the information to remain anonymous, providing that this will not prejudice proceedings. Where it is considered that misconduct may have taken place or that relevant health problems exist, this shall be the subject of a preliminary investigation. The investigation will be carried out by a Panel comprising the Head of Department or Dean concerned or his/her nominee and a senior academic, where possible, from

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another department. The Head of the Collaborative Partner Institution shall nominate a Secretary to the Panel. The preliminary investigation should normally have taken place and a decision been reached within 1 month of the receipt of the report by the Head of the Collaborative Partner Institution. All cases of fitness to practice are dealt with according to the University of Wales Fitness to Practice Procedure Regulations (available on the University webpage http://www.wales.ac.uk/). [ direct link: Fitness to Practice Procedure 2008/2009 - Click to open ]

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Appeal Procedures
Verification
You are entitled to ask for a verification of one or more assessments in order to ensure that either: They are free from arithmetical or factual errors; The examiners were aware of exceptional personal circumstances that might have adversely affected your academic performance; The examiners were aware of defects or irregularities in the conduct and/or instructions about the assessment, that might have affected your academic performance; Additionally, you may seek verification of the decision of the Examining Board not to award a distinction. Requests for verification should be sent within 14 days of the relevant Examining Board, including full details. Verification will be performed at the Examining Board and you will be notified of the outcome within three weeks from your application. If this process finds that there has been arithmetical or factual error, that relevant circumstances were not taken into account, or that in your application you have provided additional information about exceptional personal circumstances that had not been notified prior to the Examining Board, then the Chair of the Examining Board will arrange for your performance to be reconsidered, and will notify you of the action being taken. If not, and no defects or irregularities in the conduct of or instructions/advice about the assessment are discovered, you will be notified of the conclusion and informed of your right of appeal, together with full details of how to make an appeal.

Appeal
You are entitled to make an appeal after the process of Verification, described above, has been completed. Any appeal shall be sent, in full, in writing to the Director of Academic Affairs of the University of Wales (Ref: Appeals) and must reach him/her not later than one month after the despatch to the candidate of the verification of his/her result. Simple notice of appeal given in writing by a candidate within the above deadline shall not be deemed to constitute an appeal proper and shall not be accepted. An appeal may only be made on one or both of the grounds of:

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 defects or irregularities in the conduct of the assessment or in written instructions or advice relating to it, where there is a prima facie case that such defects, irregularities or advice could have had an effect on your performance; exceptional personal circumstances where there is a prima facie case that such circumstances could have had an adverse effect on your performance you must show good reason why these circumstances had not been made known to the Examination Board before its meeting. Note that appeals which question the academic judgment of examiners are not admissible. Appeal requests are dealt with according to the University of Wales Verification and Appeals Procedure (available on the University webpage http://www.wales.ac.uk/). [ direct link: Verification and Appeals Procedure 2008/2009 - Click to open ]

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Module Completion
In order to complete a module, you have to achieve an overall passing mark. Passing marks in each of the assignments are not mandatory. In the case that you fail to complete a module, you will have to re-sit the module. If the failed module is an elective, you can choose to replace it with another elective.

Grading Scheme
At Masters level, markers and students need to consider the nature of the purpose of assessment. Principally, it is to demonstrate that the student has reached an appropriate standard of subject knowledge and, in the MSCAITBM, is capable of applying the knowledge gained, and is capable of coherent criticism and reflection on the issues raised. Marking, therefore, becomes an issue of recognising the effectiveness of that application and reflection, precluding the marker from utilising a formulaic and fixed marking schedule as the only marking basis. Recognition of appropriate application of learning is vital, and answers that fall outside rigid answer schedules need to be considered on their merits. As all subjects will differ, a consensus is difficult to achieve, but the following comments lay out most of the expected work quality and content to achieve the specified grades. In order to facilitate comprehension and ease of translation into the different countries our students come from, the grades will be presented in alpha scale. A grades constitute distinction marks and will be awarded only to outstanding pieces of academic work. B through D grades are pass marks. E and U grades are fail marks.

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Please see the table below for a comprehensive list of expectations for each mark.

Pass Marks
MARK RANGE A range (Excellent)
Work of excellent quality in every respect. Focused and comprehensive, with critical depth and insight. Representing a model answer at the top end of the range.

CONTENT
Concise and comprehensive identification of the issues Excellent standard of critical analysis using appropriate conceptual frameworks and/or applying relevant experience and facts Comprehensive and excellent use, evaluation and synthesis of source material Shows fresh thinking and originality Wholly relevant

STRUCTURE
Well structured and logically developed Exceptionally clear, attainable objectives Clearly spelled conclusions out relevant and and

relevant

Supported by a good range and appropriate use of language

B range (High Standard)

Work demonstrating high level of analytical and applied competence on a broad range of factors. Free of major errors.

Clear identification of the issues High standard of critical analysis using appropriate conceptual frameworks and/or applying relevant experience and facts Good evaluation and synthesis of source material Shows some fresh thinking and originality Substantially relevant

Clearly structured developed Clear, relevant objectives Relevant conclusions

and and

logically attainable

Supported by an appropriate range and use of language

C range (Good)
Work demonstrating clear ability to acquire and apply knowledge in a coherent, if uncritical, fashion.

Good attempt at identifying the issues Uses appropriate conceptual frameworks and/or relevant experience and attempts analysis Some evaluation and synthesis of source material Little originality Adequately relevant

Reasonably clear structure Reasonably clear, attainable objectives relevant and

Attempts to reach a clear conclusion Rarely affected by inappropriate use of language

D range (Pass)
Work demonstrating an adequate attempt at acquiring and applying knowledge.

Inappropriate, or no, identification of the issues Inappropriate or little understanding or use of conceptual frameworks, relevant experience and facts; major errors Inadequate reading and thinking Insufficient relevance

Poorly structured Unclear, inappropriate, confused or unattainable objectives Weakened by inappropriate inaccurate use of language or

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Fail Marks
MARK RANGE E range (Fail)
Work demonstrating potential to be adequate and displaying lack of attempt at acquiring and applying knowledge.

CONTENT
Inappropriate, or identification of the issues no,

STRUCTURE
Poorly structured Unclear, inappropriate, confused or unattainable objectives Weakened by inappropriate or inaccurate use of language

Inappropriate or little understanding or use of conceptual frameworks, relevant experience and facts; major errors Inadequate thinking reading and

Insufficient relevance

U range (Unclassified)
Work demonstrating lack of ability on a broad range of factors.

Inappropriate, or identification of the issues

no

Lacks understanding or use of appropriate conceptual frameworks, experience and facts and; many errors No evidence of reading and thinking Largely irrelevant Confused and confusing

Largely unstructured, showing little regard for the reader Unclear, inappropriate, confused or unattainable objectives Severely weakened by inappropriate or inaccurate use of language

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Student Complaints Procedure

The following complaints procedure is designed for use by students registered on validated schemes of the University of Wales, in instances when it is not possible to invoke an existing University of Wales procedure. This procedure is intended to incorporate the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness and shall be conducted in reference to the following guidelines: a person making a decision in a case should declare any personal interest they have in the proceedings; a person who makes a decision should be unbiased and act in good faith; proceedings should be conducted so that they are fair to all parties; each party should be given the opportunity to ask questions and contradict the evidence of an opposing party; a decision maker should take into account all relevant considerations and extenuating circumstances and ignore any irrelevant considerations; justice should be seen to be done.

Wherever possible, the University would wish to see any complaint resolved as close as possible to its point of origin, and with a minimum of formality. The following procedure should apply where this has been investigated, and found to be not possible. It is important at all stages of the complaints process for all parties to be clear as to whether a complaint is being handled informally of through a formal procedure.

This procedure applies to: Complaints arising from a students educational experience, other than disputes relating to assessment and examinations; Complaints in respect of academic and/or administrative support or other services provided by a validated institution or the University of Wales; Complaints regarding alleged harassment by staff of the validated institution or of the University of Wales; Complaints arising from alleged discrimination by staff of the validated institution or of the University of Wales in relation to gender, race, disability, sexual orientation or otherwise. The investigation of formal complaints relating to matters which have occurred more than twelve months previously will be investigated at the discretion the University. This procedure does not apply to:

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 Candidates wishing to appeal against an academic decision separate procedures exist for such appeals. Candidates should also note that appeals against the academic judgement of examiners cannot be accepted; Disciplinary matters these should be dealt with in accordance with separate procedures in place within the validated institution, though complaints will be accepted against the disciplinary procedure process and/or outcome; Fitness to Practise issues - these should be dealt with in accordance with the University of Wales Fitness to Practise Procedure (Collaborative Partner Institutions). The full text of the Students Complaints Procedure http://www.wales.ac.uk/). is available on the University of Wales webpage

[ direct link: Student Complaints Procedure 2008/2009 - Click to open ]

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The Dissertation
The dissertation is a major component of the MSCAITBM programme, accounting for one third of the total credits awarded for the degree. It can be viewed as a further integrative vehicle for the taught modules. While the dissertation will not cover all aspects of these modules, there is an expectation that it will reveal an understanding of at least some of the theoretical principles from the taught modules and an appreciation of how they apply in a live context. The dissertation can be seen as providing you with the opportunity to pursue in-depth specialised study through individual enquiry, requiring independent thought and initiative. It should encourage the integration of the course material with your own professional experience and interest.

Timeframe for the Dissertation

The dissertation must be submitted within one year from the start of the dissertation process as determined by the upload of a proposal to the Thesis Repository, and no later than five years from the commencement of studies.

Submission Process
You should download and read the Dissertation Process Guide which can be found in the OnlineCampus Support area. All submissions (proposal, draft and final versions) should be uploaded via the online system called the Thesis Repository (found in the Administration Area). A supervisor will be appointed normally within two weeks from your submission of the proposal and you will thereafter develop your dissertation under the direct supervision of the expert chosen to guide you.

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Master of Science in Advanced Information Technology and Business Management

To receive the Master of Science in Advanced Information Technology and Business Management award, a MSCAITBM candidate must fulfill the following conditions simultaneously: To have accumulated 180 credits To have successfully completed the MSCAITBM dissertation To have fulfilled all financial obligations to the College

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Student Support

For all problems related to your MSCAITBM programme you are encouraged to request our help by one of the following methods, depending on the nature of your problem.

Personal Issues
For personal issues, the preferred contact method is the email ticketing system. You can send an email to studentcare@college.ch and you will automatically be assigned a ticket number that will allow our StudentCare team to track your issue from start to end. NOTE: Please do not use any of the OnlineCampus forums for addressing personal problems. These will be addressed through email only!

General Issues
If your questions are of general nature, you are encouraged to use the StudentCare Assistance Forum in the OnlineCampus so that other students that face the same problem may benefit from the answer.

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