Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Bachelor of Science with Honours Project Management , Level 6, 2023/24 - Course Handbook
Welcome to the Course
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing.
Whether you are joining us as a new student or returning to continue your studies, and whether your course is on-campus, distance learning, degree apprenticeships or you are on one of our UK and overseas collaborative and franchise courses, we hope you will enjoy your experience and find your studies interesting, challenging and relevant to your development and future career plans.
Our aim is to provide students with a research informed, innovative and relevant curriculum that is linked to current industry practices and standards. Our courses are highly valued by employers, professional bodies and other stakeholders. Our School has a strong tradition of delivering programmes that provide students with the opportunity for academic and practical experience. This approach, coupled with our close involvement with employers, produces graduates who are highly regarded in the workplace.
Through our approach to student support and to teaching and learning we aim to place you, our students and apprentices, at the heart of everything we do. You will experience a diverse range of teaching approaches. We also use a variety of different methods of assessment and attach considerable importance to providing you feedback on your assessments.
As a School we strive to be student-centred and value your opinions and feedback. We want to hear about the things you enjoy and that you think we do well, but also want to know when you think there are ways in which we can improve your experience. There are many ways in which you can provide feedback including through your student academic representatives, through written or on-line module evaluation feedback forms and through student open meetings, forums with staff and student representative meetings with me.
We maintain a strong commitment to our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and our facilities are well equipped for each major area of our course provision. Our Built Environment, Planning, Geography and Civil and Building Services Engineering courses are situated in the heart of the City at Northern Terrace Building, with the Computing and Electrical and Electronic Engineering courses located in Leighton Building at our Headingley Campus.
If you are studying on campus, where possible, the majority of your teaching will take place at the School's buildings; however, some teaching sessions may be scheduled in other buildings on our City Campus and Headingley Campus. The City Campus library is located in the Leslie Silver Building, which is adjacent to Northern Terrace, while the James Graham Building houses the library at our Headingley Campus.
I wish you every success for this academic year.
Professor Akintola Akintoye, Dean of School
Leeds Beckett Students' Union (LBSU) is led by students for students! Their mission is to make your uni life better! Your Student Officer Team is elected by you to lead the Students' Union into the academic year. They represent all Leeds Beckett students and campaign for the changes you want to see in the university and beyond. They do this by representing your interests, giving you the chance to socialise and meet new people, hosting CV-boosting opportunities, and providing advice and support when you need it most. Shape your own experience by submitting your thoughts through your Course Rep, or if you'd like to influence the Students' Union's policy stance on particular issues or share ideas for improving the student experience across the University, submit your ideas on the Have Your Say platform, which is designed to make change happen! Below you'll find information on a few of their services but if you've any questions, please feel free to get in touch.
Silas Ozoya, your Academic Experience Officer, also wanted to say a few words to introduce himself: "Hey There! I'm Silas, your Academic Experience Officer. It's my job to ensure your academic experience at Leeds Beckett is the best it can be! We're a friendly and open-minded bunch at LBSU, so don't hesitate to get in touch with us! I'm looking forward to meeting you very soon!"
Contact LBSU at:
Email: lbsu-welcome@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Phone: 0113 812 8400
Website: www.leedsbeckettsu.co.uk
- Following the lifting of all pandemic restrictions and advice from the Department for Education, we currently anticipate that no social distancing measures will be in place on campus during the 2023/24 academic year, enabling a normal on-campus experience. Our aim is to ensure that our students experience Leeds Beckett University, our courses, campuses, facilities and services to the fullest extent possible, while maintaining an environment where students and staff feel safe.
- In all cases, the health and safety of students and staff is our priority and we will continue to follow guidance from the UK Health Security Agency, the Department for Education and all other recognised government agencies (such as the Office for Students) in full and keep matters under close review at all times. The advice and restrictions may change before and/or during the academic year, either nationally or in response to local conditions and rates of infection and include the need for social distancing measures and other restrictions. Our flexible delivery model allows us to revert to a blended and/or remote delivery model if this becomes necessary. In a worst case scenario it is possible our campuses may need to close.
- In the event that delivery is restricted as a consequence of pandemic restrictions, we will keep you informed of planned changes as they arise, to ensure you are provided with accurate information.
- We will provide general COVID-19 updates to our University community here and more specific updates will be provided by your School.
About Apprenticeships
Your apprenticeship provides a great opportunity to gain valuable skills and knowledge, at work and at the University, to ensure you are fully competent in your chosen field and enable you to progress in your career.
Successful apprenticeships are built on strong relationships between the apprentice, their employer and the University, in particular the course team. These colleagues are there to support you on your learning journey and you will work closely with them to make sure you get the most out of this exciting experience. Full attendance is mandatory so you must keep your employer and course team fully informed about any matters relating to your attendance, support you might need, concerns you have and any other challenges you come across. We need this information to help keep you on track to complete your apprenticeship successfully and so we can remain compliant with government rules for delivering apprenticeships.
On-the-job training refers to the activities that you undertake during your working role. It is training for the sole purpose of enabling you to perform the work for which you have been employed. Through your on-the-job activities you will have opportunities to apply the learning that you gain through your off-the-job learning, particularly your on-campus days. Your course team will indicate activities that can be classed as on-the-job training, and this will also be reflected in your training plan.
All apprentices spend a significant part of their working time undertaking 'off-the-job' training. If you started your apprenticeship in the academic year 2021/22 or earlier you are required to spend at least 20% of your working time 'off-the-job'. If you started your apprenticeship from academic year 2022/23 onwards you are required to spend at least 6 hours per week of your working time 'off-the-job'.
This time is typically spent in University but it may also include learning activities in your workplace, but outside your normal day-to-day tasks.
You are expected to undertake off-the-job learning throughout the whole year including during university holiday periods when you don't have timetabled activities. Your course team will provide further advice about what is expected.
You will need to keep track of this off-the-job learning through our Aptem system which includes an activity log. If you need further guidance or training on using Aptem, contact your course team or the Apprenticeship Team (apprenticeships@leedsbeckett.ac.uk).
Your training plan is a personalised formal document which provides details of your apprenticeship requirements, including both the on- and off-the-job training that you will undertake. It forms part of the apprenticeship agreement which you, your employer and the University should have agreed signed off before the start of your apprenticeship.
Our University was inspected by Ofsted in November 2022 and was given a rating of good for overall effectiveness and also for each of the thematic areas specified in their Education Inspection Framework (EIF):
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
Key Contacts & Keeping in Touch
All apprentices will be allocated an Academic Advisor, who will provide support to apprentices throughout their studies. Academic Advisors will be allocated to apprentices and introduced during Induction, or shortly afterwards.
Your workplace mentor will support you in the workplace by, for example, helping to identify relevant learning opportunities and helping you succeed in these. More details of your workplace mentor and other support options will be listed in your training plan.
Fiona Wilson
Course Administrator
T: 0113 8128594
E: F.Wilson@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Karen Fisher, Catherine Parkin, Maria Simoes, Jennie Winterburn
Email: beeclibrary@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
The contact details of other key services, such as The Student Advice Team, Disability Advice, Student Wellbeing, the Library, Money Advice, Careers, Students' Union Advice Service and Students' Union Student Voice Team can be found on the Students web page.
In addition:
Apprenticeship Assessors - these colleagues are a key contact for you; they will coordinate and complete progress review meetings with you and provide on-going support.
Apprenticeship Team - these colleagues support apprentices, employers and other university staff with the recruitment, application and on-boarding processes; they also ensure apprenticeships run smoothly and are compliant with government rules.
Please see your training plan for contact details.
Academic and administrative staff will use your University email address to contact you. It is important that you check this account regularly. You can forward emails from your University email address to a preferred personal email address, however, quarantine and spam filters needed by our University mean that emails sent from external email addresses may be delayed, blocked or deleted. It is therefore important that your University email address is the only email address that you use to contact University staff. Information on how to access your University email address can be found on the Library Student IT Support page (http://libguides.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/it_support/office365/outlook)
Please make sure that you inform your Course Administration team whenever you change your address and contact details. It is important that you also update your records yourself. You can do this via the My Account/Update my Data tab on MyBeckett. This will ensure we can always contact you in an emergency, and that you receive any important University communications that we may need to send you.
We will inform you of class activities and course notifications, including any cancellations. This will be done by a variety of means, including announcements in class sessions, announcements via MyBeckett, emails and texts - as appropriate. We recommend that apprentices review their university emails and other sources regularly so that they are keeping up to date.
For each module, the Module Handbook will include the preferred method of communicating general information about that module to you.
MS Teams is part of the Office 365 suite used by staff, students and apprentices for communication and collaboration:
- Access via MyBeckett on University devices as well as on personal mobiles via a free downloadable app.
- Participate in online meetings and video conferencing in groups or one-to-one.
- Work on shared content, ideas, projects and online learning.
- Utilise breakout rooms to create more dynamic sessions
Further information is available on the Library's MS Teams FAQ web page.
Timetable Information
The University’s standard term dates are available on our Academic Calendars web page for information.
You will be able to access your timetable through Aptem.
Taught sessions will normally be scheduled and included in your timetable. This will include on-campus sessions that you should attend. Depending on your apprenticeship, this may also include scheduled online teaching and learning sessions that you need to take part in. Module information will be made available online by the school for enrolled apprentices. Timetables will also be made available via:
- The Student Portal (MyBeckett)
- The Leeds Beckett app
You should discuss any difficulties relating to your engagement with timetabled sessions with your Course Director.
School Forums, where students and apprentices raise feedback on their academic experience, are scheduled into all students’ and apprentices' timetables. Any apprentice can attend but only Course Reps are expected to be in attendance.
Course Overview
The overall aim of the programme is to enable apprentices to develop project management skills and competencies enabling them to become more creative, analytical problem solvers and acquire an ability to synthesise information to resolve conflicts and therefore fulfil the multidisciplinary role of a Project Manager. One key aspect of the BSc (Hons) Project Management programme is its generic nature; this allows apprentices to study the principles and practices which can be applied to any area of business and organisational life.
As an apprentice you will be working towards achievement of the required knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) for your specific apprenticeship. However, through achieving the apprenticeship KSBs you will also meet the requirements of a Leeds Beckett qualification, normally an honours or Masters degree. These qualifications have defined Course Learning Outcomes which are statements about what you will be able to do at the end of the qualification. The Course Learning Outcomes of your qualification have been provided below for information.
At the end of the course, apprentices will be able to:
Develop a detailed knowledge and a systematic understanding of the principles, roles, and techniques of project management.
Apply key concepts, theories, and principles to create, define, and control a project using a range of technologies and analytical tools to arrive at a solution.
Recognise, critically evaluate and apply relevant project management skills and analytical tools to a range of projects and project specialisms, such as: planning and monitoring planned actual progress, decision making and people management.
Demonstrate detailed knowledge, a systematic understanding, critical thinking, and analysis of fundamental issues relating to a project management practitioner.
Gather, summarise, critically evaluate and apply relevant information, cite evidence and critically evaluate proposals to inform the management and scheduling of projects, or solutions to problems, using project management software and methodologies.
Use a range of skills appropriate to the working environment - including working effectively with others, using appropriate contemporary digital technologies, and communicating effectively with stakeholders orally, and in writing.
1.Critically analyse the delivery of projects and consider advice that would be given to improve the efficiency of their delivery
2.Understand and evaluate the factors and disciplines involved in strategic property management decisions. Investigate and respond to the changing requirements of building users and legislation
3.Critically review portfolio and programme delivery of an organisation's approach to project management
4.Work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team to manage and deliver a project
5.Demonstrate deeper understanding and application of themes, concepts, theories and practices involved in project management
6.Apply a range of research methods and analytical skills, including qualitative and quantitative techniques, graphical and professional presentation of information, and assess and use suitable software and data management
During your apprenticeship you will develop Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) that have been identified by employers and subject experts across the country as being essential in ensuring you are fully competent in your specialised role. These KSBs are built into the modules you will study as part of the apprenticeship and will be developed through a range of learning activities at work and at University.
In order to pass the apprenticeship you will need to demonstrate the following competencies which are required of the Apprenticeship Standard:
Knowledge
K1 Governance and Financial Control of Projects: How to evaluate and establish appropriate project governance through the incorporation of policies, regulations, processes, roles and structures in different project types and organisational structures, accepting that different sizes of organisation require different levels of control. How to manage project budgets and costs within appropriate financial frameworks and how to report project performance, tailoring reporting requirement to comply with governance norms in the business. How to construct robust project business cases that demonstrate the benefits and value expected from project deliverables
K2 The Business Environment: How projects contribute to businesses operating in local, regional, national and global economies. Knowledge of the main UK business sectors and the parameters within which they operate.
K3 Stakeholder and Communications Management: How to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders to build and maintain their support for successful project outcomes. How to manage the dynamics of stakeholder relationships and needs during the project and develop appropriate and pro-active project communication plans to ensure that all of the multi-skilled, cross-disciplinary stakeholders are aligned.
K4 Organisational Change Management: How to work with the project sponsor and within a programme to prepare organisations, teams and individuals for organisational change including an analysis of the current state, preparation of an envisaged future state and plans for the progressing from one to the other.
K5 Estimating, Planning and Scheduling: How to develop and manage projects within different planning frameworks to balance the fundamental components of the project. How to prepare and maintain resourced project schedules and use these for project monitoring, control and delivery. How to analyse schedule integrity, dependencies and their implications.
K6 Project Justification: How to interpret organisational and programme aims and objectives to develop robust business plans and the requirements to revisit such plans at key stages of a project to ensure ongoing viability of the business case. The identification of realistic benefits , both tangible and intangible, and an appreciation of how these might be delivered.
K7 Quality Management: How to apply quality management frameworks and monitor their impact in a project environment. How to deliver quality within a project environment including assurance, control and continuous improvement of deliverables, processes and procedures
K8 Procurement and Contract Management: How to procure goods and services in a cost effective, process driven manner. How to manage projects within commercial and contractual policies, practices and relationships. The importance of supply chain management in a project environment. How to manage the procurement cycle and identify opportunities for maximising benefits through the effective establishment and management of contracts.
K9 Risk Management: How to apply methodologies for risk evaluation and management. How to mitigate the impact of risks on project performance in terms of schedule, cost and quality.
K10 Project Change Control: How to apply the concepts of project change control. How to define and use appropriate processes and tools to manage scope, requirements, benefits and success factors of a project. How to analyse the impacts and interdependencies of changes on the project and its deliverables
K11 Organisational Strategy: How organisational strategy is the totality of actions a company needs to take to achieve long-term goals and how the processes used by organisations are applied to develop strategic plans. How programmes and projects enable organisations to achieve their short, medium and longer-term strategies and how these can vary depending on the size of the organisation
Skills
S1 Governance Frameworks: lead and take responsibility for the project management plan as required by the governance structure. Apply techniques and project management methodologies as appropriate, dependant upon project complexity and criticality to the organisational environment in which a project is being delivered. Maintain, review and communicate a project business case for approval through the stage of a typical project lifecycle ensuring continued value for money and continued alignment with organisations objectives
S2 The Business environment: Identify and analyse the context, opportunities and challenges presented by projects in a range of organisational settings, appreciating the differences within both large and small organisations and in different industry sectors and the consequent need for tailoring. Identify the operating constraints that apply to projects including ethical, legal and regulatory considerations.
S3 Stakeholder and Communications Management: lead and take responsibility for the identification and analysis of internal and external stakeholders and their impact on the project. Manage an effective project communication plan across stakeholder with different cultural and physical barriers. Analyse information and communicate with stakeholders incorporating elements of feedback to understand and measure the effectiveness of planned communications. Effectively listen and influence others through negotiation and persuasion.
S4 Control of projects in terms of time, cost and quality: Manage the project within the constraints of time, cost and quality. Control expenditure and produce status reports as required, including control of costs against budgets, forecasting and establishing performance indicators as required by funding sources. Measure progress and actual costs against plans to determine a full understanding of project performance. Identify, achieve and maintain quality standards appropriate to the context and specific requirements of project activities.
S5 Risk Management: Ensure that project risks, opportunities and issues are addressed using quantitative and qualitative methods to categorise risks and their impacts. Identify, evaluate and implement appropriate mitigation strategies, ensuring that mitigation actions are incorporated into the project plan and are implemented should they develop into issues. Manage risk through the regular review of a risk management plan, adopting appropriate strategies to manage both threats and opportunities
S6 Commercial and Contract Management: Maintain and evaluate different commercial contract and procurement types to select appropriate options for specific programmes and projects. Support effective contract management and the achievement of programme and project outcomes
S7 Project Change Control: Dependent upon the size and complexity of a project, define and apply a recognised process to manage change in projects. Make effective decisions in the interests if a range of stakeholders with regards to change requests. Handle change within different project management methodologies
S8 Schedule Management: Evaluate requirements and methods for data capture and analysis in an project environment. Evaluate project schedule integrity including identification and resolution of scheduling problems. Apply resource acquisition and management techniques to balance programme and project needs against resource demand. Negotiate the allocation and scheduling of internal and external resources to meet programme and project demands
Behaviours
B1 Leadership: Drive for results with the ability to inspire and support project team members and manage stakeholder relationships. Promote the vision, organisation/ project purpose and values. Understand and create the environment for an inclusive and diverse organisational culture.
B2 Collaboration and Teamwork: Work collaboratively to build rapport and trust, develop networks and maintain relationships. Build and inspire teams, empower and motivate others to improve performance and achieve outcomes. Delegate tasks, set goals and accountabilities, provide clear guidance and monitor progress
B3 Personal and Professional Responsibility: Drive to achieve in all aspects of work. Demonstrate resilience and determination when managing difficult situations and able to influence the behaviour of others to meet required project outcomes. Seek and adopt new opportunities underpinned by commercial acumen and sound judgement
B4 Integrity, Ethics and professionalism: Manage with integrity and take an ethical approach to develop trust with stakeholders. Communicate and issue project-related reports and statements in an objective and truthful manner. Maintain professional conduct to as to enhance the honour, reputation, and usefulness of project management as a professional discipline
B5 Inclusive: Be open, approachable and authentic and able to build and maintain trust with others. Actively seek the views of others and value diversity internally and externally
B6 Innovation and resourcefulness: Understand the bigger picture and work enthusiastically and creatively to analyse problems and develop innovative and workable solutions to problems. Have a solution focus, not a problem focus and to be positive and adaptable, responding well to feedback and the need for change.
Assessment & Feedback
Level 4 is assessed by coursework predominately, with some examinations and no practical assessments.
Level 5 is assessed by coursework predominately, with some examinations and practical assessments.
Level 6 is assessed by coursework predominately, with practical assessments and no examinations.
All Apprentices are required to complete an End Point Assessment (EPA) before they can successfully pass the apprenticeship. Course teams will support and prepare you for your EPA throughout the apprenticeship. Before an Apprentice can attempt the EPA they must satisfy a number of criteria, which are referred to as Gateway Requirements. Once they have met the Gateway requirements, the Apprentice undertakes the EPA which is designed to test/confirm the Apprentice's KSBs and their overall competency.
EPAs will be conducted by an outside organisation (EPAO) or by someone within the University who has not been involved in the delivery of the apprenticeship.
The Apprenticeship grade will normally be based on the EPA, for example, if you achieve a Pass in the EPA you will be awarded a Pass in the Apprenticeship.
There are a wide range of EPA requirements across all of the apprenticeships and therefore the details below provide more information about your specific EPA. You are advised to contact your Course Director with any questions relating to the EPA.
End Point module assessment - 40 credits
The EPA uses the following assessment methods:
-Assessment method 1: a Work Based project report with associated documentation. The report on the Work Based project will comprise 4,000 words (+/- 10% plus references, appendices and abstract). It must draw on appropriate references from academic and professional source and use the Harvard Referencing System to support this. Appendices to the report may be used to provide supporting evidences. All work relating to the project and report write up must be completed during the EPA period; excluding preliminary research to inform the project outline.
-Assessment method 2: A professional review based on the evidence portfolio. The professional review is assessed through a formal presentation followed by an interview.
Successful apprentices will achieve a BSc (Hons) in Project Management - Degree Apprenticeship
Please note the exam/assessment periods in the academic calendar and make sure that you are available during those periods. Further details of your schedule of examinations can be found on your timetable once the examination schedule is released. Coursework submission deadlines can normally be found on MyBeckett, on course noticeboards or in individual Module Handbooks/other module guides.
Disabled students requiring adjustments to assessments/examinations should contact Disability Advice as soon as possible. We can only guarantee that adjustments can be put in place if students have contacted us by the following deadlines:
Semester 1 - 10th November 2023
Semester 2 - 8th March 2024
Contact us:
Email: disabilityadvice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: 0113 812 5831
Website: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-information/disability-advice/
It is important to note that submitting all assignments is a requirement of your course. Should you experience extenuating circumstances which prevent you from submitting on time please make yourself aware of the Mitigation and Extenuating Circumstances process. Without any form of extenuating circumstances, standard penalties apply for late submission of assessed work. Full details of the penalties for late submission of course work are available in section 3.11 of the Academic Regulations. Please check the penalties that apply to this course as some Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body requirements may mean that different penalties apply.
If you have been recommended 'flexibility around deadlines' as a reasonable adjustment in a Reasonable Adjustment Plan, your Course Administrator will be able to advise you of the process.
You may be required to submit your written work via Turnitin; further information on Turnitin is available.
Assessed work will normally be returned with appropriate feedback within four weeks of your submission. Each Module Handbook will provide you with specific guidelines on how and when you will receive feedback on your assessments.
Please add information about how feedback will be provided on formative and summative assessment. Apprentices may also find it helpful if you add some information around the perceived 'delay' between submitting their assessments and receiving feedback.
Results from module assessments and decisions on progression to the next level of study (e.g., from Level 4 to Level 5 of an undergraduate degree) or awards (if you are in the final level) are available on the Results Online system.
Results will appear within Results Online five working days after the date of the Progression and Award Board meeting (the meeting where your end of level outcome will be decided) or the Module Board meeting (the meeting where modular outcomes are decided).
If you are unsure about when you might receive your results or have queries relating to your results, you should contact your Course Administrator.
The University recognises that, from time to time, apprentices may encounter issues which may prevent them from being able to submit or take assessment. Where this is the case, apprentices may be able to submit their 'extenuating circumstances' for consideration. Please see the Mitigation and Extenuating Circumstances web page for further information.
If you have not passed a module at the first attempt you will be eligible for re-assessment. See your Module Handbook for details of the relevant re-assessment process (e.g., whether it is coursework, an examination, a presentation or other form of assessment/when it will take place/what the deadline is). You will be advised via Results Online of your options for re-assessment. You are advised to contact your Course Director, Course Administrator or Academic Advisor for any necessary clarification.
Details about our Appeals process can be found on the appeals web page.
Academic integrity means intellectual honesty and is part of good academic practice. Further information can be found on our academic integrity web page.
Teaching & Learning
In addition to the formal lectures, tutorials, IT laboratory sessions and hands-on project scenarios, classes are delivered to help reinforce the learning process. The feedback and progress assessment, extracurricular seminars, field trips and the involvement of industry experts as guest speakers enrich the learning experience and apprentice's knowledge of current issues in the project management context.
Level 4 Core Modules
Principles of Project Management
Built Environment Economics
Project Practice
Procurement, Tendering and Valuation
Law in the Built Environment
Contemporary Projects
Level 5 Core Modules
Project Methodologies
Project Decision-Making
Risk and Value
Work-Based Learning
Planning and Scheduling
Project Teams
Level 6 Core Modules
Advanced Planning and Tracking
Inter-professional Consultancy
Research Paper
Projects and Organisation Strategy
DA - End Point Combined Studies
Overall Workload | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 |
Teaching, Learning and Assessment | 240 hours | 240 hours | 240 hours |
Independent Study | 960 hours | 960 hours | 960 hours |
We are committed to providing a safe environment for our degree apprentices. We work with employers to ensure that you have a safe learning experience as set out in 'Keeping Our Apprentices Safe'. This includes information on how to identify and report concerns and access support covering safeguarding, wellbeing, online safety, the Prevent Duty (preventing individuals from being drawn into terrorism) and British Values.
In our University there is no place for bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct which includes sexual violence. We encourage any member of our community who has experienced any of these forms of unacceptable behaviour to use our Support, Report, Respect tool to access advice and raise concerns, which can be done anonymously.
Not sure who to contact? Speak to Student Advice: 0113 812 3000 or email studentadvice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. They will listen and assess your concerns, offer information and advice, and refer to specialist support as required.
An understanding of British values is embedded in the apprenticeship curriculum.
British values are defined as:
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect and tolerance
In line with these values, we will foster a culture where values, opinions and beliefs can be shared in the knowledge that they will be respected.
British Values are embedded within induction and several of the modules. In addition, there are dedicated timetabled non-module sessions where apprentices are acquainted with the British values and other behaviours. They are often discussed and delivered using real-life examples of how these apply to work-place activities.
Details of School academic staff can be found on the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing Website.
Attendance & Absence
The University does understand that from time to time there is good reason why you cannot attend a class, and in this instance you must contact your School office and employer to let them know. Depending upon the reasons why you are unable to attend, and how long this might be for, arrangements will be put in place to ensure you can catch up on your missed learning. The School and your employer will work together to support you with this.
Our most important aim is to support your studies, but we are also required to report attendance to various external bodies such as the Student Loan Company, the Home Office and the Apprenticeship funding body, the Education and Skills Finding Agency (ESFA).
You must notify your Course Administrator if you are absent (for example for an interview, emergency unforeseen circumstances, or for compassionate leave). If you are going to apply for mitigation you will need to provide written evidence of the reason for your absence.
Please note that if your apprenticeship carries professional accreditation or recognition, there may be additional apprenticeship-specific absence reporting requirements detailed elsewhere in this handbook.
You are advised to review your commitment statement or training plan to ensure you are clear on who to contact in your employment organisation and University if you will be absent.
If you are unable to study because of illness for more than 14 consecutive days (including weekends), you must provide us with a Fit Note.
You can send a digital copy of your Fit Note to your Course Administrator, and then send the original by post.
If you are absent through illness on the day of an examination or assignment deadline and you intend to apply for mitigation, you must also provide us with details as possible. Your submission for mitigation may be made online and the circumstances surrounding it may be self-certified unless your period of absence is prolonged. Generally, all absences of 2 weeks or more will require the submission of verifiable documentary evidence.
For more information on 'fit to sit' and mitigation please visit our Mitigation web page.
Please note that if your course carries professional accreditation or recognition, there may be additional course-specific absence reporting requirements detailed elsewhere in this handbook.
Campus-based apprentices who suspect they may have, or have been diagnosed as having a serious infectious disease such as coronavirus, Mumps, TB, measles, meningitis or chicken pox should not attend campus. For notifiable diseases, students should notify their Course Director or Course Administrator as soon as possible giving information regarding which groups of students or apprentices (and/or colleagues and clients on placements) you have been in contact with and when. For some diseases, such as TB and meningitis, your doctor and our Student Wellbeing Team have a responsibility to notify the West Yorkshire Public Health Protection Team who may also wish to speak to you (or your family) to determine if others require screening or medication. You should follow advice given by the hospital or your GP about when it is safe to return to University. Further information is available on the Student Wellbeing web page.
For guidance on what to do if you have symptoms of Covid-19 (coronavirus), please visit our Covid-19 web page.
You are advised to review your Commitment Statement to ensure you are clear on who to contact in your employment organisation and University if you will be absent due to illness.
You must let your Apprenticeship Assessor know immediately if your employment status changes. This includes, for example:
- Redundancy
- Change in job role
- Change in employer
- Change in contracted hours
- Parental leave
- Other break in learning
Professional Accreditation or Recognition Associated with the Course
Association for Project Management (APM)
https://www.apm.org.uk/qualifications-and-training/accreditation/accredited-academic-organisations/
Accreditation of the course means that the chartered professional body for Project Management confirms that the course aligns to its education and practice expectations, and that the course develops aspiring project managers that will enhance and develop the profession. Apprentices are encouraged to become student members as they join the course - student membership is free, and brings several benefits: invitations to attend local, regional and national events hosted by the APM, where apprentices can network with professionals and develop their insights into the varied aspects of project management in practice. The APM also engage in research, provide career support and an array of other useful insights into the profession via their website- apprentices will have access to this on joining. In addition, on graduation and beyond, the APM encourage apprentices to become full members. This demonstrates commitment to professional development, which in time may lead to them achieving Chartered status - the highest level of professional recognition.
Skills, Employability & Graduate Opportunities
Communication and team work
We all need good communication and team working skills, especially in Project Management - you will therefore learn about many different approaches to communication and team working and understand the importance of getting it right. You will become increasingly confident in practicing your communication skills. Employers are looking for people who can communicate with confidence using a wide range of techniques, and manage a diverse range of stakeholders. Presenting is an important skill of communication, and one that you will be encouraged to become confident in.
Software Skills
You will learn to use a range of software, including project planning and control, spreadsheets, decision analysis and support software, amongst others. There is a wide range of support available in learning to develop your technology skills, which employers increasingly value.
Research
The ability to conduct meaningful research, using diverse sources, and to produce compelling and useful findings is an important skill you will develop. Coupled with this is the increasing levels of independence you will develop in your learning and exploration of your subject area - this improves engagement and develops independent thinking and the ability to develop and promote a professional position
Professional engagement in the Subject
You will develop and expand your engagement with project management, both as an academic subject and as a practical suite of skills. You will be encouraged to develop your network of contacts, join the professional body, and attend their events. You should become confident in networking and building professional relationships so that you can enhance your learning and put it into practice
You will have opportunities to gain recognition during your time at Leeds Beckett University for the extra activities you do in addition to your studies, including volunteering, student societies, playing in our University sports teams and being a Course Representative.
By joining a society with Leeds Beckett Students' Union, you can make new friends, have fun, try something new and enhance your CV - societies provide a great opportunity to learn new skills and improve your existing ones. It can be difficult to get to know new people at university but don't worry, everyone is in the same boat! Our Leeds Beckett Students' Union believe that joining a student-led society is the best way to meet new people and make lifelong friends. There are so many societies out there - from course-based to hobby-based to religious to political and campaigning. Whether you're just starting out at Leeds Beckett or working on your last year of study, it is never too late to find the right society for you - or start one yourself!
Course-based societies are a great way to meet people on your course, expand your networks and celebrate your achievements together such as end of year Society Balls. If you have a great idea for a society, we can help you get it up and running. There are resources and support available for all societies - including funding to help make your society goals a reality. For more information on starting your own society, visit: leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/societies/create.
There are three Graduate Attributes for Leeds Beckett University and these are tailored to suit your course.
The three attributes you should achieve by the end of the course are for you to be digitally literate, have a global outlook and for you to be enterprising. Learning about these attributes and being assessed on them as part of your modules will provide you with capabilities which are essential for your future career and wider life as you move on from your studies here. You will be formally assessed on all the attributes in some of your modules at each academic level in each year of your course. For more information on graduate attributes please visit https://skillsforlearning.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/local/graduate_attributes/category_homepage.shtml
Information on your assessment is included in your Module Handbooks.
Graduate Attributes
All our undergraduate apprentices will develop distinctive attributes. The course will encourage you to:
- be enterprising
- be digitally literate
- Have a global outlook.
These attributes have been chosen in order to enhance apprentice's employability prospects and provide skills for graduates to cope in the wider world in the future, as well as to enhance each apprentice's learning experience.
Digital literacy is promoted through:
- The use of the Virtual Learning Environment in teaching and learning in all the modules and levels of the course
- The use of digital technologies which assist with planning, tracking, controlling, and the associated cost and performance management. There are specialist software programmes such as Microsoft Project, @Risk, Excel that the course will equip you to become confident in using.
The global outlook is encouraged and achieved through:
- Academic staff and guest speakers have diverse project management experience and bring that experience into their delivery.
- Embedding sustainability in relation to project management is brought into teaching throughout the course. This also relates to global aspects and perceptions of sustainability.
- Examining and evaluating project management practices in a wide range of environments. This enhances the professional awareness of apprentices to the wider application of their skills within a global setting.
Enterprise skills are supported throughout the course:
- Independent learning and research attributes form an important part of the course. In the final year, apprentices complete a supervised research paper on an approved project-related subject of their choice. This Independent piece of work enables apprentices to show their research skill, and ability to collect, and interpret relevant data gathered to form and generate meaningful and logical conclusions about professionally relevant themes. The learning attributes associated with a successful research paper are well valued by employers throughout the profession.
- Final year apprentices complete a Major Project, which consolidates all the previous learning, and develop a practitioner 'toolkit' as preparation for their professional careers.
- On the sandwich degree programme, apprentices gain real-life experience of working within the profession through a twelve month work placement. Furthermore, our apprentice's practical knowledge and understanding of project management is enhanced through our liaison with organisations who encourage apprentices to apply for work placements, visit their organisations, and assist on real life projects.
Learning Support
If you have a question or a problem relating to your apprenticeship, your Course Administrator is there to help you. Course Administrators work closely with academic staff and can make referrals to teaching staff or to specialist professional services as appropriate. They can give you a confirmation of attendance letter, and a transcript. You may also like to contact your Course Rep or the Students' Union Advice team for additional support with apprenticeship-related questions.
Your Academic Advisor will be an academic member of staff who teaches you on your apprenticeship. Your Course Director will make sure that you are given the contact details of your Academic Advisor at the beginning of each year, usually in your apprenticeship induction. Further details on the role of your Academic Advisor are available on the Academic Advisor web page.
If you need support, but you're not sure where to go, your Student Advice Team are here to help. The team are an essential part of your Student Support Network and are dedicated to ensuring you can access the advice and support you need, when you need it most.
Student Advice can also help in the practical elements of university. The team will produce your first campus card and assist you in replacing your campus card if needed throughout your time at Leeds Beckett. They can provide Confirmation of Enrolment and Bank Letters for our current students and full or partial transcripts for our graduates and fully enrolled students.
If you need help with more complex queries or concerns, our trained Student Life Advisers offer 1-1 appointments, providing a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space to talk about your circumstances and identify support that you can access both within and outside of the university.
To contact the team, or to arrange an appointment, visit The Student Advice webpage for full details.
The Student Voice & Insight team at LBSU works alongside the elected Academic Experience Officer to effectively represent students' and apprentices' academic interests.
We provide support, training and ongoing development to over 1,000 Course Representatives, Postgraduate Research Reps, Student Community Leaders and Global Majority Student Ambassadors who represent you whilst you study at Leeds Beckett; and facilitate the collection of student and apprentice feedback on your academic experience.
Unsure who your Course Rep is? Maybe you're interested in becoming a Course Rep or have feedback about your academic experience? Get in touch at:
- Email: studentvoice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
- Telephone: 0113 812 8400
- Website: leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/your-voice
You can find information and resources online through the Support and Opportunities tabs in MyBeckett. In the Support tab, you can find details of a range of services that provide academic and personal support. These include Student Advice, Library Services, the Students' Union, Student Money, Disability Advice, Student Wellbeing, Student Immigration Advice and Compliance and Accommodation. There is also an A-Z of Support Services, and access to online appointments/registration.
In the Opportunities tab, you can explore the options you have for jobs, work placements, volunteering, and a wide range of other opportunities. For example, you can find out here how to get help with your CV, prepare for an interview, get a part-time job or a voluntary role, take part in an international project, or join societies closer to home.
If you have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or a specific learning difference, we believe this should never be a barrier to studying at our University.
Please get in touch with us as soon as possible so we can ensure everything is in place before your apprenticeship starts.
What should I do next?
- We will ask you to provide evidence of your disability, usually from a health professional or educational psychologist. Don't worry if you haven't got any, we can support you with this.
- Usually, we will arrange an appointment with your Disability Adviser to discuss any adjustments you might need and support you in applying for Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA).
- We will work with you to ensure any adjustments you need are available so you can fully participate on your apprenticeship.
Please watch this short video about how the Disability Advice Team can work with you.
Disabled students and apprentices can also access the Disability Resource Areas in each library and the support provided by the Library Learning Support Officer. More information is available on the Library website.
What is Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)?
DSA is government funding to help with the cost of any additional support you might need while studying, such as: one-to-one support, specialist equipment (including useful software) and travel. For more information visit our website.
Contact Us:
Email: disabilityadvice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Tel: 0113 812 5831
Website: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-information/disability-advice/
The Library
The Library offers 24/7 support for your studies. You can access thousands of resources via MyBeckett or the Library website which also provides full details of all our services.
Library Academic Support
The Library Academic Support Team can help you develop your academic skills such as critical thinking, academic writing and analysing data, and research skills such as how to find, use and evaluate information for your studies. The team liaises with your lecturers to provide the information resources you need for your subject and to arrange academic skills sessions to support you in your studies.
The team maintains a number of websites and modules to support your learning:
- In your Subject guide, you'll find a variety of information resources which have been selected as a good starting point for research in that area. These are available on the Skills and Subject Support web page or via My Beckett.
- On the Skills for Learning website, you'll find online resources covering topics such as essay writing, research and time management, English Language and academic English plus information to help you reference and avoid plagiarism, alongside details of workshops that are designed to help you succeed in your assessments. The Skills for Learning website can be found on the Library website or via My Beckett.
- LBU Study Smart is a module in MyBeckett which introduces you to the key skills and services you'll need to study successfully at Leeds Beckett. There are also additional modules you can take as you move through your course to help you transition between study levels. The Academic Integrity Tutorial is a module in MyBeckett which introduces you to academic integrity at LBU and will help you develop the skills you need to attain good academic practice, including avoiding plagiarism and academic referencing.
- The Academic Integrity Tutorial is a module in MyBeckett which introduces you to academic integrity at LBU and will help you develop the skills you need to attain good academic practice, including avoiding plagiarism and academic referencing.
Library and Student IT Advice Service
The Library and Student IT Advice Service team can answer your queries on borrowing, finding information, passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA) ,Office 365, online meetings, saving your work, MyBeckett and more:
- online (including 24/7 chat) via the Contact Us web page
- by phone - 0113 812 1000 (24/7 IT support)
- face-to-face in either of our Libraries, check Library opening times for details of when staff are available
They also have a wide range of short tutorials available on the Library's YouTube channel.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi on the University campus is provided by eduroam, a secure wireless network, which also allows you Wi-Fi access if you visit other universities. To connect:
- Select eduroam from available Wi-Fi
- Your login details are:
Username followed by @leedsbeckett: e.g. c1234567@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Password: your normal university password
*Android Users: Select under Phase 2 Authentication - MS-CHAPv2
Help is available on the Library's Wi-Fi web page.
Microsoft Office 365
You are provided with free access to Office 365 and the latest version of Office can be downloaded from the IT tab in MyBeckett or from office.com. All apprentices who are registered for a qualification at Leeds Beckett University are eligible and you can use the subscription for the duration of your apprenticeship. For instructions and more information, please see the Office 365 support page.
OneDrive
OneDrive Leeds Beckett is your individual file storage with 1TB of storage space. With OneDrive you can access and share your files across your devices. This is accessible on University PCs and off-campus through Office 365 portal. See the Saving your Work pages on the Library website for more information.
Leeds Beckett RemoteApp
The Leeds Beckett RemoteApp gives you access to a range of specialist software for your course on your personal devices. See the RemoteApp page on the Library website for more information.
Media Equipment - free loans
You can borrow high-end Media Equipment for free. Browse, reserve and collect equipment ranging from GoPros to Remote Presenters from the ground floor of the Shelia Silver and Headingley Libraries. Further information is available on the Media Equipment web page.
University life can have its ups and downs, and occasionally you may find yourself in need of advice. That's where we come in. Here at the SU we have a free advice service that is here just for you, the students and apprentices at Leeds Beckett University.
The Advice Service at LBSU is a confidential, non-judgmental service run by professional advisers.
The service is independent from the University, so if you are having any problems with your apprenticeship you can talk confidentially with us - although we do work with the University to find the best solutions, we would only contact them with your permission. We can advise on a range of topics including all aspects of the University Regulations and Procedures, housing issues and finance issues. We can guide you through any processes or procedures.
We're here to help you with any questions or problems you might have while you are studying at Leeds Beckett.
Get more information at www.leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/advice.
Resources
MyBeckett, the portal and virtual learning environment provides:
- access to your modules and timetables;
- your reading lists and email account;
- your personal storage area on our University IT servers;
- information on where to look for academic or personal support (Support tab);
- information on opportunities such as jobs, careers, part-time work, placements and volunteering (Opportunities tab)
- access to Library and student IT advice
Further information and support for using MyBeckett can be found on the MyBeckett Support Pages.
There is an array of resources for each module provided via MyBeckett - these include lecture notes and slides, background notes, guided reading and recommended texts and other source materials. The Library also contains not only physical books, but a range of electronic resources including text books and journals - most of which are available remotely, without the need to physically attend. The course team also encourage apprentices to become student members of the APM, which gives access to professional research and practitioner experience and expertise. The APM also provide events and networking opportunities - apprentices are encouraged to attend these to gain practical insights to the application and implications of the knowledge they are acquiring. The course team encourage apprentices to engage with fellow apprentices and students from other years on the course - this is intended to provide a positive learning and engaging environment for apprentices to share and interact positively.
Student Voice
We are committed to working in partnership with you and the Students' Union to provide you with an inclusive, safe and engaging learning environment which is conducive to study for all our students, apprentices and our staff. An important element of your time studying with us is your engagement in developing your learning. Your engagement and attendance on your apprenticeship enables you to further your learning and supports your achievement, apprenticeship completion and aspirations for the future. There is an expectation that apprentices will attend, engage in their learning and submit on time for assessment. We provide support for you to maximise your time studying with us and to develop your learning, skills and abilities to support you in your chosen career path.
We seek active participation by all our apprentices in the continuous enhancement of our apprenticeships and through our monitoring, annual review and enhancement processes. These are formal processes used by our University for assuring the academic standards and quality of your apprenticeship and its continuous improvement. These processes utilise your feedback, External Examiners' reports, feedback from staff and others, data relating to apprentice outcomes on the apprenticeship and apprentice surveys to reflect on areas of good practice and areas for further enhancement. We invite all apprentices to participate in a range of opportunities to provide us with feedback on your apprenticeship and modules. This may include discussions with staff, focus groups, and meetings (e.g. with Course Representatives or with staff) and formalised student and apprentice surveys e.g. mid module reviews, end of module evaluations and specific apprenticeship or other surveys such as the Student Barometer, National Student Survey and Graduate Outcomes Survey. We utilise the outcomes of these surveys to benchmark our apprenticeships nationally and to inform annual apprenticeship enhancements.
Informal feedback is also welcome at any time either via your Academic Advisor or module tutor or via your Course Representative. Our partnership with you enables us together to make the most of your learning experience with us and to enhance the quality and reputation of your apprenticeship. You can find out what actions have been taken in response to your feedback through your Course Representative, the Students' Union, your tutors or through the Library.
Course Representatives (Reps) at undergraduate and postgraduate taught levels are student and apprentice volunteers who represent you in formal and informal meetings with the University, and follow up on actions that have occurred because of student and apprentice feedback. You can become a Course Rep, volunteering to represent the views of your peers in order to improve apprentices' academic experience.
In the first few weeks of your time at Leeds Beckett, your Course Director will facilitate an opportunity to appoint Course Reps on your apprenticeship.
LBSU provides support, training and ongoing development for Course Reps and supports their engagement in enhancement activities throughout the academic year.
Being a Course Rep provides you with an opportunity to enhance your own learning and the development of relevant professional and employability skills alongside your studies. As a Course Rep you would play an important role in:
- Acting as a point of contact and advocate for apprentices on your apprenticeship and in supporting their active engagement.
- Gathering feedback from apprentices on your apprenticeship to inform enhancements to the quality of your apprenticeship and the apprentice experience.
- Facilitating good communication between apprentices and staff on the apprenticeship.
- Working with the Course Director, members of the course team and the Students' Union to enhance your apprenticeship.
- Facilitating and engaging in meetings about your apprenticeship; and
- Being an ambassador for your apprenticeship.
Further information about being a Course Representative is available at:
We invite all apprentices to participate in a range of opportunities to provide us with feedback on your apprenticeship and modules. This may include discussions with staff, focus groups, and meetings (e.g. with Course Representatives or with staff) and formalised student and apprentice surveys e.g. mid module reviews, end of module evaluations and specific apprenticeship or other surveys such as the Student Barometer, National Student Survey and Graduate Outcomes Survey.
We are committed to providing a high quality experience for all our students and apprentices. We welcome comments and compliments from apprentices, and find them valuable for on-going improvements to our provision. Comments and compliments about your apprenticeship can be raised with your Course Representative or directly with your Course Director or Academic Advisor.
If you have a specific complaint about an act or omission of our University, you may be able to make a complaint under the Student Complaints Procedure. In the first instance, you should raise the matter as soon as possible with the member of staff most directly concerned, or with the person who can best resolve it. If this does not resolve the matter, or if the complaint is too serious to be addressed in this way, then you should make a formal complaint in writing. Information about how to make a complaint, including the student complaints procedure and a complaints form, is available on the Students web pages.
In addition to the University processes listed above, as an Apprentice, you also have the right to make enquiries or raise concerns outside of the University. Full details of these options can be found in your training plan.
General Information
CertHE Project Management (Level 4)
DipHE Project Management (Level 5)
BSc Project Management (Level 6)
Leeds Beckett University
Level 6 of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, with 120 credit points at each of Levels 4, 5 and 6 of the UK Credit Framework for Higher Education (360 credits in total).
Policies, Standards & Regulations
Key University regulations and policies can be accessed on the following web pages:
- Academic Regulations (including assessment regulations) are available on our Academic Regulations web page
- The Student Contract is available on our Student Regulations web page
- The Student Charter is available on our Academic Regulations web page (Section 20)
Other Student regulations and University policies, including Safety, Health and Wellbeing policies, are available on our Student Regulations web page
You should also familiarise yourself with our Zero Tolerance Report and Support web page regarding sexual harassment and assult.
The External Examiner assures that you are assessed fairly in relation to other apprentices on the same apprenticeship and also that the standard of your own award is comparable to similar apprenticeships taken by apprentices in other higher education institutions within the UK. The External Examiner(s) provide an annual report for your apprenticeship. External Examiner reports are available on our External Examiner Reports web page, which is accessible via the Course Information link on the Students home page
The details of the External Examiner for this course are as follows:
Timothy Barry
Director of Partnerships,
Faculty of Engineering and Science
University of Greenwich
Appendices
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