Dr Juan Lopez-Cotarelo

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Human Resources and Organisations (Human Resource Management/CIPD). This course is not available as an outside option.

The course has a taught component, which is compulsory for all students in the stream, and a free-configuration component where students can choose among a variety of sessions that target specific skill development needs they have identified through their Skills Development Portfolio.



Taught sessions

There are 5 weekly sessions during Michaelmas Term (weeks 7 to 11).  Sessions will combine lecture format with small group activities targeted at skill building.  Topics are intended as follows:

Week   Topic

7           Evaluating HR initiatives

8           Costing HR initiatives

9           Selection Interviewing

10         Difficult Conversations

11         Ethics in HRM

Skills Development Portfolio

Students will plan their own individualised skills development, including the MG4XX free-configuration sessions, through the Skills Development Portfolio.  The aim of this tool is to help each student identify gaps in their general and HRM management skills (as defined in CIPD’s 7SBL module), plan for their development during their studies, and document achievements and newly developed skills at the end of the programme.  Two submissions are required:

• A self-assessment and development plan, due in MT week 7.
• A portfolio documenting skill development and attainment, due in September 2018.

Free-configuration sessions

Students will be able to attend their choice of sessions within the HRO Speaker and Practitioner Panel series and LSE LIFE workshops to suit their development needs.  Attendance to a minimum of 15 hours between the two is required.

• HRO Speaker and Practitioner Panel Series: The HRO team will arrange approximately 5 sessions with external speakers on topics that are relevant to our subject.  These will typically be 2-hour evening sessions, and most will run during LT.  A prospective programme will be announced in MT, and detailed arrangements publicised in due course.
• LSE LIFE workshops: LSE LIFE runs a broad range of 1-hour and 2-hour workshops on many topics that are relevant to the 7SBL module.  Many of these sessions are run several times during MT and LT.  Students will need to book a place in the relevant sessions themselves.

External activities

Where appropriate, students may apply to receive credit for attending an external session that is relevant to the 7SBL module and conducive to significant skill attainment.  The decision to grant such credit will remain fully at the discretion of the MG4XX Course Leader and the HRO Programme Director, so students will be strongly advised to make their application before enrolment.  No individual student will receive credit for external activities for more than 20% of the free-configuration requirement (i.e. 3 hours).  We will not offer to fund external activities.

15 hours of lectures in the MT. 10 hours of lectures in the LT.

Please note that the LT sessions will take the form of a Speaker and Practitioner Panel Series.

Students will receive written formative feedback on Sections  1 and 2 of the portfolio (Self-Assessment and Development Plan), due in MT week 7.

N/A (this is a practical skills course)

The course is not formally assessed.