ABS Guide to Distance Learning

ABERDEEN BUSINESS SCHOOL

Welcome Professor

Rita Marcella Dean of

Aberdeen Business School Welcome to Aberdeen Business School and thank you all for your interest in our courses. We understand that the decision to undertake further study is a major one. Choosing the right programme that fits with your educational and career development aims is very important. We strive as a University to ensure that our graduates are well prepared for the world of work and our courses encompass both academic and practical aspects of your chosen discipline.

At Aberdeen Business School we have a strong portfolio of quality courses and are proud to boast accreditation from a very large number of relevant professional bodies. Our staff comprise of academics from a wide variety of disciplines with both academic and industry experience. We pride ourselves on being student focused and in providing one of the best learning experiences available.

As a University, we recognise that flexible learning can be challenging at times and we aim to provide a network of support through a team centred approach. We have many years of experience in delivering flexible learning to students who are seeking to undertake study while working full-time in a related professional environment and this has been one of our most successful areas of programme development. Our student feedback tells us that the opportunity that this offers is seen as valuable and that, in particular, this type of study offers real opportunities for career progression.

We continually update and review our e-learning programmes to ensure that they meet the needs both of students and of employers and have very close connections as a University with industry and practitioners. We also have a dedicated team who work on e-learning tools and who respond to new technological developments and seek student feedback to evaluate existing systems.

We are extremely proud of our diverse and dynamic student population and of our record of graduate success in gaining professional employment and we are working hard to ensure that the courses which we offer continue to serve the needs of both our student body and your ultimate employers.

I hope very much to welcome you to Aberdeen Business School to study as part of our growing student population across more than 100 countries worldwide.�

Introduction to Distance Learning at Aberdeen Business School With an increasingly dynamic and ever expanding student population, we are proud to offer most of our postgraduate and some of our undergraduate courses online via our distance-learning mode of delivery. We offer a number of part-time distance learning courses and there are some which we now offer on a full-time basis.

Our part-time, distance-learning programmes are designed for individuals who are in full time employment, usually in a relevant profession. Although there are many challenges associated with balancing work and study, there are also a number of benefits to doing so. You will be able to apply real life scenarios from the world of work, to the learning outcomes within your course.

Our full-time options are for those who have a little more time to spare, but still want to retain maximum flexibility.

As a distance-learning student, you are not required to attend on campus at all, although we are delighted to meet those who do decide to visit. The one exception is our MBA programme where, in addition to the online learning experience, students are required to attend a 10 day workshop in the UK during the second year of their studies, usually around May/ June. This is a standard requirement for an AMBA accredited MBA and the workshop focuses on strategic management and leadership.

What is Distance Learning?

The distance learning mode of delivery has study material divided into learning topics that directly reflect the taught syllabus. A learning, team centred model is used where the online tutor engages with teams and individuals through the discussion forum, group email, virtual tutorial/ chat rooms and confidential email.

The two general requirements for which distance learners must have are: • Good internet access • Microsoft Office Although the distance-learning mode provides flexibility as to where and when students study, our delivery model does not permit full flexibility and pace is controlled to enable membership of a student cohort, an approach that our experience shows enhances student success.

All study materials are available on CampusMoodle. These include: • Study topics and activities as well as some audio/ video materials which provide the equivalent content of lectures for an on-campus student • Discussion forums and team areas for group study • Presentations equivalent to full-time on-campus classes • Access to a bank of online library and e-book resources Each module has its own discussion forum on CampusMoodle for use by the students and tutors as well as its own homepage.

Getting Started To be able to login and access your online learning materials, you will need to know your RGU username and password which will be provided by our Admissions team when you are invited to enrol.

You will use these to access your learning materials: The Student Portal The Student Portal is a gateway to information and services for all students. It provides links to CampusMoodle, email, iLink library catalogue, personal files on the University network, help and advice information, exam results, academic regulations, how to update your address, tuition fee and accommodation information - to name a few.

This is where you will go to access CampusMoodle and your RGU email account.

CampusMoodle CampusMoodle is a collaborative learning environment for students. Not only will learning material be available online, but there will also be areas for discussion, group work, formative quizzes and the uploading of assignments.

You will be able to access your online learning environment anytime and anywhere, as long as an internet connection is available.

The learning material can take a wide variety of formats from MS Word and PDF documents to podcasts or wikis. You will submit your assignments via CampusMoodle in the electronic dropboxes which you will find here.

Once logged into CampusMoodle you will see a page with two headings: General Study Area: This gives access to course materials, library and IT information and induction modules. This is a good place to begin and provide a general induction to CampusMoodle, the University and in some cases there will be a course induction module.

Current Study Module Area: This is where you will access the module or modules which you are studying in a current semester.

Microsoft Outlook All communication from the University throughout your studies will be directed to your RGU email account so we do encourage students to check this regularly. You will also benefit from access to our global address list which holds contact details for university staff and student email addresses of others on your course.

The Library The services and resources of the Library are available to all students of the University, including distance-learners, but there are some additional services we offer for students who are enrolled on Distance Learning courses and who cannot come in to visit the libraries on campus. These include: • • • •

Postal loans Photocopies Access to other libraries in the UK Access to libraries outside the UK

You will have access to services such as: • • • • •

iLink (the Library Catalogue) Electronic full text databases Journals Useful weblinks for your subject “How to...” guides to getting the best from Library resources

Time Management We understand that distance learners may approach their learning in different ways and that some prefer to “blitz” over a particular period rather than follow systematically each week. It is important that you work in a way which best suits you as an individual, but still manage your time effectively and keep on top of your workload and course deadlines.

Most of our distance learning courses do not require students to be online at a specific time or on a specific date, however there will be submission deadlines and certain activities may require you to be online or submit/ post something at a particular time. Some courses or modules (within a course) require more regular interaction than others and you are encouraged to look at the course information for the particular course you are interested in for this.

Tutor Support Your main point of contact throughout your studies will be your Course Leader and Course Administrator. The Course Leader is normally your Personal Tutor and will assist with any personal problems of a non academic nature which may affect your ability to function effectively during the course.

Each module within a course has a designated Module Coordinator and they will be the main point of contact for any issues or queries regarding that particular module. Their role is to upload module content, monitor discussion forums, instigate online discussion, respond to individual study queries, provide support, assess the module and monitor progress. The normal way to contact a tutor for individual support is by email.

We encourage students to keep in regular contact with their Course Leader and tutors. You should not hesitate to get in touch with your Course Leader if you have any concerns at any point Other Support Available There is a network of advice and support available for our distance learning students. Our services include: Disability and Dyslexia Student Counselling Careers Advice Study Support You will find more information about some of the services we offer at http://www.rgu.ac.uk/student-life/student-advice-and-support/ student-advice-and-support

Module Delivery Students will be grouped into cohorts which will make up a virtual class or group of students all studying the course at the same pace.

Cohorts are expected to complete the various modules within a specified time period.

Cohorts facilitate peer support and allow students to get to know one another, set up study groups and provide peer support via the facilities of CampusMoodle. In particular they facilitate opportunities for discussion and interaction with other students, usually at the same stage of the programme.

Offsite Examinations Some of our courses have examinations which students will be required to sit. As a distance learner you will be required to arrange a suitable place in which to sit the exam and let us know at least six weeks prior to when the exam is due to take place. Normally this will be a British Council premises or approved collaborative organisations/companies. Where such premises cannot be utlilised, then alternative venues will be sought. These might include places such as local public libraries and schools.

We will then ensure that the host organisation is able to provide an appropriate setting and make all the necessary arrangements, however students are required to meet any costs of external exams for example postage of papers etc. The time and date will be set by the University.

Scholarships Winning a scholarship can put you on the fast track to success, and help you to launch a successful career. Being awarded one of our highly prestigious scholarships is a serious endorsement of your academic abilities and professional potential.

The scholarships take the form of a reduction in the normal tuition fees by a specified amount. Successful applicants will be responsible for paying the balance of their tuition fees and for all of their travel and living expenses.

For more information on fees and scholarships for which students can apply please visit: www.rgu.ac.uk/stud_finance www.rgu.ac.uk/scholarships

Talk to us We are always happy to answer any questions you have. Simply call us on +44 (0) 1224 262203 or visit us at www.rgu.ac.uk/absdistancelearning email advantage@rgu.ac.uk

You may also find some of the contacts below useful: Aberdeen Business School at Advantage@rgu.ac.uk Postgraduate Admissions at PGOffice@rgu.ac.uk Undergraduate Admissions at UGOffice@rgu.ac.uk Student Finance at StudentFinance@rgu.ac.uk Apply online at www.rgu.ac.uk/applyonline Aberdeen Business School Robert Gordon University Garthdee Road