1. CATS project in Management
Sue Betts
6 March 2013

2. Background & Context
UKPLC – acute shortage of qualified business managers – just 1:5
are qualified, currently
Business managers are the fastest growing occupational group –
numbers set to rise from 3 million in 2007 to 3.6 million by 2020
Employees in the workplace and also learners thinking about further
study are often unaware and unsure about what options and
opportunities are available to them in the area of management
courses, or eligibility to study

3. Some of the problems with management curriculum in
London
HE provision often lacks flexibility
Information on P/T study opportunities is often lacking
The link with professional qualifications is often unclear
Opportunities to use APEL are often limited
Generally, there’s a lack of coherent, accessible information about
what’s available within and across institutions in London, to facilitate
clear, informed choice

4. Management areas offered across the Linking London
Partnership
Accounting
Business
Computer Science & Systems
Construction
Fashion buying
Hospitality
Human Resources
International Tourism
Logistics & Supply Chain
Music
Sports Business & Statistics

5. What the project aims to do
To develop a flexible, credit-based management curriculum offer, to
support progression from level 3 to level 4 and higher
CATS project funding - £78,000 from BIS ‘A collaborative curriculum
project using a common approach to credit accumulation and
transfer in management provision to increase progression.’ Project
administered by AoC
Time-scale – 1 July 2012 – 30 June 2013
Honorarium funds available to facilitate involvement & input

6. Key Partners
FECs
City & Islington College – Ian Sterling: ian.sterling@candi.ac.uk
City of Westminster College – Lyndon Sly: lyndon.sly@cwc.ac.uk
Hillcroft College (Jackie Beckford-Walker):
JBeckford-Walker@hillcroft.ac.uk
Westminster Kingsway College – Howard White:
howard.white@westking.ac.uk
HEIs
Birkbeck, University of London – Dean Pateman:
d.pateman@bbk.ac.uk
Middlesex University – Darryll Bravenboer:
d.bravenboer@mdx.ac.uk

7. Cont.
Professional bodies
• Chartered Management Institute – Ann Bell:
ann.bell200@talktalk.net
• Institute of Administrative Management – Peter Bennett:
peter.bennett@instam.org
• City & Guilds - Geoff Holden: geoff.holden@cityandguilds.com
• Institute of Leadership & Management (David Pardey):
David.pardey@i-l-m.com
• Open College Network London Region (Jacquie Mutter):
j.mutter@ocnlr.org.uk

8. Partners

9. Detailed Project Aims
To develop a comprehensive framework of curriculum
provision that supports transition to named management
courses / awards at levels 4/5 from a range of discrete level 3
provision at respective partner HEIs/FECs
To develop this offer, in association with the professional
bodies, CMI and IAM, to facilitate take-up of appropriate
professional body accreditation, where appropriate
To examine ways of embedding the use and take-up of APEL
to enhance the flexibility and potential time-frame within which
individual students can progress through named awards

10. Cont.
To support credit articulation of this provision, to enhance
flexibility of take-up
To publicise this offer to students in a timely and
appropriate manner
To ensure/ support transferability of process to other
curriculum areas (e.g. STEM; Sustainable Development)

11. Project outputs / key deliverables
Articulation Agreements between sending and receiving institutions
which specify the courses available for progression at higher levels
to Level 3 learners (minimum of 2 per partner)
The creation of a flexible management curriculum offer that clearly
articulates credit, professional body alignment, APEL and HE
progression opportunities – The work of the 5 partner projects
Information, Advice and Guidance materials which specify the
management offer available to students, including opportunities for
APEL and the accreditation of professional qualifications

12. Cont.
A Staff Handbook
Case studies (one case study from each partner)
The organisation of a project dissemination conference in June 2013
Production of a final report to the Association of Colleges (AoC) &
contribution to a national case study
Project peer evaluation through the University of Greenwich
External evaluation through contract

13. Thank you for listening - Any questions?
For any further information about the project,
please contact:
Pam Calabro, Project Manager
p.calabro@linkinglondon.ac.uk