Award in Fundamentals of Human Resources Management

This module provides an overview of the principles of human resource management and the manner in which these are implemented for the effective management of people in an NGO. The module provides details on organisational culture and how managing change is critical to its continued development and growth. It addresses key issues in recruitment, selection, and training of staff, particularly relevant to NGOs that deal with employees, contractors, outsourced workers interns and volunteers within different areas of operations. It identifies best practices in HR development and addresses key challenges in their implementation within the legal framework prevalent in Malta or Cyprus. It provides frontline perspectives to the challenge of attracting, recruiting, retaining and developing people within an NGO.

The 6 sessions included in the module are:

1. Basic Principles of HRM within the particular context of an NGO which typically includes full time, part time employees as well as volunteers.
2. Managing Organisational Culture and Change is particularly relevant as new councils or governing boards are elected and each presents their own priorities within the overall general strategy of the NGO.
3. Recruitment and selection process within an NGO which often has constrains on the process with guidelines to recruit from amongst particular minority groups or candidates with particular experience of the third sector operations.
4. Human Resource Development & Effective HR practices within an NGO which has to balance the financial perspective with other less tangible priorities of the NGO, social welfare and wellbeing, support of minority groups etc.
5. Operational & Legal Perspectives to HRM within an NGO which may have to deal with operational activities that present legal challenges, ie, welfare of minors, intervention in domestic violence situations etc.
6. NGO Perspectives to HRM

Hours of Total Learning for this module:

• Contact Hours: 15
• Self-Study Hours: 27
• Assessment Hours: 8
• Total Learning Hours: 50

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the following skills:

1. Apply best practices of human resources planning at recruitment and employment stages in an NGO.
2. Plan for development and implementation of effective training in areas of particular relevance to the specific NGO ie. dealing with gender based violence, offering aid and assistance.
3. Plan for implementation of bespoke Human Resources Management systems and processes to match the particular needs of the NGO ie. web-based payroll systems, web-based staff appraisal and evaluation solutions, web-based time management systems etc.

Each module will be assessed based on the following components:

1. Quality of Contributions in Forums: 30%
   • Evaluation of participation and the quality of insights shared in online discussion forums.
2. Quality of Contributions in Tutorials: 20%
   • Assessment of engagement and contributions during tutorial sessions.
3. Assignment/Case Study: 50%
   • Completion and quality of assignments that demonstrate understanding and application of the course material.

Passing Criteria:

• Students must achieve an aggregate of 50% or higher across the two components to pass the module.

Scholarship Schemes for Maltese residents:

• MySkills Scheme: Malta residents are eligible for up to 80% reimbursement, capped at €5,000, subject to eligibility criteria. International students would be able to apply for the MySkills Scheme once they obtain their Student Temporary Residence Card (TRC). (For individual modules only)
• Get Qualified Scheme ( Scheme available for Maltese residents ) – 70% refund of course fee as a tax rebate