Award in Starting and Managing a New Business

The course will provide key knowledge and basic tools to start and manage a new business. In this sense it includes elements of strategic management, helping the determination of the strategic positioning and orientation of the firm, key management principles, elements of project appraisal and approaches and basic legal considerations important for the business-related decisions.

The module can be split into the following sessions:

• Session 1: The business environment
• Session 2: Basics of strategic management (analysis of external and internal environment, positioning) – Part 1
• Session 3: Basics of strategic management (analysis of external and internal environment, positioning) – Part 2
• Session 4: Corporate strategies
• Session 5: Gaining competitive advantage
• Session 6: Business modelling
• Session 7: Management functions
• Session 8: Firm organisation
• Session 9: The role of quality
• Session 10: Business Plan and Project Appraisal
• Session 11: Business ethics and social responsibility
• Session 12: Starting a firm in the business world – Significant Considerations

Hours of Total Learning for this module:

• Contact Hours: 42
• Self-Study Hours: 134
• Assessment Hours: 12
• Supervised Placement and Practice Hours: 12
• Total Learning Hours: 200

Learning Outcomes:

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

1. Develop the business model for a firm
2. Build the business model canvas
3. Define a firms’ strategy having considered the external and internal environments.
4. Select appropriate competitive advantage firms
5. Draft a business plan

Each module will be assessed based on the following components:

1. Quality of Contributions in Forums: 20%
   • 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. Research-Based Assignments: 60%
   • Completion and quality of research-based assignments that demonstrate understanding and application of the course material.

Passing Criteria:

• Students must achieve an aggregate of 50% or higher across the three components to pass each 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