Master in Business Administration
Intro
The Master in Business Leadership programme aims to give participants the skills required to work in the competitive business sector.
The qualification will equip the students with the theoretical and practical competencies needed to lead a successful business and team. This is made possible thanks to the comprehensive course content: the course provides up-to-date information about the overall processes of a modern enterprise, and how to effectively deal with the challenging situations every leader faces at different points throughout their career.
Our Master in Business Leadership programme is specifically designed for those individuals who are willing to develop their managerial leadership skills. Therefore, this course can be regarded as a “conversation” between our qualified lecturers and the business leaders of tomorrow.
It is particularly suited to international candidates who wish to develop their entrepreneurial skills and expand their business to the European market and beyond.
At the Master’s Level, participants can specialise in one particular research topic from five different strands (namely – Finance, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Quality Assurance & Strategic Management) in order to further enhance their knowledge in their area of interest. Therefore, the programme provides an opportunity for academically-inclined students to follow a doctoral research degree at MQF Level 7.
Overall Competences
Upon completion, the individual will be able:
- Integrate knowledge from various fields to implement research-based solutions to business-related challenges.
- Manage people and project efficiently and effectively.
- Administer organisational development and change.
- Undertake research tasks independently by using the skills learned during the course.
- Continue studying and keep up-to-date with current events happening in the corporate world.
- Act professionally and ethically in different corporate-related situations.
- Represent the enterprise in the best way possible.
- Communicate well with specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- Analyse struggles and conflicts that may arise between non-specialist and specialist personnel and find innovative solutions.
Mode of Delivery
The Master in Business Leadership programme will be delivered through blended learning, with 50% of contact hours delivered online and the other 50% of contact hours delivered face-to-face.
Course Structure
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn independently about the main theoretical aspects of management and develop a critical understanding of the cultural and institutional differences between national and regional contexts.
- Assume responsibility of one’s own position on social issues and issues of ethical nature to ultimately be able to apply ethical values to situations and choices in different national and regional contexts whilst reaching conclusions on the most effective approaches in those settings.
- Monitor and critically analyse the various leadership styles managers use to influence and control the internal environment. Lead a team by implementing an effective leadership style, and assume responsibility for decisions taken.
- Manage people effectively in a diverse and intercultural context in view of the various challenges that diverse contexts bring about, and assume responsibility for decisions taken.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, presentations, asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
3K assignment (70%); presentation (30%)
Total Contact Hours:
60
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
80
Assessment Hours:
60
Learning Outcomes:
- Integrate financial management knowledge acquired mainly through self-directed learning to be able to instruct trainees on basic accounting principles.
- Access and synthesise financial information from a wide variety of sources and critically assess its validity and suitability in terms of the organisation’s performance, capital requirements and financial risks.
- Know how to manage a finance-related project through the effective use of accounting software.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, synchronous & asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
2K assignment (80%); Online Quiz (20%)
Total Contact Hours:
30
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
40
Assessment Hours:
30
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn independently about the evolution of the digital economy and critically evaluate the relevance of Cryptography in blockchain and how to mine cryptocurrencies.
- Integrate knowledge from various sources to learn about cryptocurrencies, Crypto Exchanges and the story of Bitcoin, and critically evaluate bitcoin (and its consensus model) as a specific application of blockchain technology that solves a meaningful problem.
- Learn through self-directed learning to differentiate between Distributed Ledger Technology and types of blockchain, apply blockchain to cases when adopting blockchain solutions and recommend solutions to the last mile problem using blockchain.
- Propose a blockchain-based solution to address a business problem within your case context, and assume responsibility for it.
- Integrate knowledge from various sources and make judgements on the adoption of blockchain technologies in a variety of industries.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
2K assignment (75%); online forum discussion (25%)
Total Contact Hours:
30
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
40
Assessment Hours:
30
Learning Outcomes:
- Integrate knowledge from interdisciplinary fields to learn about the role of governance in influencing the ethics and values of the organisation.
- Integrate knowledge and think critically on ethics-related issues in an occupational context (as, but not limited to, corporate social responsibility, issues on human rights, harassment, bullying and the ‘whistle-blowing’ act).
- Develop ethical policies with regards to equality and equity in a diverse context (different cultures, beliefs and values of the employees).
- Develop a business ethical strategy and demonstrate the ability to respond to the fast-changing business environment. (investment, trading, competition, manufacturing, employment, etc.) in view of the resource implications and financial costs and returns of using an ethical and equitable approach).
- Develop one’s own personal ethical strategy which encourages creativity, innovation, empowerment, delegation and leadership and critically evaluate how it influences the leadership style and the organisation structure.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, asynchronous discussion board
Mode of Assessment:
2K assignment (70%); online forum discussion (30%)
Total Contact Hours:
30
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
40
Assessment Hours:
30
Learning Outcomes:
- Integrate knowledge and make judgements on how high-level strategic aspirations of the organisation can be articulated as specific goals for the Operations Management function.
- Demonstrate self-directed learning on performance in the context of operations.
- Learn through self-directed study how environmental, and strategic factors inform the process and operational design.
- Integrate knowledge from various sources and make judgements on how operations function within broader operations networks and supply chains.
- Be reflective and make judgements on the nature of operations capacity and capacity management; particularly the activity of coping with mismatches between demand and the ability to supply.
- Integrate knowledge from various sources and demonstrate an understanding of the activity of planning and controlling transformed resources as they move through supply networks, operations and processes.
- Learn through self-directed study about the fundamental methods of operations planning and control, including resource planning and control systems.
- Demonstrate and instruct trainees on how operations can achieve a “flow” of products and services that always strives for quality.
- Be reflective about, suggest, operations improvement tools and techniques and assume responsibility for the suggested improvements as part of a Business Operations Plan.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, presentations, asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
2K assignment (80%); presentation (20%)
Total Contact Hours:
30
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
40
Assessment Hours:
30
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn independently about the various marketing principles and design an effective and innovative marketing strategy reflecting customers’ needs, wants and behaviours.
- Carry out environmental scanning to identify opportunities and threats in the marketing environment, and instruct trainees on how to carry out environmental scanning to predict both threats and opportunities in the marketing environment as well as the marketing factors which contribute to product success or failure.
- Integrate knowledge from various sources and make judgements on electronic commerce, interactive marketing and the electronic presence of various companies (locally and globally) and how they create customer value.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, practical, asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
Hands-on project & 1.5K project report (40%); scientific poster (60%)
Total Contact Hours:
25
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
20
Self-Study Hours:
25
Assessment Hours:
30
Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate independent learning and instruct trainees about quantitative, qualitative and mixed research designs, and their strengths and weaknesses.
- Integrate knowledge from various sources and make decisions about the most appropriate research design and the associated research tools and techniques to be able to address the specific research questions of their proposed research project, and assume responsibility for such decisions. Demonstrate self-directed learning in integrating and analysing key findings from research to understand major influences on organisational performance.
- Demonstrate independent learning on evidence-based and person-based practices in response to identified organisational needs.
- Make judgements on evidence-based practices as they relate to organisational contexts.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, workshops asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
3K research proposal (100%)
Total Contact Hours:
30
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
40
Assessment Hours:
30
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn independently about the importance of personal development during practice.
- Demonstrate self-directed learning and instruct trainees about SMART goals.
- Demonstrate through self-reflection the importance to develop the potential of employees and the business through innovation and change.
- Work professionally under the supervision of other professionals within a business environment for at least 170 hours, create the necessary documents, and demonstrate the ability to respond to the fast-changing business environment.
Mode of Teaching:
Placement
Mode of Assessment:
Work placement observation (50%); logbook (50%)
Total Contact Hours:
21
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
170
Self-Study Hours:
0
Assessment Hours:
9
Learning Outcomes:
- Integrate knowledge from various sources to make judgements about how companies and public sector and ‘not-for-profit’ sector organisations can raise finance.
- Learn independently about the different features of financing instruments.
- Carry out a financial ‘risk-mapping’ exercise of a company or organisation, and assume responsibility for it.
- Propose a financial risk management strategy and assume responsibility for it.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
4K assignment (70%); presentation (30%)
Total Contact Hours:
70
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
100
Assessment Hours:
80
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn independently about auditing concepts, principles and objectives, and about the different types of auditing.
- Learn independently and instruct trainees about the basic analytical procedures on a set of financial statements, including when to use sampling and non-sampling.
- Prepare an audit plan by determining materiality, audit risk, and audit strategy, and assume responsibility for it.
- Make judgements and recommend improvements on the various elements of internal controls
- Develop tests of controls and tests of balances and audit procedures, and assume responsibility for decisions taken.
- Learn independently about the nature of other assurance and compilation engagements and identify the appropriate report for these engagements.
- Act professionally in view of the legal obligations faced by auditors under various types of law and assume responsibility for your actions.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
4K assignment (70%); presentation (30%)
Total Contact Hours:
70
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
100
Assessment Hours:
80
Learning Outcomes:
- Act independently and take the appropriate steps towards understanding and implementing digital currencies into the financial services landscape.
- Integrate knowledge from various fields and judge the relevance of cryptocurrencies as digital assets as opposed to alternative assets.
- Integrate knowledge from various sources to gain a deep understanding of the benefits and risks of the implementation of digital assets into a company that was predominantly physical.
- Learn through self-directed study how to handle regulatory oversight, the potential for illicit use through its anonymity within a new under-developed exchange system, and infrastructural breaches influenced by the growth of cyber criminality in the context of cryptocurrencies.
- Integrate knowledge from various sources to gain a deep understanding of the impact of ‘‘blockchain technology’’ on the nature of financial transactions from a business ethics perspective.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
4K assignment (75%); online forum discussion (25%)
Total Contact Hours:
70
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
100
Assessment Hours:
80
Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate the ability to learn independently about the principles of entrepreneurial and family business: viability of businesses, new business proposals, and opportunities within existing businesses, entrepreneurial management and growth through strategic plans.
Integrate knowledge from various sources and design a start-up business plan emphasising financing, marketing, and organizing, and assume responsibility for it.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply the principles of developing pro forma financial statements, new venture financing, growth financing, and growth financing for existing businesses, in a fast-changing business environment.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply the principles of risk assessment of new ventures and entrepreneurship in a fast-changing business environment.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
6K assignment (80%); presentation (20%)
Total Contact Hours:
105
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
150
Assessment Hours:
120
Learning Outcomes:
- Integrate knowledge from various sources and make judgements about the various issues for entrepreneurship and innovation in a corporate setting, in particular how corporate culture, structure and processes can both limit and enhance a company’s ability to innovate.
- Integrate knowledge from new and interdisciplinary fields to keep abreast with the latest innovative strategies being developed in an industry.
- Manage an innovation strategy for a company tailored to the particularities of the company and the industry environment.
- Learn through self-directed study about how different leadership strategies and management approaches can facilitate or hinder innovation and entrepreneurship.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
5K assignment (70%); presentation (15%); online forum discussion (15%)
Total Contact Hours:
105
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
150
Assessment Hours:
120
Learning Outcomes:
- Integrate knowledge from various sources and learn the main theories of Human Resource Management.
- Manage and assume responsibility for the development, implementation, and evaluation of employee recruitment, selection, and retention plans and processes, and contribute to the design and evaluation of the performance management program.
- Learn through self-directed study about employee orientation, training, and development programs, as well as about the importance of employment and industrial relations.
- Integrate knowledge from various sources to support the development, implementation and communication of the organisation’s remuneration and health and safety policies and practices.
- Integrate knowledge to be able to make judgements on information needs and apply current and emerging information technologies to support the human resources function.
- Make judgments on the various communication strategies through a variety of real-life case studies.
- Manage one’s own professional development and provide leadership to others in the achievement of ongoing competence in human resources professional practice.
- Conduct independent research, produce reports and recommend changes in human resources practices to contribute to the organisation’s business plan.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
5.5K assignment (75%); online forum discussion (25%)
Total Contact Hours:
105
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
150
Assessment Hours:
120
Learning Outcomes:
- Integrate knowledge from various sources to learn the major theoretical concepts in psychology related to organisations, and on how they developed throughout the years.
- Integrate knowledge from psychology theory, research, and organisational knowledge to critically evaluate how the field of psychology currently advances knowledge.
- Learn independently and instruct trainees about the use of psychometric tools in organisations.
- Demonstrate self-directed learning on the theoretical psychological concepts, apply them to the organisation and assume responsibility for decisions taken.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
4K assignment (65%); presentation (25%); online forum discussion (10%)
Total Contact Hours:
105
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
150
Assessment Hours:
120
Learning Outcomes:
- Integrate knowledge from various sources to be able to advise on the role of the compliance officer, and implement day-to-day compliance duties as part of internal governance in line with the expectations of the MFSA, and assume responsibility.
- Integrate knowledge from various sources to learn about the importance of good corporate governance and the role of the directors in particular non-executive directives and executive directors, internal auditors, risk officers and compliance officers as part of the system.
- Develop self-directed learning on the existing methodologies for managing and mitigating compliance risk, and on the various ways of mitigating compliance risks in a specific corporate setting.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
5.5K assignment (75%); online forum discussion (25%)
Total Contact Hours:
105
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
150
Assessment Hours:
120
Learning Outcomes:
- Integrate knowledge from various fields to learn, and make judgements about the different models and frameworks for quality assurance.
- Integrate knowledge from various sources on the importance of teamwork as well as the customer in the quality management system.
- Demonstrate autonomy in learning about the latest international frameworks in management systems and discuss some of the benefits these can bring to organisations.
- Demonstrate autonomy in learning about the various methods for identifying and improving interaction in business processes, and assume responsibility.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions, asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
6 K assignment (80%); presentation (20%)
Total Contact Hours:
105
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
150
Assessment Hours:
120
Learning Outcomes:
- Integrate knowledge from various sources to identify the forces impacting corporate and business strategies.
- Integrate knowledge from various sources and make judgements about the various factors (social, economic, technological and political) involved in strategy making, and also in view of the various resources and constraints.
- Demonstrate autonomy in learning about the impact of internationalisation on strategy making.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
5K assignment (70%); presentation (30%);
Total Contact Hours:
105
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
150
Assessment Hours:
120
Learning Outcomes:
- Integrate knowledge from various sources to learn about the importance of BPR and how it bridges the business operations and engineering of systems.
- Make judgements on how business processes can be radically improved, dramatically reducing process cycle time and cost, and improving the quality of the process products or outcomes.
- Monitor current business processes, diagnose problems and develop a BPR strategy.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, discussions asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
6K assignment (80%); presentation (20%)
Total Contact Hours:
105
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
150
Assessment Hours:
120
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn independently about the importance of planning and preparation required to undertake a research project.
- Consult numerous sources and integrate knowledge to develop a thorough understanding of the chosen subject area.
- Integrate knowledge from various sources and make judgements on the correct use of various research methods (qualitative, quantitative) to suit the research questions of the publishable article and journal article.
- Learn independently how to appraise critically the current literature and critically interpret results from primary and secondary data collection and present them in a logical manner.
- Effectively communicate knowledge in a scientific manner through the writing of a high-quality publishable article and a journal article.
- Integrate knowledge from interdisciplinary fields to provide recommendations based on research findings.
Mode of Teaching:
Lectures, asynchronous forums
Mode of Assessment:
3K publishable article (30%); 7K journal article (70%)
Total Contact Hours:
40
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours:
0
Self-Study Hours:
430
Assessment Hours:
30
Careers
At this level, participants can specialise in one particular research topic from five different strands (namely – Finance, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Quality Assurance & Strategic Management) in order to further enhance their knowledge in their area of interest. Therefore, the programme provides an opportunity for academically-inclined students to follow a doctoral research degree at MQF Level 8. Furthermore, diverse industries, ranging from fashion to energy, all require individuals who have a clear understanding of management systems. Prestigious opportunities exist in both the public and the private sector, with jobs such as Management Analyst, Sales Manager, International Trader and Business Development Manager being some of the roles that an individual in possession of an MBL can apply for.
Entry Criteria
1. A Bachelor’s degree (MQF Level 6 -180 ECTS) or comparable qualification from a recognised educational institution in a relevant subject (Second class degree or better).
OR
2. 26 years of age plus (maturity clause) and in possession of a higher diploma (MQF Level 5 – 60 ECTS) from a recognised educational institution with a merit level, or equivalent – plus five years of work experience in a supervisory or managerial role.
1. A Bachelor’s degree (MQF Level 6 -180 ECTS) or comparable qualification from a recognised educational institution in a relevant subject (Second class degree or better)
OR
2. 26 years of age plus (maturity clause) and in possession of a higher diploma (MQF Level 5 – 60 ECTS) from a recognised educational institution with a merit level, or equivalent – plus five years of work experience in a supervisory or managerial role;
AND
(For students whose first language is not English or for those who have never pursued any studies in English)
3. Proficient in the English Language – MLI’s preferred English language qualification is the IELTS (standard level) with a score of 6.5 or better, or TOEFL (standard level) with a score of 91/120 or better.
Fees
Maltese/EU
Third Country Nationals
Location
Malta Leadership Institute
Valley Towers, Suite 9
Valley Road
Birkirkara BKR9022
Malta
