AUM American University of Malta

MBA in Healthcare Management

Full-time mode of study – For pathway in Healthcare Management

Full-time

Semester 1 (16 weeks)

• Economics for Managers
• Financial Accounting
• Financial Management
• Writing and Presenting Academic Research

Semester 2 (16 weeks)

• Operation Management
• Information Systems in Healthcare
• Health Systems and Policy/or Public Procurement in Healthcare
• Research Methods for Business

Semester 3 (16 weeks)

• Ethics in Healthcare
• Quality Management in Healthcare
• Research Thesis in Healthcare

Part-time

Semester 1 (16 weeks)

• Economics for Managers
• Financial Accounting

Semester 2 (16 weeks)

• Financial Management
• Writing and Presenting Academic Research

Semester 3 (16 weeks)

• Health Systems and Policy
• Operations Management

Semester 4

• Information Systems in Healthcare
• Health Systems and Policy/or Public Procurement in Healthcare

Semester 5

• Research Methods for Business
• Ethics in Healthcare

Semester 6

• Quality Management in Healthcare
• Research Thesis in Healthcare

Program Learning Outcomes

The course provides a rigorous business education based on a solid foundation in the functional areas of business enhanced with skills in analysis and critical thinking. The curriculum builds on foundational knowledge with the findings of current research, leading to the multi-disciplinary perspective needed to lead a successful business in a global economy.

This course is designed for individuals who are not equipped with classic management topics, such as economics, finance, or accounting, but also a deep understanding of healthcare-focused management areas and create sustainable strategies for adapting to national and international healthcare industry challenges.

Knowledge

Graduates will acquire knowledge of the following fields needed to manage a business or non-profit organization:

• Interpret, design, and apply a wide range of accounting, economics, and financial practical tools and data.
• Evaluate, design, and apply comprehensive legal business policies and theoretical frameworks
• Design and implement a multi-disciplinary organizational structure, design, and culture
• Develop and maximize the efficiency of marketing strategies.
• Analyze consumer behavior and business advertising.
• Design and apply research and statistics methods (i.e., qualitative, and quantitative).
• Implement and combine different ICT approaches into a digital society-based framework.

Pathway in Healthcare Management

• Evaluate the current issues related to healthcare management and implement the best practices to respond efficiently and effectively.

Skills

Graduates will develop the following skills used in managing a business:

• Analyze competitive threats, and differentiate between the complexities of external influences on business activity.
• Apply appropriate statistical and financial investment techniques and tools to business data to make successful business decisions.
• Apply performant operation management, including cost management.
• Measure and predict the impact of macroeconomics’ indicators movements, including but not limited to financial systems, business cycles, labor markets, monetary and fiscal policy
• Use research results to justify business decisions, and the impact of general and specific environment business factors and internal financial data to develop new strategies and tactics for business development
• Classify the business’ most valuable customers and prepare a strategy to maintain the organization’s market position.
• Apply ethical and legal principles, with an understanding of the organizational and societal implications of ethical behavior

Pathway in Healthcare Management

8. Critically evaluate and implement the latest strategies of healthcare management tools and methodologies of effective management

9. Analyse and debate challenges of the healthcare sector and formulate effective approaches to use

Competencies:

Graduates will develop the following competencies:

• Create innovative solutions to complex business problems.
• Be responsible for activities that affect business outcomes, including but not limited to financial management and reporting, strategy development and implementation, operations, marketing, and employee management.
• Make unbiased decisions that are supported by data rather than gut feelings.
• Comply with professional standards and laws and demonstrate the highest business and professional ethics.
• Design business plans that will create value for the organization and its stakeholders.
• Implement digital dedicated technology to make business decisions in a more timely manner.

Pathway in Healthcare Management

• Design healthcare management concepts and effective methodologies that will create value for the healthcare organization and its stakeholders.

Implement information systems tools to operate the healthcare business and related activities

The learner will be able to:

• Transmit the vision, mission, objectives, strategic direction, and business action plan to all stakeholders.
• Explain research results in non-technical terms.
• Interpret accounting and financial results for non-business people.
• Explain the impact of different organizational designs on organizational efficiency.
• Critically discuss methods of organizational transformation.
• Define the impact of organizational culture on employee performance.
• Ability to use digital technology as a communication tool.

Pathway in Healthcare Management

The learner will be able to:

• Use digital technology and communication tools to serve efficiency in healthcare organizations
• Critically discuss the impact of organizational culture on employee performance in healthcare organizations.
• Comprehend the characteristics of healthcare management and the main principles of effective management methods.
• Use the research results to enhance the effectiveness of healthcare management.

The MBA comprises 3 semesters of full-time coursework plus a fourth semester in which a major independent research project is completed (by NCFHE Guidelines for Accreditation of MQF Level 7 Courses:

“Any Master’s degree must include a dissertation, research project or research component/s of equivalent standard to which not less than 20 ECTS are assigned.”)

The courses are sequenced such that later courses leverage material learned in earlier courses.

In general, the pedagogical approach of the Introductory and Core Modules comprises lectures, frequent homework, and exams.

The Advanced Modules incorporate case studies and group projects.

The Research Methods module requires students to develop a proposal for the research project in the last semester. Students must finish the Research Methods for Business module in the third semester with a proposal for the fourth-semester independent research project before beginning the project.

The coursework comprises 72 ECTS and the research project is assigned 20 credits, for a total of 92 ECTS.

For the online program, teaching will occur via an online meeting/lecture software to deliver real-time lectures.

A VLE will be used to deliver asynchronous learning which enables students to reach learning content (e.g. PDFs, eBooks, videos, etc..) when it is the most convenient time for them.

Faculty will deliver online video lectures that are identical in content to face-to-face classes. Educational videos will be liked from academic resources licensed through the AUM Library (e.g. Business Source Complete, and other databases). If appropriate, faculty can also utilize selected VODs such as Netflix, or Apple TV to incorporate in lectures.

For academic support, the VLE and SIS systems will be the main channels of communication for student-tutor engagement. Technical support -ticketing system- will be available 24/7 on both platforms.

In addition, work-based learning will also be used as a method of learning. Students will be supported by industry mentors who will facilitate learning at their place of work. Knowledge and underlying principles will be delivered also using traditional methods.

Work-based experience is encouraged, but not mandatory, through educational field trips followed by internships, university-private sector agreements for practical sessions, and short-term part-time work placement. Students are also encouraged to select a company to build their practical competencies and skills, and observation of the real process on-site. Work-based learning opportunities which involve field work will follow the university partnership agreements. Work-based learning can be part of the coursework project or other assessment according to the course instructor.

Pathway in Healthcare Management

The coursework comprises 62 ECTS and the research project is assigned 30 credits, for a total of 92 ECTS.