Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Management
Online, United Kingdom
Postgraduate Certificate
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 3,410 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* total cost: £3,320–£3,410
Key Summary
About: The Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Management at The Open University covers strategic and operational aspects of managing technological innovation. It encourages applying learning to your technology context, offers optional modules to tailor study and lets you progress to a postgraduate diploma or MSc. The course runs a minimum of one year and a maximum of eight years.
Career Outcomes: The programme builds analytical, problem-solving skills and critical thinking, preparing you for senior management and leadership roles. Graduates move into roles such as technology manager, innovation manager, IT project or product manager, or operations, change management roles in digital transformation.
If technology, innovation and change are factors in your organisation or role, this Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Management will extend your knowledge, skills and capability – adding value to your career and workplace. It provides a rounded view of the management of technology and technological innovation. You can progress to the postgraduate diploma and then the MSc in Technology Management.
Key features
- Focuses on strategic and operational aspects of managing technological innovation and change
- Encourages you to apply your learning to your own particular technology context
- A wide choice of optional modules enabling you to tailor your studies to your own needs and interests
How long it takes
- The minimum time you may take to complete this qualification is one year.
- The maximum time you may take to complete this qualification is eight years.
To gain this qualification, you need 60 credits as follows:
30 credits from:
- Strategic capabilities for technological innovation (T849)
- Technology innovation management (TB801)
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules T840, T846 and T848.
30 credits from:
- Strategic capabilities for technological innovation (T849)
- Technology innovation management (TB801)
- Making strategy with systems thinking in practice (TB871)
- Managing change with systems thinking in practice (TB872)
- Information security (M811)
- Digital forensics (M812)
- Software development (M813)
- Software engineering (M814)
- Project management (M815)
- Data management (M816)
- Network security (T828)
- Manufacture materials design (T805)
- Making environmental decisions (T891)
- Sustainable organisations: theory and practice (T892)
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules B821, B822, B823, B824, H807, M865, M873, M874, M876, M877, M879, M881, M882, M883, M885, M886, M887, M888, M889, M891, T822, T823, T824, T825, T826, T827, T834, T835, T837, T839, T846, T848, T850, T851, T852, T853, T862, T867, T878, T879, T881, T882, T883, T889, T890, T894, TU811, TU812, TU872 and U810.
The University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 20 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that we've previously awarded to you.
Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
You will learn through two interrelated methods. Firstly, using a range of specially written study materials, case studies, original texts, study guides and assignments, and through a range of multi-media material. Secondly, you are allocated a tutor who is your first and main point of contact. Your tutor answers queries on study materials, grades and comments on your work, and, depending on which module you are studying, may arrange online tutorials. You are also encouraged to participate in online discussion forums for the module(s) you are studying. This gives you a chance to share and resolve issues with fellow students, as well as with tutors and the module team.
Formative assessment in the form of informal activities and self-assessed questions (SAQs) allows you to assess your progress and understanding. Formal assessment of the knowledge and understanding components of the programme is achieved by a series of tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) – usually three for each 30-credit module. These assignments are marked and assessed by your tutor. They are central to the teaching of the module since they allow you an opportunity to display your knowledge and understanding. This will enable tutors to identify any issues concerning either and provide appropriate feedback.
Although assignments are usually undertaken on an individual basis, some modules have group-based assignments that use online discussion forums. Modules may also include computer-marked assignments or examination papers. Currently, most modules within the technology management program include an end-of-module assessment in the form of a mini project, in place of an examination.
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
Knowledge and understanding
On completion of this qualification, you will have knowledge and understanding of:
- The principles, terms and definitions used in the management of technology and innovation to solve problems and propose improvements to technology projects.
Cognitive skills
On completion of this qualification, you will be able to:
- Critically analyse and evaluate conceptual, theoretical and applied approaches relevant to technological innovation with particular reference to the industrial setting appropriate to your employment and/or professional or personal interests.
Practical and/or professional skills
On completion of this qualification, you will be able to:
- Manage technology projects professionally, by reflecting on the development and use of technology and innovation to address organisational problems.
Key skills
On completion of this qualification, you will be able to:
- Advance your knowledge and understanding of the field of the management of technology and innovation through independent learning and reflection on practice and experience.
The technology management programme develops analytical skills and provides practically relevant knowledge that will equip you well for a variety of management and leadership roles. The competent technology manager is a highly valued professional, capable of ensuring that the organisation reaps all the potential rewards from its investment in technology of whatever type.
You will develop a range of job-related and transferable skills such as critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and the ability to cope with rapid technological change. The capabilities in research and problem-solving developed can be exploited in all professional situations at all management levels. Employers are also impressed by the commitment and determination it takes to succeed with the OU while keeping up family and work commitments.
These benefits, together with the opportunities to add value by applying your learning to the workplace as you study, make technology management programmes very attractive vehicles towards success in senior management roles.