Strategy, Innovation and People Management, MSc

Normally a H2.1 degree (NFQ Level 8 or equivalent). However, candidates with a H2.2 honours degree and who have a minimum of 2 years relevant work experience, will also be considered. IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent, if applicable. Similar to any modern work environment, we welcome diverse academic backgrounds to apply for the programme and believe your experience will enrich the diversity of what this programme offers.

A large range of professional and management positions, in a wide variety of industry settings and in leading, blue-chip, global organisations. Positions include graduate management trainee programmes, financial services and business analysis, management consultancy, retail management, hotel management, human resource management, policy development, and research and academia. 

Employers of previous graduates of the programme include; Accenture, AIB Capital Markets, Aldi, Amazon, Bank of Ireland, Diageo, Dell, Deloitte, Enterprise Ireland (New York), Google, IDA Ireland, Jumeirah Hotels, Mercer Consulting, Oracle, Qualtrics, Cambridge University (PhD), University of Galway and University of Limerick. 

New - Option of Internship Opportunity

Students have the option to pursue an internship opportunity (up to six months) incorporating an Applied Management Project. Internships are competitive and subject to the availability of suitable positions.

• The internship for students completing an MSc SIPM can be in any area of business with the proviso that the internship contains an element of exposure to human resources. It is envisaged that the broad nature of the MSc SIPM will equip students to apply for a variety of positions.
• The internships are typically suited to students with limited professional experience.
• Whilst students will be supported by a Placement Officer, students may also self-source their own internship subject to the approval of the Placement Office.
• We will source as many internship opportunities as possible but internships are usually not available for all students and are competitive. Further, it is at the discretion of employers whether they shortlist and offer a position to applicants.
• In cases where a student prefers to pursue individual research or cannot secure an internship, they will complete the Research Dissertation.

CIPD-accredited

The MSc (Strategy, Innovation and People Management) is approved by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) for accreditation at the advanced level. Students on this programme can achieve Associate Membership of CIPD. 

Associate membership of CIPD on graduation provides the platform for many initial positions (from which requisite experience is obtained leading to chartered, professional membership, usually within two years). Thereafter, strategy, innovation and organisational management programme dimensions satisfy the broader, value-contributing requirements of higher-level, business development roles, facilitating career progression and movement (including internationally). Programme graduates in recent years have a near full employment record.

CareerWise Recruitment’s award will be presented annually to the MSc Student on the basis of their Research Project (Dissertation) mark and nominated on the recommendation of the Head of Discipline.

Innovation

The MSc SIPM is innovative in conception, as reflected in curriculum design. Six of the eight taught modules (two-thirds of the programme) are double-weighted (10 ECTS), each with 48 contact hours. There are 36 classroom hours on a weekly basis, and 12 hours dedicated to bespoke practical learning events such as skills workshops and company visits. This enables the integration of theoretical rigour in the knowledge domain with the application of knowledge through applied, experiential activities. This dual theory-applied dimension is also evident in the Research Project, where the intellectual rigour of a dissertation is combined with primary empirical data to validate and/or extend theoretical foundations.

Innovation characterises both classroom and event-based learning. A wide range of pedagogies is employed in weekly teaching, such as lectures, seminars, case studies and problem cases, and senior industry speakers. Similar variety pertains for bespoke applied events, which include skills workshops (psychometric testing MG6107), company visits (An Post Mails Processing Centre MG6110), “off-site war games” (MG6102) and hosted corporate innovation days (MG6111). Overall programme assessment is 50% examinations/50% continuous assessment. The latter is broad-ranging, including group projects, presentations, poster productions (MG6101), essays and industry panel ratings (MG6102 and MG6111). 

Programme modules make extensive use of formal and recurring top-level Industry links. The MG6110 project on An Post includes presentations by two Executive Directors (Brian McCormick, Adjunct Professor, and Pat Knight, HR Director). In MG6101 Paul Scully, Group VP and Regional HR Director, Intel, delivers a masterclass on Strategic HR. The MG6102 project involves student groups working on a company problem assignment and presenting analyses and solutions to management, including Home Instead CEO Suzanne Ryan. On the Innovation Day in MG6111, students participate in an intensive start-up workshop guided by industry mentors, and pitch ideas developed and tested to an industry panel with the winners awarded prizes. MG6111 participants include John Power, Aerogen founder and CEO.

Award of Nelipak Prize for Top Performing Student in the MSc SIPM 

2021/2022

The Nelipak Prize for Top Performing Student in the MSc Strategy, Innovation & People Management in 2021/22 was awarded to Martin Kelley. The award was presented by Joe Holland, CEO of Nelipak Healthcare Packaging, the award sponsors, also in attendance were Prof Alma McCarthy Head of J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics and Professor of Public Sector Management at the University of Galway, Dr. Majella Giblin Senior Lecturer in the Management Discipline at J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, Dr. Rachel Hilliard Senior Lecturer Dept. of Managementand at J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics and Patricia Walsh External Engagement & Alumni Relations Manager at University of Galway.

2019/2020

At a recent online event, the Nelipak Prize of €1,000 for the Top Performing Student in the MSc in Strategy, Innovation & People Management (SIPM) in 2019/20 was awarded to Callum Farrell. The award was presented by Joe Holland, CEO of Nelipak Healthcare Packaging, the award sponsors.

On completion of the programme you will be able to:

(i) Demonstrate understanding and practical application of critical, evidence-based, analytical and evaluative thinking in strategy, innovation and people management. 

(ii) Show intellectual curiosity, creativity, self-reliance, teamwork skills and entrepreneurial thinking in approaching challenges.  

(iii) Develop the attributes of a professional, ethical and respectful leader ready for a global workplace.  

(iv) Apply effective decision making to global business problems 

(v) Identify, analyse and solve applied problems in individual and team-based settings. 

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2023/24).  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  An F5 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Postgraduate fee breakdown = Tuition (EU or NON EU) + Student levy as outlined above.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here. 

Rachel Hilliard
Programme Director
E: management@universityofgalway.ie

Cathy Melia
Programme Administrator
T: +353 91 493 771
E: management@universityofgalway.ie

Quick Links

• Accommodation Office
• International Students
• Postgraduate Funding - Scholarships
• Student Support and Resources