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. 

Option of Internship Opportunity

Students have the option to pursue an internship opportunity incorporating an Applied Management Report. The internship gives students an edge in the job market on completion of their programme. Most of our students are offered graduate roles by their internship organisation on completion of their course. 

• 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. Many of the classroom hours are 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 and projects.

A wide range of pedagogies is employed in weekly teaching, such as lectures, seminars, case studies and problem cases, and senior industry speakers. Assessment is based on continuous assessment, including for example group projects, presentations, poster, essays and industry panel ratings. 

Programme modules make extensive use of formal and recurring top-level industry links. Recent speakers included Executive Directors from AnPost, VP from Intel, and CEOs from Home Instead and Aerogen.

Awards for Top Performing Students

We value excellence and recognise our top performing students with prestigious awards. The awards are sponsored, evidence of the endorsement of the Masters in SIPM by our partners. The awards include:

Prize of €1,000 for the Top Performing Student, sponsored by Nelipak.

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.

New CIPD Awards on the MSc in Human Resource Management (HRM) and the MSc in Strategy, Innovation and People Management (SIPM) programmes from 2022/23

J.E Cairnes School of Business & Economics is delighted to announce the establishment of a new award for the MSc HRM and MSc SIPM programmes. 

This new award will be presented to the student with the best Applied Management Report in their respective programmes. The awards are sponsored by CIPD, and will be referred to as:

• The CIPD Award for the Best Applied Management Report, MSc in Human Resource Management
• The CIPD Award for the Best Applied Management Report, MSc in Strategy, Innovation and People Management

The winners will receive CIPD membership for one year and a certificate noting their achievement. CIPD Ireland and UK have also committed to disseminating the winning students' research and ideas with other CIPD students and professionals across the world, through a bespoke blog. This is a great opportunity to reward two high-achieving students on the MSc HRM and MSc SIPM.

On graduation, you will be able to:

1. Apply effective decision making to global business problems.

2. Identify, analyse and solve applied problems in individual – and team-based settings.

3. Examine and critically evaluate the challenges of doing business across national boundaries from the perspective of an individual manager, or organisation.

4. Apply knowledge, understanding and competency in a broad range of cross-disciplinary internationally focused fields using theories, concepts and frameworks relevant to contemporary

5. Critically evaluate and apply tools, techniques or different methodological approaches to investigate pertinent questions, scenarios or cases in an international management context.

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant—please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2024/25).  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  A P1 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

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