The module aims to develop students' knowledge and understanding of the nature, context, role and importance of financial control in public sector organisations, and their ability to select and apply finance concepts and techniques to support decision-making.

The module will also sensitise learners to the employment law framework in the public sector. The objective is to ensure that learners have a comprehensive knowledge of the legislation and common law rules which governs the contract of employment. This module will have a noted emphasis on employment law compliance skills and the relevant adjudication mechanisms.

The module will be responsive to regional and sector specific requirements. It will focus on the needs of the Health, Social Care and Public Sector as required.

1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the sources of employment law and a specialised knowledge of the employment law framework in Ireland.

2. Critically evaluate the nature of EU labourlaw directives and the wider European socio-economic context.

3. Demonstrate practical skills in the applicationof employment law, provide evidence of workplace compliance and articulate a detailed knowledge of enforcement mechanisms.

4. Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the nature, role and importance of the financial control in public sector organisations

5. Apply an advanced knowledge and understanding of budgetary control concepts and practices to financial and organisational control

6. Illustrate and interpret appraisal techniques in the evaluation of capital investment proposals, as a support to managerial performance.

The aim of this module is to develop the learners ability to critically appraise what constitutes proper governance and how effective governance is evidenced in organisations. The module will equip learners with an awareness of the structures and processes which operate in well governed organisations, and it will also sensitise learners to the impicit nature of how systems operate within a real world context. The role and leadership responsibilities of boards will be explored alongside the accountability of both directors and managers, the nature of fiduciary duties and executive and non-executive functions.

The module will be responsive to regional and sector specific requirements and will initially focus on the need as the Health, Social Care and Public Sector as required.

1. Critically appraise the nature,context andevolutiongovernance.

2. Synthesize the interrelated concepts of governance, risk and compliance and the role of regulatory bodies.

3. Critically evaluate howeffective governancearchitectureand compliance structures supports good governance withinorganisations.

4. Critically appraise the role of ethics, culture,diversity, power and relationships in governance.

5. Extract and apply the learning from reports which reflect on governancefailures.

This module examines the role, importance and impact of effective leadership in the management of a range of organisational environments. Students will gain an insight into their own leadership style and will critically evaluate the potential of successful leadership to inspire, motivate and manage others, drive strategic vision and deliver on organisational goals. There will be a focus on three dimensions: the self, the team and the organisation.

1. Critically appraise theories of leadership and evaluate their potential for application inthe workplace.

2. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the self and of interpersonal skills needed to lead and manage others in a professional environment.

3. Apply leadership and collaborative skills to the management of people, teams and resources in an organisation.

4. Critically analyse the role of leadership in creating and communicating organisational vision, instilling a culture of trust and reaching organisational goals.

5. Engage inongoing critical reflection on the effectiveness of his/herown leadership.

This module will assist learners in developing critical awareness of the range of research and innovation methods used in the sphere of outdoor education and how to appropriately select from these in designing a project proposal. It will provide students with the knowledge necessary to design a realistic, practically based and robustly-designed project that seeks to improve practice. Learners will be required to consider their proposed project area, articulate aims and objectives and submit a project proposal. Learners who successfully complete this module will be competent at selecting and applying appropriate methods and techniques to conduct a substantial project.

1. Develop,articulate and justify a research/project aim.

2. Articulate coherent research projectobjectives which are appropriately related to the aim of the project.

3. Select research methods which areappropriate to the research aims and objectives.

4. Set out and defend the rational for selecting a particular methodological approach suitable to the research question.

5. Articulate critical insight into ethical and data protection issues and appropriately address these.

6. Formulate a research proposal for a dissertation.

This module actively facilitates the critical examination and appraisal of the theories, strategies, and techniques of organisational behaviour and change management, as required by a leader in order to engage with changing environments, diverse individuals and groups, with the objective of facilitating optimal organisational performance, while at once, demonstrating professional sensitivity and awareness of the differing stakeholder psychodynamics and interests involved.

The module is structured into four blocks of learning focusing on the individual; group dynamics; organisational systems and change management strategies and techniques. At the level of the individual, psychological literature on individual differences will be interrogated, reflected upon and applied to workplace decision-making. Contemporary theories of learning, well-being, and participation at work will optimise development in workplace settings. Team optimisation, crisis and conflict management techniques will be actively engaged with. Further, participants will examine the role of organisational structure, culture, and context for organisational optimisation. Consideration will be given to the organisational context, with particular reference to regional idiosyncrasies and challenges. Strategies and techniques for leading change successfully will be assessed.

1. Critically appraise and apply appropriate psychological, sociological and organisational theories, demonstrating leadership in the management of personal and group issues arising in an organisational setting.

2. Present a critical reflection on the dynamics of roles and responsibilities within an organisation, to support successful implementation strategies within teams.

3. Engage in critical dialogue demonstrating understanding of historical and contemporary organisational design structures, to make recommendations for application to selected work settings.

4. Demonstrate mastery of specialised techniques and theories involved at the forefront of the field of organisational change;critical event management;sustainability and development dynamics.

The overall aim of this module is to develop students' understanding of and capacity for critical thinking, creative thinking and problem-solving. The module is focused on creating the ability to deduce and interpret information, recognize assumptions, draw inferences, evaluate arguments, exercise critical judgment in decision making and generate an active open-minded thinker. The module seeks to create a critical awareness of the fallacies in arguments and the cognitive biases in decision making.

1. Demonstrate an understanding of critical thinking as used in a range of contexts ;
2. Integrate models of decision making with the organisational context;
3. Analyse information and arguments in complex situations;
4. Recognise behavioural biases in thinking and decision making;
5. Illustrate the use of creative thinking techniques in problem solving;
6. Analyse risk and perceptions of risk in decision making under uncertainty;
7. Appraise value conflicts in decision making.