6 ECTS credits
159 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4017121EEW for working students in the 2nd semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Possible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Business
Educational team
Imke Dirkx
Chris Wuytens (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
2 contact hours Lecture
17 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
132 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

In the course Human Resource Management students develop a general understanding of how human resource decisions contribute to individual, team, and organizational effectiveness, and to a firm’s sustained competitive advantage. This knowledge can be applied in small, medium, and large firms, as well as non-profits. The course covers topics such as:

  • The historical background of HRM,
  • HR roles,
  • Strategic HRM (SHRM),
  • Job analysis and competency modeling,
  • Recruitment and employer branding,
  • Personnel selection and assessment,
  • Performance appraisal and management,
  • Training and development, 
  • Compensation and benefits,
  • Careers,
  • Employee well-being. 

The course approaches the management of human resources from a strategic perspective. The strategic perspective describes how each of the basic HR functions has its own part within the overall strategic plan of the organization and contributes to organizational performance. The course further takes an evidence-based approach to HRM which aims to help students in developing critical judgment in making decisions that impact the well-being and performance of organizations and employees.

Course material
Course text (Required) : Managing Human Resources: A Balanced Approach, Bert Schreurs, VUB, 2220170009643, 2022
Digital course material (Required) : Lecture slides, teacher notes, and the material used for the practicals will be made available, Canvas
Additional info

Teaching Methods

- Lecture: collective contact-dependent moments during which the lecturer engages with learning materials
- Seminar, Exercises or Practicals (Practical): collective or individual contact-dependent moments during which the students are guided to actively engage with learning materials
- Independent or External Form of Study (Self): independent study

This description of the teaching methods is indicative, in order to assess the expected study load.

REGULAR and WORKING STUDENTS
Contact hours: 19 hours

  • Opening lecture by course coordinator (on campus): 2 hours 
  • Practical sessions: 17 hours
    • HR science meets practice (online): 2 hours
    • Case discussions (on campus): 12 hours
    • Careers workshop (on campus): 3 hours

The opening lecture will be recorded, the practical sessions will not.

Self: 132 hours

  • Watching pre-recorded videos: 20 hours
  • Listening to podcast episodes: 4 hours
  • Keeping up with the course material (incl. syllabus) during the semester, adding up to 7 hours per chapter: 56 hours
  • Preparing for the exam: 48 hours
  • Answering self-test questions: 4 hours
Learning Outcomes

General competencies

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

  1. identify and describe the key concepts and frameworks for human resource management;
  2. describe the fundamentals and functionality of the different HR domains;
  3. understand and explain how the HR domains separately and in combination contribute to sustained competitive advantage;
  4. critically analyze factors that influence the strategic management of human resources in today’s international environment;
  5. evaluate the extent to which an organization’s HR architecture is in accordance with the most recent scientific evidence;
  6. identify causes of HR-related problems and formulate recommendations based on the best available evidence.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Written Exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: The exam tests students' knowledge and understanding about the course material. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions.

Additional info regarding evaluation

(!) In accordance with the supplementary faculty regulations to article 8§3 of the Teaching and Examination Regulations, the examination in the first examination session for all students only takes place in the additional examination block, organized in the two weeks following the spring break.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Civil Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Management: Standaard traject
Master of Civil Engineering: Standaard traject (BRUFACE)
Master of Educational Sciences: Standaard traject
Master of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Profile Profile Literary Studies
Master of Biomedical Research: Standaard traject
Master of Movement and Sports Sciences: Afstudeerrichting fysieke activiteit, fitheid en gezondheid - profiel sportbeleid en sportmanagement (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Movement and Sports Sciences: Afstudeerrichting sporttraining en coaching - profiel sportbeleid en sportmanagement (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Social Law: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)