Scholar Guide

Welcome

Welcome to learning with Switch Education for Business (Switch).  We’re delighted to welcome you to our programmes and guide you on your leadership journey.

 

Who we are

We are passionate educators who want to change the world through delivering leadership and management programmes focused on the concept of workplace empowerment. Our programmes will help to create a global community of empowering, collaborative, qualified leaders and help us achieve our vision of building a world where empowered people thrive.

 

Our approach

Our approach to learning is underpinned by Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) principles and practices. Using SCT as our learning framework means our primary focus is on building your confidence in your ability as a scholar to learn academic content and successfully apply this knowledge to your workplace environment.

This approach helps boost your resilience to the many challenges faced by managers and leaders at work and will support you to change your behaviour as required. In contrast to many management and leadership programmes that create competitive environments and look for mistakes that usurp rather than boost scholar confidence, our focus is on nurturing you while you undertake academic study and to actively encourage your success as an independent scholar.

 

Self-efficacy beliefs

SCT is based on the concept of ‘self-efficacy beliefs’.  Self-efficacy beliefs are your personal judgement about your capability to accomplish what’s necessary and achieve expected performance outcomes.

The three foundational pillars of self-efficacy beliefs are:

  • Confidence: Your confidence in your competence to undertake challenging tasks
  • Responsibility: Your ability to act, influence your life and assume responsibility for your behaviour
  • Conviction: Your conviction that your efforts will lead to successful outcomes

By creating an environment to increase your confidence in your ability to undertake academic study, you’ll be more capable of achieving your goal of becoming a more effective leader and manager.

 

Self-reflection

Self-reflection is an integral part of learning. In particular self-reflection is critical if we are to learn how to initiate and sustain behavioural change. Only through self-reflection will you be able to make sense of your experiences, explore your own thought patterns and self-beliefs and engage in self-evaluation.  Going through this process will enable you to become more self-regulatory, alter your perspective and modify your behaviour as necessary in future.

In all Switch courses, there will be many opportunities for you to reflect on what you’ve read and watched as well as think about your own experiences. These reflections can be captured in the private learning journal within the course or in the comments area.

 

Getting the most from this course

The learning environment we have created and the activities you undertake within a Switch course are designed to boost your self-efficacy beliefs to undertake study and apply what you learn at work. In order to help you in that regard, we have introduced a range of learning strategies such as:

  • Relatively simple questions to prompt reflection and action
  • Creating a positive self-reinforcing cycle of success
  • Celebrating your progress and performance against your own time frames
  • Giving you the freedom to proceed at your own pace
  • Encouraging you with consistent, credible and specific feedback

 

Digital learning support

In all Switch courses, there is a private learning journal in the form of a digital workbook designed to help you capture your reflections. If you’re planning to undertake the required assessment to earn your CMI Certificate, these notes will give you a big jump start.

There is also a comments area to share your thoughts with fellow scholars. Please remember your comments are posted to a public forum that other members of the Switch community will read. Therefore, any reflections or planned actions that could be considered confidential should be put in your private learning journal or in an offline action plan.

We recommend you make full use of both of these tools.  The process of writing in a journal will greatly assist in learning course content while sharing your thoughts is a terrific way to refine and reinforce your thinking as well as giving others the opportunity to learn from your reflections. Our ultimate aim is to help you absorb more knowledge, feel better supported and develop the self-confidence you need to be as successful as possible in your career as a manager and leader .

 

How this guide helps you

The information in this guide is designed to assist you in completing your studies with Switch. We hope you find the study you undertake with us both personally and professionally rewarding.

We understand many scholars completing accredited Chartered Management Institute (CMI) qualifications with Switch are doing so whilst juggling demanding jobs and busy personal lives. Be assured the Switch team is here to assist you in any way we can to make your journey as an adult learner as enjoyable as possible. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time if you have any questions or need assurance about any aspect of your learning journey.

This Guide has been written to support scholars undertaking CMI accredited Leadership and Management Qualifications with Switch. The quality of our education programmes is rigorously monitored and audited, both internally and externally, to ensure we provide a consistently high quality standard of services to our scholars.

The purpose of this Guide is to introduce you to Switch’s key policies and procedures and to outline your responsibilities as a scholar. It is essential you read and understand this Guide before you enrol in a course or programme. Each scholar is responsible for knowing and complying with Switch’s policies and procedures as well as any other information contained in this Guide.

 

Scholar charter

Switch is committed to the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of management and leadership education. Excellence in management and leadership education involves scholars as active participants in their learning experience. The Scholar Charter sets out the expectations you as scholars can properly hold as they take Switch courses and programmes. Our Scholar Charter recognises that ethical and honest behaviour and treatment underpin the relationship between Switch and its scholars.

 

Switch responsibilities

Scholars can expect:

  • To be treated with courtesy and respect
  • Switch to address the reasonable needs of all scholars regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, disability, race or background
  • To enjoy a study environment free from harassment, bullying or discrimination of any kind. Please also see our Code of Conduct
  • To be provided with a harmonious study environment in which concerns and complaints are addressed as quickly as possible
  • To have personal privacy respected. Scholars may expect that personally sensitive information will be requested only where necessary for Switch learning and administrative functions. Once collected, personally sensitive information will be adequately protected against inappropriate or unauthorised access. Please also see our Privacy Policy
  • To be provided with accurate, timely and helpful information regarding their progress, enrolment and other administrative procedures applying to them
  • Assessment feedback will form a valuable part of the educative process

 

Scholar responsibilities

Switch scholars will be expected to:

  • Treat other members of the Switch community with respect and courtesy
  • Respect the opinions of others and deal with disagreement by rational debate
  • Avoid conduct which disrupts the learning activities of other scholars, or which interferes with staff performing their duties
  • Avoid conduct which might reasonably be perceived as discrimination, harassment, bullying or intimidating
  • Acquaint themselves with Switch’s policies and procedures relevant to their enrolment and observe Switch’s statutes, policies and procedures
  • Maintain steady progress in assessment in all courses and programmes undertaken
  • Incorporate any feedback into their learning journey
  • Avoid plagiarism in their assessments and always submit work that is genuinely their own
  • Adhere to Switch’s process on assessment and re-submission.

Scholars concerned about the application or contravention of the principles outlined in this Scholar Charter (and the policies underpinning these principles) should be aware that grievance procedures exist to deal with inappropriate conduct, such as harassment or discrimination and breaches of personal privacy. Please also see our Code of Conduct.

 

External review of Switch operations

Switch is subject to external auditing of its operations by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Switch provides a service that complies with quality requirements pertaining to its status of being a CMI accredited organisation.

 

Operational policies and procedures

Switch has documented policies and procedures covering all aspects of the work it conducts and the administration of its operations. A summary of some of the general polices are included below and elsewhere in this Scholar Guide.

 

Withdrawals and refunds policy

Fees paid for courses are not refundable after course commencement unless special circumstances apply. Applications for refunds must be made in writing and sent to the Director Programmes. When a request for a refund is received, a receipt of the request will be provided to the scholar. Notification of the outcome, including a refund if applicable, will be forwarded to the scholar within 4 weeks of Switch’s receipt of the request.

Switch expects each scholar to progress through his/her course/programme at a rate that will enable the scholar to complete the course in a timely manner. This means for all CMI Programmes the equivalent to a Level 5 Award in Management and Leadership must be completed within a 12 month period from Registration.  If this is not the case, the Student agrees to be withdrawn from the Programme without consultation.

 

Complaints, grievance and appeals process

Switch has procedures in place for scholars and clients with a grievance or who wish to lodge a complaint in regard to any of the services or operations. Please see our Code of Conduct.

 

Privacy policy

Your Privacy is important to us and Switch is committed to adhering to applicable legislative requirements regarding the storage and use of personal information.  Information will not be shared without the permission of the scholar unless it is required to do so for legislative reasons.  Please see our Privacy Policy.

 

Records management

Switch ensures its record keeping procedures comply with the quality standards set by CMI. All scholar records are confidential. Systems are permanently backed up to ensure the security of scholar records.

 

Scholar misconduct

Harassment by a scholar toward another scholar or staff member is not acceptable. Any case will be investigated and all parties notified of the outcome. The misconduct of harassment may result in the scholar being terminated from their course. Harassment may include: bullying, verbal or written abuse, offensive messages by telephone, emails, text messaging or persistent contact and of a sexual nature. Please see our Code of Conduct.

 

Enrolment information

 

Fees:

Course fees are payable in accordance with the course requirements. Payment of full course fees is required even where a scholar fails to advise Switch of their withdrawal from the course.

Acceptable methods of payment include: MasterCard; Visa.

 

Enrolment checklist:

Prior to enrolment please ensure you have read the detailed course guide to ensure you:

  • have determined the learning outcomes meet your needs
  • can meet the average number of study hours required per week in order to complete the course/programme
  • have met the entry requirements for the programme
  • have noted any additional resources required for this programme
  • have advised Switch of any special needs/assistance you may require
  • meet the literacy and numeracy requirement for the course/programme you are enrolling in
  • satisfy the minimum technology requirements to access your course/programme
  • are aware of the refund policy available to you

 

Scholar Progression

Switch is committed to providing a supportive scholar-centred learning environment. Switch recognises that early identification and support of scholars at risk of not completing programmes gives them the best chance of success. Each scholar’s enrolment in a programme is monitored to ensure that scholars who are at risk of not achieving satisfactory progress receive appropriate learning support and assistance. Switch expects each scholar to progress through his/her course/programme at a rate that will enable the scholar to complete the course in a timely manner. This means for all CMI Programmes the equivalent to a Level 5 Award in Management and Leadership must be completed within a 12 month period from Registration.  If this is not the case, the Student agrees to be withdrawn from the Programme without consultation.

 

Assessment policies and procedures

Assessment is the process of collecting evidence and making judgements as to whether competency has been achieved by each scholar.

Assessment for each unit involves the use of the assignment briefs prepared by CMI.

For a scholar to be awarded a CMI Level 5 Certificate, he/she must satisfactorily complete all units that are a mandatory part of that course.

 

Cheating

Cheating is the use of any unauthorised material or electronic device in an assessment activity, irrespective of whether or not this is used by the scholar to assist him/her to complete that assessment.

After investigation, any scholar found to be cheating will have his/her assessment activity cancelled, and no re-submission of assessment will be accepted. He/she will be scheduled to re-commence the assessment and additional fees will be applied.

See also our Code of Conduct.

 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when someone presents the thoughts or writings of another person as his/her own. You are therefore required to acknowledge all direct quotations, ideas, paraphrased writings and statistical information.

Plagiarism is a form of cheating, and is one of the most serious offences any writer can make. Any scholar found to be plagiarising will be regarded as having cheated, and the same conditions will be applied as recorded in the Cheating section above.

Our Code of Conduct has further information.

 

Satisfactory academic progress

Switch expects each scholar to progress through his/her course/programme at a rate that will enable the scholar to complete the course in a timely manner. This means for all CMI Programmes the equivalent to a Level 5 Award in Management and Leadership must be completed within a 12 month period from Registration.  If this is not the case, the Student agrees to be withdrawn from the Programme without consultation.

Support for learners completing the CMI Assignments will be provided through the Assessment Courses. The purpose of the courses is to coach the learner through the Assessments in order to minimise the risk that a resubmission will be required. The course process includes students making a draft submission to Switch to ensure that the learner has addressed all elements required for the Assessment prior to submission.  In the event of a re-submission being required, an individual Skype call will be arranged to address the issues outlined by the CMI assessor.

 

Timelines for issue of qualifications and results

Provided no re-assessment is required, Switch endeavours to finalise results, then prepare, and email certificates no later than 60 days after programme completion. If re-assessments are required, they must be completed within 2 weeks of notification. Digital certificates will then be available 60 days after completion of such re-assessments.

If a scholar leaves before he/she has successfully completed the mandatory units within his/her course, the course is considered incomplete and an Award or Certificate will NOT be issued.

 

Replacement qualifications and results schedules

Replacement Certificates can be issued to scholars upon payment of a fee.

 

Academic appeals

All coursework appeals should be directed to Switch.

In the event that the scholar is dissatisfied with the outcome of the assessment appeal or the way in which it was conducted, he/she has 20 days from the date on the written notification by Switch in which to lodge an Internal Appeal to have the case reviewed.

All assessment appeals must be directed to CMI.

Scholars have the right to refer to the Chartered Management Institute if they remain dissatisfied with the outcome of their complaint after they’ve exhausted internal channels at Switch. See our Code of Conduct.

 

Technology requirements

Before commencing their course scholars should ensure they meet the following technology requirements.

  • Computer (compatible with Windows, Mac or Android operating systems) with a reliable internet connection and printer
  • Digital camera/recording device with microphone
  • Operating system: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader and Flash Player (latest versions available for free download at Adobe website)
  • Supported browsers include Firefox 3+, Google Chrome 4+, Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 and 8, Opera 9+, Safari 3+ (download latest browser software for free online).
  • You will need a reliable internet connection, preferably Broadband (64 Kbit/sec or faster)

Additionally, some course resources may require software programs from the Microsoft Office suite. If you do not have Microsoft Office, you may wish to install the following viewers:

 

Links with CMI Support

At any time the scholar can make use of the support opportunities provided by CMI, whether in conjunction with Switch or independently.  Please see additional presentation on how the SEB/CMI partnership can further assist you during your studies.