University of Edinburgh Business School

Academic programme

The programme is designed to assist non-specialist students to acquire understanding of the nature, structure and workings of business organisations and the management processes that take within them. Through the use of guest speakers, case studies and visits, specific attention will be paid to the application of this understanding to organisations operating in the arts/culture sector.

The course is designed to be both "self-contained" for participants who do not wish to study the subject further, and to prepare students who wish to take additional related modules on return to their respective institutions.

The course is divided into seven components:

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• Marketing
• Operations Management
• Strategy
• The Management of Human Resources

It provides an introduction to the business environment with a focus on the arts/culture sector, the nature of business organisations, the role of the manager and techniques relevant to management.

In addition to the course lectures, guest speaker sessions and visits, students also participate in an on-line business simulation allowing them to apply their knowledge acquired on the course and explore the interrelations of the major business functions as they run their own company.

The 4 week academic programme will be divided up into two courses, each of which will be worth 10 credits from the University of Edinburgh, giving a total of 20 credits.

Teaching modules will be timetabled from 10am - 12 noon and 2pm - 4pm in most cases. Students will be expected to engage in independent study, following suggested and recommended reading for the course.

The programme will be taught in the new state of the art Business School which is located in the heart of the university campus and very close to the centre of the city. Each summer the area immediately surrounding the school becomes home to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with many of the key performance venues right on the doorstep.