Upskilling Scotland Scholarship
Future proof your workforce with Heriot-Watt Online upskilling courses
“The skills required in the workforce are changing fast. Jobs are changing on you, even if you’re not changing jobs. Recent LinkedIn data shows skillsets for jobs have changed by around 25% since 2015. By 2027, this number is expected to double.”*
At Heriot-Watt University, we are pioneers in education, committed to building partnerships that help people and businesses prepare for the future.
Our online education is shaped by industry and designed to address critical skills gaps and build capability within your existing workforce. Contact us today on b2b@hw.ac.uk to discuss how our fully online learning - from short courses to full MSc programmes - can enhance your CPD offer.
(Linda Cai, Vice-President of talent development at LinkedIn. BBC Worklife web article, 18th April 2022)
Heriot-Watt Online Masters Courses with Upskilling Scotland Funding.
Funding available now
Heriot-Watt Online at Edinburgh Business School offers fully funded courses to all types of organisations through the Scottish Government's Upskilling Scotland fund. Employees can upskill in a range of topics from our masters-level courses (worth £1, 230) and get started straightaway via our fully online system.
All of the courses listed below are available for full funding for Scottish-based candidates that meet the eligibility criteria. They are the entry courses to some of our highest in-demand MSc and MBA programmes and will give learners a stepping stone onto a full Masters programme should they wish to progress to a degree qualification.
Sustainable Supply Chain Strategies
Strategies for Managing Supply Chains
Explore how logistics and supply chain management (SCM) can be leveraged to gain competitive advantage. Understand how to design and optimise a sustainable supply chain strategy considering process selection and physical logistics network. Explore collaborative strategies and be able to recognise sources of risk in a supply chain.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn how to formulate and assist with a logistics / supply chain strategy for a business.
- Develop a performance measurement system for a logistics operation
- Assist with the development of collaborative strategies between supply chain partners
- Recognise sources of risk in a supply chain; Design a cost optimized logistics network
What the course will cover:
- Logistics, SCM and competitive advantage
- Designing a differentiated SC strategy
- Collaborative strategies for a synchronous integrated supply chain
- Time-based strategies and managing the lead-time gap
- Logistical cost trade-offs and network design
- Designing a resilient supply chain
- Measuring supply chain cost and performance
- The connected digital supply chain of the future
This course is delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. Successful completion of course assessment gives 15 credits at SCQF level 11 that can be used towards our online MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
Operations Management
Understand the scope and importance of managing sustainable operations and appreciate the interaction and impact of best practice operations on the organisation, employees and customers. Examine the links between process and operations design, business strategy and be able to critically assess techniques in product, service design and improvement. Learn how to analyse an operational environment and assess against main quality management frameworks.
Learning outcomes:
- Understand the contribution of Operations Management to an organization in any sector
- Explore key concepts and principles of operations management and operations strategy to be able to critically assess various techniques of product, service design and improvement
- Understand and apply operations management techniques
- Understand the scope of inter-organisational co-operation to distinguish between operations management performance objectives and the necessary trade-offs in performance
- Become familiar with the main quality management frameworks
What the course will cover:
Key issues in operations management including:
- Operations Strategy including strategic perspectives and conceptualising operations
- Operational Activities including product and service design; process; supply chain;
- Regulatory Activities - Resource planning; capacity management; quality management;
- The trade-offs inherent in Managing Operations
- Internationalisation/Global perspectives on operations
- Future Perspectives: Mapping developments and exploring future directions
This course is delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. Successful completion of course assessment gives 15 credits at SCQF level 11 that can be used toward our online MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
Freight Transport & Warehouse Management
Examine the activities, resources and processes used in sustainable freight transportation and warehousing including the foundations of multi-modal (road, rail, air-freight, sea-freight, pipeline); the handling requirements from warehouse (storage) to a distribution centre. Explore warehouse management systems (storage, handling, order-picking) equipment choices and freight and distribution centre interface and implications.
Learning outcomes:
- Know how to obtain relevant information and apply a range of techniques in the selection of multi-modal freight options and the resultant requirement for appropriate handling within distribution centres
- Ability to explain the key steps in selecting the appropriate mode of transport in freight operations Ability to recognise the key issues within distribution centres relating to activities, resources and processes
- Understand how regulation and industry impact of both freight operations and warehousing
What the course will cover:
- Introduction to freight types and transport mode selection
- Foundations of multi-modal freight: Road, Rail, Air-freight, Sea-freight, Pipeline
- Introduction: The change from warehouse (storage) to a distribution centre and value adding activities
- Foundations of warehouse management: Storage systems; Handling systems; Order picking systems; Equipment choices and selection
- Freight and distribution centre interface and implications
- This course is delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. Successful completion of course assessment gives 15 credits at SCQF level 11 that can be used toward our online MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
This course is delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. Successful completion of course assessment gives 15 credits at SCQF level 11 that can be used toward our online MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
Data-Driven Business Growth
Business Analytics & Introduction to Big Data
Be able to select the most suitable analytical methods, tools and techniques to evaluate a business process or problem. Demonstrate the application of a range of big data analysis techniques using real organisational data.
Learning outcomes:
- Be able to analyse and evaluate the most suitable analytical methods to address a business process or problem
- Understand the practical limitations of various tools and techniques
- Demonstrate the application of a range of analytical techniques using real company data
What the course will cover:
- Descriptive Analytics: Measure what is happening using Data Visualisation; Descriptive Statistics and Probability
- Diagnostic Analytics: Understand why is it happening by applying root cause analysis; 5Whys; SPIN; Correlation; Regression analysis and Hypothesis tests
- Predictive Analytics: Understand what is likely to happen in the future by applying time series analysis; Trend analysis; Projective forecasting; Simulation modelling
- Prescriptive Analytics: What should we do/change in the future? Explore decision analysis methods and criteria, Optimisation methods, Simulation modelling
- Introduction to Big Data
This course is delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. Successful completion of course assessment gives 15 credits at SCQF level 11 that can be used towards our online MSc Business Analytics and Consultancy.
Big Data Analytics
Develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of relevant methods, tools and techniques used to solve big data problems in business context.
Learning outcomes:
- Be able to select the most suitable analytical method to evaluate big data problems in the business context
- Understand the practical limitations of various tools and techniques
- Demonstrate the application of data analytics for different industry sectors
- Understand the implications of distributed intelligence on organizations
What the course will cover:
- Introduction to big data and internet of things
- Big data trends and strategies
- Frameworks for big data analytics
- Data mining architecture and techniques
- Neural and Bayesian networks
- Optimization techniques
- Innovation and trends in internet of things
- Distributed intelligence
This course is delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. Successful completion of course assessment gives 15 credits at SCQF level 11 that can be used towards our online MSc Business Analytics and Consultancy.
People Analytics
Develop knowledge, skills and competencies when gathering and using people and business data to deliver value to businesses. Gain awareness of the value of people and business data by understanding analytics and its use in creating insight and measuring value.
Learning outcomes:
- Understand how organisations are responding to different sets of data that maximises organisational impact and stakeholder value
- Apply relevant concepts, models, and tools when developing a people plan
What the course will cover:
- Connecting organisational values, people and data
- Human capital management: models, theories and data
- The People Analytics team
- People analytics: process; data collection and techniques
- Managing people analytics data
- Challenges and opportunities when adopting people analytics
Financial Decision Making
Develop a set of accounting and financial tools to enable interpretation and critique of financial data from a variety of sources. Learn how to make data-driven financial decisions that directly impact organisational operations.
Learning outcomes:
- Engage effectively in management discussions on finance and accounting issues
- Make informed, reasoned and sustainable decisions on capital investment programmes
- Critically analyse and propose reasoned solutions to questions of capital allocation, retention and distribution
What the course will cover:
- The Financial Landscape
- Financial Accounting
- Working Capital Management
- Management Accounting
- Budgeting
- Financial Tools
- Capital Budgeting and Investment Appraisal
- Financing, Payout Policy and Risk Management
This course is delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. Successful completion of course assessment gives 15 credits at SCQF level 11 that can be used towards our online MBA.
Economics for Business
Develop a systematic approach to data-driven decision making and the ability to recognise, use and interpret economic information from both within the organisation and the wider environment.
Learning outcomes:
- Be able to propose relevant pricing and market strategies for a variety of market structures and in the presence of market failures
- Gain the knowledge to recommend appropriate courses of action to deal with economic uncertainty, through evaluation of changes in macroeconomic variables and policy-making
- Learn about diverse forms of economic information available from both the environment and the organisation to evaluate and propose solutions to business problems
What the course will cover:
- The Role of Economics in Business
- The Market Mechanism
- Demand Supply
- Market Structure
- Factor Markets
- The Role of Government
- The Macroeconomic Environment
- Macroeconomic Policy
- International Trade and Globalisation
- Research Activity
This course is delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. Successful completion of course assessment gives 15 credits at SCQF level 11 that can be used towards our online MBA.
Leading Business Transformation
Leadership, Theory and Practice
Develop a critical appreciation of the role of leadership theory, styles, context and practice in a range of ever-changing organisational, social and cultural contexts.
Learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate an integrated awareness of leadership theory and its link to business practice
- Propose appropriate leadership styles and approaches through evaluation of dynamic leadership solutions and contexts
- Develop a critical understanding of how different cultural and structural contexts can impact the agents of leadership
- Understand the role of effective leadership in organisational strategy
- Apply diverse skills and approaches associated with leadership in a variety of organisational, social and cultural situations and contexts
What the course will cover:
- Introduction to Leadership
- Traditional and Contingency Leadership Approaches
- New Leadership
- Post-Heroic Leadership
- Leadership Contexts
- Critical Issues in Leadership: Gender, Culture and Ethics
- Developing Leadership
This course is delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. Successful completion of course assessment gives 15 credits at SCQF level 11 that can be used towards our online MBA.
People, Work & Organisations
Develop a detailed appreciation of factors influencing how people behave at work and how these link to performance. Impact positively on organisational performance by understanding individual differences, how these differences affect group dynamics and how organisational factors affect individual behaviour.
Learning outcomes:
- Apply appropriate, specialised skills and knowledge to propose creative solutions to people management issues, such as employee resourcing and global people management, in a range of dynamic professional contexts
- Critically design, apply and evaluate adaptable and sustainable processes to a range of people management challenges (e.g. performance management and employee relations) in dynamic global environments
- Demonstrate autonomy and accountability by presenting solutions to people-management challenges, based on analyses that are ethically informed and address the challenges of rapid organisational change
What the course will cover:
- Understanding Behaviour in Organisations
- Individual Differences
- Motivation and Engagement
- Work Group Dynamics
- Power, Politics and Conflict
- Designing Effective Organisations
- Organisational Culture and Change
- Organisational Behaviour in Practice
This course is delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. Successful completion of course assessment gives 15 credits at SCQF level 11 that can be used towards our online MBA.
Management Consultancy
Gain a comprehensive, critical overview of the theoretical and practical dimensions of managing organisational transformation. Improve skills and knowledge in relation to current role or prepare for a career progression.
Learning outcomes:
- Learn how to analyse organisations within a business context
- Deliver credible and feasible conclusions and recommendations to colleagues
What the course will cover:
- Types of change in organisations
- The role of the management consultant (change agent)
- Cultural implications for behavioural and attitudinal change
- Step-approach or phases in change programmes
- Quality-led and business process reengineering approaches
- The roles of the internal and external change agents/consultants in the organization
- Legal and moral issues influencing change events/consultant
This course is delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. Successful completion of course assessment gives 15 credits at SCQF level 11 that can be used towards our online MSc Business Analytics and Consultancy
Delivering Successful Projects
Equips managers and business professionals with the knowledge, understanding and skills to manage projects using integrative concepts, tools and techniques.
Learning outcomes:
- Comprehend, analyse and apply project management skills to address issues and conflicts, enable change and drive innovation
- Proactively assess and manage business systems improvements
- Implement and realise a single definable project solution, by balancing multiple, sometime conflicting, objectives in ways that are accountable and responsible
- Manage multidisciplinary stakeholders and complex scenarios under conditions of risk, uncertainty and change
What the course will cover:
- Projects and Project Management
- The role of Project Manager
- From Strategy to Project
- Human Resourcing - Structuring and Managing Project Teams
- Risk Management
- Time Management
- Financial and Cost Management
- Quality and Performance Management
- Project Closure and Evaluation
This course is delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. Successful completion of course assessment gives 20 credits at SCQF level 11 that can be used toward our online MBA.
Developing Strategy & Marketing for Business Success
Developing and Executing Strategy
Develop the knowledge and skills to think and operate at a strategic level to inform and execute business transformation.
Learning outcomes:
- Gain critical awareness of contemporary theory in the strategic management field, and relate this to current organisational practice
What the course will cover:
- Introduction to Strategy and Strategists
- Issue Diagnosis and Strategic Intent
- Understanding the Environment
- Understanding the Organisation
- Generating, Selecting and Evaluating Strategic Options
- Strategy Implementation and Practice
- Integrating Strategy and Management
This course is delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. Successful completion of course assessment gives 20 credits at SCQF level 11 that can be used toward our online MBA.
Strategic Marketing
Gain the necessary knowledge, tools and frameworks to enable delivery of an effective marketing strategy that is aligned to dynamic internal and external business environments.
Learning outcomes:
- Develop the ability to undertake structured, critical analysis of marketing problems and opportunities and develop appropriate marketing strategies in a variety of contexts
- Gain the skills to help you propose, plan and integrate creative marketing programmes
- Learn how to use a range of verbal, numerical and graphical data to formulate, implement and measure the success of marketing strategies
What the course will cover:
- Marketing Management for a turbulent era
- The Marketing Fit with Corporate and Business Strategies
- Capturing Key Environmental Marketing Insights
- Customer Insights and Customer Connections
- Capturing Marketing Insights for Demand Measurement
- Market Segmentation and Target Marketing
- Branding and Positioning
- The Integrated Marketing Mix
- Winning Strategic Marketing for Market and Competitive Scenarios
- Organising, Planning, Delivering and Measuring Market Performance
This course is delivered by the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University. Successful completion of course assessment gives 20 credits at SCQF level 11 that can be used toward our MBA.
Delivery of courses
The courses are delivered online by national and international leaders in their field. Students will have full access to our state-of-the-art online learning platform and will be able to work through the course material at a pace that suits them. The courses will not only provide students with the theoretical framework of the subject area but will arm them with the practical tools, confidence and knowledge to flourish in their businesses and careers.
Each individual course is designed to offer complete flexibility and to suit your lifestyle. It is recommended that students undertake 12 hours of study over 12 weeks, each course takes 150 - 200 study hours to complete.
How to apply
All candidates for the Upskilling Scotland funding must meet the eligibility criteria below:
- 18+ years of age.
- Reside or have the legal right to work in Scotland.
If you are a business looking to put a number of your staff through one or more of our courses the Upskilling Scotland funding, please contact us so we can help you with the process at b2b@hw.ac.uk.
Or if you want to share this information with your employees, they can register individually for courses by completing the form below.
Further Funding
Heriot-Watt offers a range of other funding and support to organisations and individuals to help them upskill and retrain. Let us help you create learning pathways for your employees that will meet your skills gaps – contact us on b2b@hw.ac.uk.
As part of the application process, you will need to attach evidence of living and/or working in Scotland. This can be a photo or screenshot of your Council Tax bill, a utilities bill, driver’s license or redacted payslip that shows place of work.
View our full Terms and Conditions to find out more.
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