This module is designed to provide students with a conceptual appreciation and practical understanding of Human Resource Development in organisations. There is a focus on integrating HRD activities with the range of HR policies and systems enacted by organisations and on perceiving HRD as a strategic organisational activity.

This module is designed to provide students with a conceptual appreciation and practical understanding of Human Resource Development (HRD) in organisations. There is a strong focus on integrating HRD activities with the range of HR policies and systems enacted by organisations and on perceiving HRD as a strategic organisational activity. The lectures are designed to provide students with a framework for evaluating the contribution that HRD can make to organisational functioning and for reflecting on the role that the HR practitioner plays in this scenario.

Define what is HRD? Understand the evolution of HRD. Recognise the context of HRD. Explain the changing context of graduate employment and the current challenges facing both graduate employers and new graduates. Discuss the challenges faced by HRD practitioners in implementing ethics, sustainability & social responsibility policies in an organizational setting. Recognise how UK, Irish, European and US approaches to HRD differ

Demonstrate an understanding of learning theories and how adults learn. Identify the value of HRD for individuals and organisations. Report on the various factors that can influence participation in HRD. Identify the skills, attributes, and qualities required by new graduates entering a challenging and competitive labour market. Understand what is meant by an ethical culture and know how to manage it.

Conduct a training/learning needs analysis. Outline how budgets for the HRD function can be utilised. Be able to devise policies for HRD.

The lectures are designed to provide students with a framework for evaluating the contribution that human resource development can make to organisational functioning and for reflecting on the role that the HR practitioner plays in this scenario. The tutorials form an intrinsic element of this module and are designed to facilitate the development of a more operational understanding of how HRD plays out in organisations. These tutorials are largely workshop based and are strongly skills oriented to facilitate the enhancement of professional competencies in aspects of training/learning needs analysis, HRD planning, and HRD design and evaluation. Students will undertake a group-based case study in order to develop a number of practical and personal skills relevant to HRD. Students are expected to develop a range of practical skills including the analysis and identification of learning needs, the identification and matching of learning needs with HRD solutions, the design of creative HRD interventions and the development of evaluation instruments to investigate the effectiveness of HRD interventions. Students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge relating to organisational processes, functions and structures and to analyse problems and suggest learning strategies to overcome them. Students will also develop a range of personal skills. These include skills such as working collaboratively as a member of a team, being proactive and taking initiative, taking responsibility, gaining confidence, developing assertiveness, time management and the ability to plan and prioritise work. Students must also submit two individual assignements over the course of the semester. These worksheets are designed to enable students to: 1. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of HRD and advanced scholarship in HRD 2. Critically evaluate current research and evaluate methodologies in the field of HRD 3. Deal with complex concepts in the field of HRD and make informed articulate judgements concerning their value 4. Develop the ability to creatively analyse and evaluate concepts relevant to the field.