International Human Resource Management & Development MSc
Managing Careers in the 21st Century MGT5355
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: Adam Smith Business School
- Credits: 10
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: No
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
The course begins with introduction of career studies and reviews the all-important context of economic, social and other factors within which careers are enacted. The course then considers various perspectives that help understand the variability in career development, e.g., the role of agency and career boundaries. The course concludes with considerations for career self-management and organisational career management.
Timetable
6 x 2 hour lectures
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
1. Written assignment, including essay; Individual; 1700 words; 100%; ILOs 1-3.
Course Aims
This course aims to:
■ Develop a critical understanding of the nature of contemporary careers.
■ Familiarise students with the internal and external factors that influence development of contemporary careers.
■ Provide an understanding of how careers work - from a wide range of theoretical perspectives, including material from sociology, psychology, social psychology, education and management studies.
■ Reflect on complexities of managing one's own career as well as implications for managing/facilitating others' careers (from managerial perspective).
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
1. Evaluate the context of economic, social and other factors within which careers are enacted and which fundamentally influences them.
1. Analyse how personal agency influences career development and career success.
1. Critically reflect on personal career development and examine the careers of others using knowledge of career theories and research.