Applications are now closed for the MSc in Leadership in Healthcare
The MSc in Leadership in Healthcare is currently operating as a virtual programme.
Overview
The MSc in Leadership in Healthcare is a programme for those who are looking for development and stimulation to rapidly improve their service and enhance their leadership capability. The programme is open to clinical and non-clinical colleagues.
It is aimed at those who:
- lead teams or complex projects
- lead services or systems of care
- aspire to be responsible for a broader role and contribute to the wider organisation
- would like development support to improve their leadership practices
- are seeking to apply new skills and behaviours to real-time work-related improvements
- are willing to commit to at least 15 hours learning per week over a 24 month period
- are willing to commit to full attendance at all face-to-face aspects of the programme
The seventh cohort of this two year programme commenced in September 2022.
Should it be decided that any elements will take place face to face, we will advise you accordingly.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the programme you must hold a minimum of:
- 2.2 undergraduate degree, or
- an equivalent professional qualification, or
- relevant experience leading teams or services
You must also:
- be an employee of the HSE, TUSLA, a Section 39 hospice, or a body which provides service on behalf of the HSE under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004
- satisfactorily complete the application process
Selection criteria will include:
- your personal statement
- your experience leading teams or complex projects or leading services or systems of care
- your senior line manager's supporting statement
- previous leadership/management development programmes you’ve undertaken
- creation of the best possible mix of participants from eligible applicants
To maximise the learning within each cohort, the Health Service Leadership Academy seeks to create the best possible mix of participants from eligible applicants.
This will include having a mix of:
- clinical and non-clinical participants
- disciplines and professions
- locations and types of health service organisations
Eligible applicants who do not get offered a place on the next cohort due to oversubscription, will be added to a waiting list for subsequent cohorts.
You may be contacted by the programme director or a member of the Health Service Leadership Academy if clarification is required on any aspect of your application.
Programme overview
Time commitment
At least 15 hours per week, and 100% attendance at all elements
| Programme title: | MSc in Leadership in Healthcare | |
| Qualification: | MSc in Leadership in Healthcare (awarded by University College Cork) | |
| Length of programme: | 24 months, part-time | |
| Time commitment: | at least 15 hours per week | |
| Faculty: | delivered by the IMI | |
| Modes of learning: |
work-based application (50%) online learning (35%) learning set meetings and residential workshops (15%) |
|
| Face-to-face attendance requirements: | 4 residential sessions totalling a minimum of 12 days over the programme. A minimum of 11 action learning set days over the programme | |
| Attendance: | 100% attendance at all face-to-face elements |
The MSc in Leadership in Healthcare is designed to meet healthcare challenges now and into the future. It will enable you to bring about change and real improvement, providing opportunities to put your new skills into action where you work.
The focus of the programme is firmly on patient experiences and outcomes. Whether you work on the frontline or you indirectly focus on patient care, patients and service users will benefit as a result of your learning.
The programme involves providing work-based evidence, meaning you can start making a difference to patients and services immediately rather than having to wait until after you graduate.
The programme supports you in your role and future career by:
- providing you with intensive personal leadership development
- improving your personal impact and helping you drive progress with your team and organisation to build a culture of patient-focused care
- enabling you to make a real difference to patients, staff and services
- helping you to take up your leadership role and lead others more effectively
- helping you develop quickly by immersing you in innovative and intensive leadership development
- helping you make an immediate and tangible difference to your workplace by applying your learning to develop practical innovations for immediate use
- helping you build a powerful national support network within the healthcare system who are all driving to achieve real change for patients
Programme structure, modules and assignment information can be found in the applicant guide
Learning methods
Learning is via virtual campus, residential workshops, face-to-face meetings and online tutor support.
The programme is delivered:
- 50% work based-application (where set activities on the virtual campus are put into practice at work)
- 35% online learning (academic content, assignments and discussion groups)
- 15% face-to-face residential behavioural development workshops and action learning sets
Work-based learning
Work-based learning (WBL) is an important part of how the learning methods are applied in practice. WBL focuses on the work you are already doing and uses this as the basis for your learning. Much of your online learning will relate to your work place. It focuses your attention on what is practical and works. It helps to lighten the study workload, as some of the learning is within your day-to-day job.
Face-to-face learning - action learning set meetings
Your action learning set meetings provides a forum to explore the links between individual, group and organisational dynamics. This equips you with the practical skills to craft your leadership role, style and skills. Your action learning set meets a minimum of eleven times, for full day working sessions, during the programme.
Face-to-face learning - residential experiential workshops
There are four residential workshops during the course of the programme. The focus of these workshops will be on your personal and behavioural development in context. They take full advantage of face-to-face group work, experiential and simulation learning activities as opposed to any academic theory or knowledge learning.
Online learning through the virtual campus
The Health Service Leadership Academy virtual campus has been designed to feel like an inviting space; delivering what you need in an interactive learning environment. It can be accessed at any time and on any device, at a time and place which suits you
The virtual campus is where you can find all the resources you will need for your studies. It provides a range of different learning formats such as e-learning nuggets, simulation events, webinars, videos, psychometric assessments, surveys, electronic journals, books, tutorial and discussion boards, learning journals and more.
Individual and group tutorials
You will have individual and group tutorials over the duration of this programme. These will take place during specified weeks, but the day and time of tutorials (including evenings and weekends) will be mutually agreed with groups/individuals. Tutorials will take place either online, by telephone or face-to-face
Key information
Commitment to the programme
You must make a commitment of at least 15 hours per week to programme work. It is up to you to fit this time in. It is likely that most of this will be undertaken in your own time. There is a strong focus on practical application of new learning and you are encouraged to practice developing your range of leadership behaviours in your workplace. We would ask line managers to support you in doing this so that you can become a more effective leader.
Attendance is mandatory at four residential sessions, totalling a minimum of 12 days over the 24 months of the programme. You will also attend a minimum of 11 days at action learning set meetings throughout the programme. Line managers are asked to treat time spent at residential workshops, learning set meetings and tutorials (approximately 1 hour in duration) as time spent at work.
Programme costs
While there are no programme fees currently charged for participating on this programme, if the programme is delivered in person in the future, rather than virtually, participants may incur travel and subsistence costs associated with attending residential and face to face components of the programme. Costs for travel and subsistence at residential and face-to-face programmes must be paid by you and recovered through your local travel and subsistence procedures. The Health Service Leadership Academy is not in a position to refund other areas of the HSE, or external agencies for costs incurred in this regard.
Apply
Complete the application form electronically, print and sign it.
Your senior line manager must complete the senior line manager supporting statement. They should complete the form electronically, print and sign it. It is your responsibility to ensure this statement is completed.
Applicants can only apply for one of the Health Service Leadership Academy programmes. The Health Service Leadership Academy will not accept more than one application per person.
Email the forms to leadershipacademyhse@imi.ie
You will get an email confirming that your application form has been received.
MSc in Leadership in Healthcare applicant guide
MSc in Leadership in Healthcare application form
MSc in Leadership in Healthcare senior line manager supporting statement
MSc in Leadership in Healthcare Cohort 7 programme schedule
Contact
Email: leadershipacademy@hse.ie
Phone: 087 272 8198 or 087 281 9507