Comment / Pilots needed

The main task is an application to the qualifications regulator for England, Ofqual, to receive recognised awarding organisation status. This will be a big deal and, not surprisingly, it isn’t an easy process. 

We’ve now appointed our module leaders and tutors, who have set about developing the curriculum and content. Alongside this we are working to develop the qualification features and assessment methodology, and building support structures such as a virtual learning environment and student management processes.

The qualifications will be officially launched at the annual conference in December for a go-live date in January.  However, quality is our buzz word – we want our students to have the very best experience.  We are therefore looking for volunteers to help us test out the qualifications between September and December.

The way it works is like this. We are looking for 30 individuals to study for one of the six modules between September and December. You will need to undertake a 5,000-word case study based assignment as well as participating in the online study programme.  There will be five students undertaking each pilot module.  Each student will have access to the full range of learning resources and support free of charge. 

If you successfully complete and pass the module, you will be awarded  a 20-credit certificate (see table). You need 60 credits to achieve a diploma and a further 60 credits to achieve the higher diploma, at which point you would have access to the MBA top-up programme (a further 60 credits).

The overall qualification is open to a wide range of learners, including finance staff, general managers clinicians and other healthcare professionals. However qualified accountants with at least two years’ post qualification experience in healthcare may be entitled to start immediately on the higher diploma.

You will need to be a member of the HFMA to take part in the pilot. The module will be free to those taking part. However, we need to be sure you are going to complete the module, so we will be charging your organisation or you £1,000 if it has not been finished by December, and will require your written agreement. In return for taking part in the free pilot, we will be asking for your regular feedback on different aspects of the programme..

If you are interested please send us your name, email address, organisation, job title
and CCAB/CIMA qualification (where relevant) to the email address below by 10 June.

Please state the module you are interested in taking. This is a great opportunity, but with limited places available, I’d encourage you to get in touch as quickly as possible.

Email: [email protected]