HR specific/related courses: MSc/Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, full-time (subject to student demand) or part-time by students with a CIPD qualification.
Founded: In 1888 as the Dundee Technical Institute. It has been renamed several times over the years, most recently in 1994 when it formally became the University of Abertay Dundee.
College CV: Based in Dundee, the university has around 5,000 students with some studying in partner institutions as far afield as Malaysia. Abertay has been consistently ranked in the top 10 modern universities by the Financial Times. Abertay prides itself on meeting the needs of society, industry and commerce with work placement a major part of many courses. It claims to have one of the most technologically advanced learning environments (it opened a new £8m state-of-the art library in 1998, and a new Student Centre in 2005) that provides the foundation to fulfil the university’s aim to be a pioneering digital university. Abertay also created Embreonix, Scotland’s first graduate enterprise centre dedicated to helping students set up their own businesses. Although its MSc course is not CIPD validated, it has close links with the institute and takes the CIPD diploma and other courses undertaken at nearby Dundee College as an entry qualification to its Masters course. Martin Dowling, programme tutor for postgraduate programmes, is chair of the Mid Scotland branch of the institute. The university is active in the area of HRM research and carries out work in connection with the TUC (specifically in relation to offshore drilling companies) and is involved in a major e-learning project funded by Scottish Enterprise. It also has a research unit for knowledge management.
Entry: At least two years personnel or managerial experience at an appropriate level and either a degree or equivalent professional qualification.
Alumni: Stagecoach chief Brian Souter is a former student of the university when it was Dundee College of Technology. There is an active alumni network which includes a growing band of HRM ex-students.
