GSA DIPLOMA IN STRATEGIC SOURCING
The online GSA Diploma in Strategic Sourcing programme is designed for experienced sourcing professionals and is the GSA’s most advanced professional development programme. It uses a work-based learning format, which means that learners can structure their learning around work activities and projects. It builds on the principle that much of what professionals learn is in fact ‘on the job’ and that this learning needs to be captured so that it more effectively improves the future practice of the individual and others.
The value for many professionals is that the programme is focused on the work they are doing day to day so their limited time is being used very efficiently to both deliver to project demands whilst developing their professionals skills. As much of it is self-managed it provides a considerable degree of flexibility to allow for the programme requirements to be more easily fitted around work demands.
Learners submit four written papers over a period of a year. The first paper of 1,500 words enables the learner to decide on the work-based projects they will undertake. Papers 2, 3 and 4, are around 5,000 words and report on the work-based projects they have decided on in paper 1.
Each of papers 2,3 and 4 must demonstrate the learner’s knowledge of sourcing practice across the lifecycle, and how they have added value to their organisation and to their own professional development.
Successful learners will be awarded the GSA Diploma in Strategic Sourcing and be able to add DipGSA after their names.
Organisations that have been represented on the programme include CGI, Capital One, Deloitte, Teleperformance, National Grid, The Phoenix Group, Aviva, Citibank, Telegraph Media, Guardian Media, UCAS, Societe Generale, Unilever along with many others.
Support
Learners will be supported throughout the programme by a GSA tutor. They will be invited to a series of online webinars and will be encouraged to work with others on the programme in a learning set. The GSA tutor will also provide ad hoc online support to each learner.
Assessment and Post Diploma
The Diploma is assessed by the GSA using Masters degree level criteria. This requires learners to demonstrate their ability to clearly define problems, use sources to develop options to address problems and to propose clear and logical solutions. They will be expected to demonstrate a range of competencies which will include influencing, communication and problem solving.
Those who are awarded the GSA Diploma will have the opportunity to then go on to register with Portsmouth University to complete a Masters in Business Management (MA). The Diploma will be accepted by the university for a third of the credits required for the degree. Learners will be able to undertake an exercise to potentially be awarded a further third of the required credits by mapping their prior experience against current university modules. This will mean that most learners will only then need to complete one further major project to complete the final third of the credits required. Again, the approach taken will be the same work-based learning approach used for the Diploma programme.
Fees
Currently, in this virtual environment, the GSA Diploma fee is £1,600 (+VAT) per learner.
Portsmouth University fees may vary but currently are set at around £500 for the exercise to map prior experience and then around £3,000 to complete the final major project element of the Masters degree.
In-house or Open programme
The GSA has run an open programme for the last 10 years and is also able to arrange in-house programmes for organisations that have a number of people who want to participate in the programme. The cost of in-house programmes are available on application.
More information
If you wish to discuss the Diploma programme in more depth or sign up do please contact the GSA by email at admin@gsa-uk.com.