Leadership & Innovation in Healthcare

Course details
Healthcare organisations are among the most complex in society today. Healthcare leaders are increasingly challenged to manage risk, uncertainty and ambiguity on a day-to-day basis, while at the same time having to effectively implement and manage change.

The MSc in Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare is a pioneering healthcare management degree that is designed to develop your leadership competencies and management skills as a healthcare professional, and to provide you with the tools needed to manage in your environment, notwithstanding limited resources, increased demands and budget restrictions.

This evidence-based programme combines academic rigour, practical experience and in-depth self-analysis in order to develop and enhance participants' leadership capacity. It will provide you with the opportunity to develop and enhance your knowledge of concepts, theories, research and best practice relating to leadership in healthcare settings, and training in the use of associated models and tools.

The focus of this programme is firmly on leadership. Thus, it will address the main issues and problems that you, as a healthcare professional, experience in terms recognising, assessing, managing and overcoming daily challenges. You will also emerge from this programme as a reflective practitioner, which should place you at the forefront of change and innovation in your organisation.

Graduates of the MSc in Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare will have the prerequisite knowledge, skills and attitudes to provide world-class leadership in this dynamic sector.

Suitable for:
Clinicians, doctors, nurses, interdisciplinary health and social care professionals, healthcare managers and administrators and those working in the wider healthcare sector who wish to develop their leadership and management capabilities and take the next step in their career. Personnel in allied health businesses such as medical supplies and equipment, the pharmaceutical sector and healthcare regulation should also find the programme highly relevant.

Delivery and design
The MSc in Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare will be facilitated in a digitally engaged format via our online teaching platform and will be delivered though a blend of online content and activities and live interactive sessions, to offer a collaborative and supportive student experience.

Our experienced team have the skills and technology to provide a rich and engaging online experience and will be on hand to smooth your course for success as you commence your studies, no matter what your level of technical ability.

Students will have the opportunity to become part of an international, healthcare focused, learning community, as they are supported to engage through collaborative group work, team building and networking opportunities – benefiting from each other's experience in a safe and supported environment.

Learning Outcomes
This programme will provide you with the skills and knowledge to:
• Develop the personal and professional capacity to lead in healthcare organisations.
• Critically appraise modern leadership theory and practice, and develop the ability to apply leadership approaches that are at the forefront of informed best practice in healthcare.
• Analyse and synthesise complex management and leadership problems and deploy a range of people management skills, particularly in relation to the management of multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary teams.
• Examine the role of health economics, quality improvement, financial management, human resources management and the principles of governance in leading effective innovative services.
• Demonstrate the ability to challenge assumptions and question processes, policies and procedures in healthcare, at individual and organisational levels.
• Develop as a reflective practitioner with the skills, insight, confidence and awareness necessary to identify and implement evidence-based innovative management and leadership practices.
• Develop a strategic mindset, understand the theoretical underpinnings of strategic leadership and demonstrate the capacity to deploy a range of strategic methodologies.
• Recognise the importance of leadership and innovation and develop the capacity to effectively manage and lead in a diverse healthcare setting.

Module 1: Developing and Demonstrating Personal Leadership Qualities (10 ECTS)
The aim of this module is to provide you with a knowledge and understanding of how to develop your leadership competencies and capabilities through lectures, guest speakers, seminars, readings and assignments. In this module you will develop and demonstrate personal leadership qualities; learn how to effectively manage yourself in order to understand how you can influence and persuade your team and those around you, and understand how your actions influence your ability to get things done.

Module 2: Working with and Leading Others (10 ECTS)
In this module you will develop an understanding of leading teams and how to ensure effectiveness and build rapport among team members. This learning will contribute to the advancement of your skills and knowledge in building and developing effective work teams that are motivated and can achieve excellence in performance.

Module 3: Leading and Managing Services (10 ECTS)
This module will provide you with an understanding of the nature of service and the factors that contribute to excellence in leading and managing services in healthcare. You will develop an understanding of the healthcare structures and your competing demands, the development of a culture of service excellence, the various activities involved in the analysis, formulation and implementation of strategic initiatives.

Module 4: Leading Innovation & Change (10 ECTS)
This module focuses on the models of change, recognising the key triggers of change, how to effectively lead and implement change and innovation in healthcare and overcome resistance to change. This learning will assist in the advancement of your skills and knowledge in understanding the need for change and the most effective strategies for the successful implementation of change and innovation.

Module 5: Strategic Planning and Implementation (10 ECTS)
This module will introduce you to the current strategies, practices and a selection of best practice frameworks, tools and techniques for strategic planning and implementation in healthcare. You will develop an in-depth understanding of the various activities involved in the analysis, formulation and implementation of strategic initiatives.

Module 6: Developing a Future-Oriented Mindset (10 ECTS)
This module will provide you with competencies in the role of leadership in healthcare by developing a future-oriented mindset that advance tomorrow's leadership skills and qualities today. In this module you will develop skills to lead and develop creative and collaborative working environments in a complex healthcare system.

Module 7: Research Methods and Methodology (10 ECTS)
This module will provide you with an in-depth knowledge of the principles of good research and recognition of the range of tools and concepts that are necessary in healthcare research. You will gain the knowledge and skills to understand and use a range of methods and decide on appropriate research designs and methods to investigate your chosen research problems in innovation or change in healthcare.

Research Project
Leading and Innovation or Change Project. In order to fulfil the requirements for a MSc degree, you must complete the seven modules outlined above and conduct a research project in your organisation.

Participants on our MSc programmes in the past have produced considerable developments in their organisations and many projects have resulted in significant improvements, substantial cost savings and publications in management journals.

Entry requirements
• All applicants must hold an undergraduate or bachelor degree - For applicants who don't hold a primary degree, there is a recognition of prior learning (RPL) pathway outlined below.
• Applicants should be working in healthcare industry
• Applicants (unless exempt) must meet the English Language Requirements - English proficiency test - IELTS score of 6.5 or the equivalent score on another standardised test.

There are two exceptions to the above:
• If you are a native speaker of English and have completed your undergraduate education in an English institution in a country where English is the official language.
• If you were admitted to and graduated from an English medium institution and can provide evidence that you acquired a minimum TOEFL score of 500 on the paper-based test (or its equivalent on another standardised test) upon admission to your undergraduate programme.

Recognition of prior learning
The RCSI regulations for RPL provide a process and framework for validating and placing a value on prior learning for the purpose of:
A. Admission
B. Exemption

The EU Council (2012) defines validation as a process of confirmation by an authorised body that an individual has acquired learning outcomes measured against a relevant standard which consists of four distinct phases:
1. Identification – dialogue of particular experiences of an individual
2. Documentation – making visible the individuals experiences
3. Assessment – formal assessment of these experiences
4. Certification – the results of the assessment

These regulations are intended for use by the RCSI staff and faculty involved in admissions processes relating to applicants seeking assessment of their prior learning for the purposes of admission or exemption and to provide clarity and direction for candidates during their application process.

How to apply
Applications for the MSc in Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare are now open for Autumn 2022.

Please ensure to attach the following supporting documents with your application:
• Clear copy of a valid passport.
• Copies of your academic transcripts/degree
• Copy of CV
• English proficiency test (If required)

Please direct any enquiries about online applications to leadership@rcsi.ie

The MSc in Leadership and Innovation in Healthcare is a two-year, part-time academic programme.

Mode of delivery:
This course is delivered in a digital format via our online teaching platform, making it accessible to busy healthcare professionals wherever they may be working.

Module teaching dates:
Orientation Module
The two-week online Orientation Module begins on 13 September. Students will be required to complete some brief exercises and view a suite of short instructional videos. Students will be fully supported to access materials and the programme team will be on hand to assist students. There will be two live sessions as part of the Orientation Module:

• Getting Started – 17 September (time TBC)
Meet your Programme Director and academic orientation – 24 September (time TBC)

• Module lecture days will start at 9am and finish at 12:30pm Irish Time.

Module 1
Start Date: 27 Sep 2021
Week 1: Lecture Day 1 - 30 Sep 2021
Week 1: Lecture Day 2 - 1 Oct 2021
Week 2: Lecture Day 3- 8 Oct 2021

Module: 2
Start Date: 8 Nov 2021
Week 1 - Lecture Day 1: 11 Nov 2021
Week 1 - Lecture Day 2: 12 Nov 2021
Week 2 - Lecture Day 3: 19 Nov 2021

Module: 3
Start Date: 3 Jan 2022
Week 1- Lecture Day 1: 6 Jan 2022
Week 1 - Lecture Day 2: 7 Jan 2022
Week 2 - Lecture Day 3: 14 Jan 2022

Module: 4
Start Date: 14 Feb 2022
Week 1 - Lecture Day 1: 17 Feb 2022
Week 1 - Lecture Day 2: 18 Feb 2022
Week 2 - Lecture Day 3: 25 Feb 2022

Module: 5
Start Date: 28 Mar 2022
Week 1 - Lecture Day 1: 31 Mar 2022
Week 1- Lecture Day 2: 1 Apr 2022
Week 2 - Lecture Day 3: 8 Apr 2022