Really motoring

Citation

(2001), "Really motoring", Work Study, Vol. 50 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ws.2001.07950cab.005

Really motoring

Really motoring

The first students have graduated with Bachelor of Science degrees in Retail Automotive Management (Ford) from Loughborough University after three years of study. The 11 graduates studied for their degrees while working as managers at Ford dealerships, in an industry-first programme which applies academic understanding to practical management skills. The Ford BSc in Automotive Retail Management is seen as setting the benchmark for professionalism in the industry, and is part of Ford's aim to create the best dealerships in the UK with the best-trained people. Taught by academics from Loughborough University Business School, and tutors with retail and specialist experience, the ongoing Ford BSc programme is designed for managers with the potential to run the dealerships of the future. It runs alongside a Ford MSc programme for senior dealership managers which will see its first graduates later this year. The Ford BSc programme includes 37 days at Loughborough over three years in a series of short modules accompanied by challenging work-based assignments, assessed examinations and a research project. "Parts of the course have been very hard and it has meant a lot of self-discipline", said Nic Garwood, Aftersales Manager at MSF Ford in Ellesmere Port, who graduated with a first class honours degree. "I have spent two or three evenings a week and most Saturday mornings working for the degree. Although it has been hard, it has been very rewarding, and has helped me learn what my strengths are", he said. The new Ford College on the Loughborough campus will build on the achievements of the Ford BSc and MSc programmes to make excellent education and training accessible to everyone working in a Ford dealership. Further recognition of the quality of this programme was achieved in November last year when the Ford BSc achieved the highest possible level of rating following its External Subject Review, when it was inspected by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). The inspectors examined six aspects of teaching and learning, and identified no weaknesses in the course. The BSc received an "excellent" rating, with specific commendation for its strength of innovation and design. Similarly commended was the high level of student achievement. The QAA Review Board also acclaimed the quality of the university's learning resources strategy at Loughborough and the quality of education provision for part-time students.