Records management is the practice of maintaining the records of an organisation from the time they are created up to their eventual disposal.

This may include classifying, storing, securing, and destruction of records. This module enables you to identify and evaluate relevant legal, fiscal, organisational and historical incentives towards the development of records management policies, equipping you with the skills necessary to carry out records audits and information audits. It discusses issues related to document control, and to information governance, such as the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts, and their counterparts in other legislatures.

On completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Identify and appraise the factors which make a records management policy necessary.
• Devise and evaluate a records management strategy.
• Design and complete a records audit system.
• Design a records retention schedule.
• Utilise and evaluate critically electronic records management system (ERMS) to implement a records management strategy for a sample organisation.

• History of records management.
• Benefitsto organisation through effective records management.
• Legal requirements affecting records management policies.
• Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act, Public Records Act, Sarbanes-OxleyAct, Environmental Information Regulations, Model Requirements for Electronic Records and Document Management, and other relevant legislation.
• Recordslife cycle.
• Records retention schedules.
• Electronic Records Management Systems (ERMS).
• Case studies.

You will learn through a mix of online lectures, interactive work and self-guided study. Attendance at the University is therefore not required.

All modules are credit rated and can be worth 5, 10, 15 or 30 credit points. This equates to the number of study hours required within the module, for example 50 hours for 5 credit points, 300 hours for 30 credit points. The SCQF modules can range from level 7 (undergraduate) through to level 11 (Masters) on the Scottish Credit Qualification Framework (SCQF). You can undertake individual modules or build them up to gain an exit award.

Find out more on progression and the framework on the SCQF website.

This is an online distance learning modules ideal for students who possess an undergraduate honours degree or equivalent in any discipline.

All international students, for whom English is not their first language, should have either IELTS 6.5 or its equivalent in TOEFL.  You should note that modules taken through Professional Development@RGU are not eligible for Tier 4 sponsorship.

This module is part of the MSc Information Management course, which is accredited by CILIP

For general enquiries please call 01224 262180 or email pdenquiry@rgu.ac.uk

For course specific enquiries call Dr Alan MacLennan on 01224 263910.

To apply for the course, complete the Professional Development @RGU Application Form

On completion of the module you could progress to other modules within the Professional Development @ RGU programme or, providing you meet the entry requirements and credit transfer regulations, you would be able to use the credits gained from this module towards the MSc Information Management.

All learning outcomes will be assessed by an exercise requiring the design of a records management strategy.

The fee for this course is £900

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