Many international students choose to study Human Resource Management(HRM) in the UK. This is due to the high demand for HR professionals. In the UK, there are countless job opportunities, making it worth the student’s efforts and money.  

Are you also willing to study strategic HRM in the UK? If yes, then you are on the right page. In this blog, we will help you decide if studying strategic HRM in the UK is a good choice or not. We will also discuss the different perceptions and challenges of this course. Let’s begin!

What is Strategic HRM?

We will first understand what strategic HRM actually is. Strategic Human Resource Management can be simply defined as the procedure of managing people in a way that positively affects the business’s goals and objectives. It aligns HR practices with an organization’s long-term goals to achieve the desired result.

Many people confuse strategic human resource management(SHRM) with human resource management (HRM).

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT(HRM) involves the management of employment and workplace relations between employees and employers. On the other hand, STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT(SHRM) takes it one step further. Instead of focusing on day-to-day operations, SHRM focuses on long-term growth for both the organization and the employees.

In today’s world, strategic HR managers play a crucial role in assuring that the organization has the right team to improve business performance and obtain the desired goals. 

Goals of Strategic HRM

Strategic HRM involves making and using the strategies for attracting talented members. These members are expected to contribute their efforts to the organization’s success. The aim of strategic HRM is to achieve the desired goal by creating value for customers, shareholders, employees, etc. 

The goals of a strategic HRM include:

• Strategic Human Resource Management makes sure that all the HR activities directly or indirectly contribute to the organization’s success. 
• Another goal of strategic HRM is to boost the productivity and performance of the organization. 
• Moreover, through creative planning and talent development, strategic HRM helps organizations build unique strategies and plans, making them different and more successful than competitors. 
• One of the main goals of strategic HRM is to attract talented individuals and make them stay in the company for a long span of time.
• A key goal of strategic HRM is to build a fair work environment where all employees are treated equally without any favouritism. 

Why is Strategic HRM Important?

Strategic HRM is important because it helps you align the needs of an organization with human capital management, company culture, and consumers’ needs or desires. It makes sure if the candidate is right for the position or not. Strategic HRM plays a vital role in improving employee performance and boosting the productivity of the organization. It ensures that the organization remains relevant.

Strategic HRM in the UK

If you are aiming for a senior leadership role in human resource management, then considering studying strategic human resource management in the UK is great. 

Paths to Strategic HRM in the UK

MASTER’S DEGREES

Numerous universities in the UK offer specialized master’s degrees (MSc or MA), which are solely focused on strategic HRM. This is the most common route for international students in the UK. This is a great opportunity for those students who want to secure senior HR roles in the future.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

You can consider enrolling in Business Management or International Business undergraduate degrees with a focus on Human Resource Management. 

CIPD-ACCREDITED COURSES

You can aim for the qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development(CIPD). A CIPD-accredited postgraduate or professional qualification can open doors for you. 

Universities offering a strategic HRM degree in the UK

Here is a list of some of the universities that are offering strategic HR in the UK, with many being CIPD-accredited.

ARDEN UNIVERSITY

Offers MSc in Strategic Human Resource Management.

• CIPD-accredited.

UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH

Offers MSc in Strategic Human Resource Management.

UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL

Offers MSc in Human Resource Management and Strategic Organization.

UNIVERSITY OF STAFFORDSHIRE

Offers an MA in Strategic Human Resource Management

Understanding Perceptions of Strategic HRM

The perception of strategic human resource management means understanding the views and opinions of people within the organization. Understanding the perceptions of strategic HRM includes understanding how employees and managers experience HR practices. This can have a significant impact on the overall organization’s effectiveness. Nowadays, the perception of HR has shifted from management to a strategic partner that plays a crucial role in achieving an organization’s success.

Strategic human resource management considers employees as valuable assets who can contribute to the organization’s growth and achievement of business goals. 

Factors Affecting Perceptions

HR PRACTICES

The reality of how HR practices are actually executed and experienced by employees creates a great impact on perceptions. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

One of the key factors that affects the perception of HR is the type of work environment. HR plays a significant role in keeping the work environment positive and free from any toxicity. 

STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT

When employees see that HR’s strategies are actually beneficial for the organization, they often have a positive perception of them.

Overcoming the challenges of strategic HRM in the UK

The Strategic HRM faces various challenges in the UK. Some of the key challenges are listed below, along with the suggestions to overcome such challenges.

Key Challenges of Strategic HRM in the UK

• One of the main challenges of strategic HRM in the UK is to secure jobs. This is primarily due to the intense competition in the job market.
• Keeping a positive work environment where employees can openly communicate with you, give you honest feedback, and share their issues with you.
• Another challenge is to attract and keep skilled and professional individuals in the organization in the UK’s competitive market. 
• The organizations in the UK require strategic HRMs to be adaptive to rapid changes.
• You must manage your job and your studies together. You must hire an assignment master in the UK, which can be challenging and requires extra money.

 Overcoming the Challenges of Strategic HRM in the UK

• Try to have a great academic performance. This can help you secure a job. Additionally, you can do internships in strategic HRM departments to gain experience.
• You must have a friendly relationship with your employees. This can be helpful to know their issues and opinions.
• You have to be convincing to attract and keep the skilled and professional employees. You must know how to develop strategies to retain valuable talent.
• You can seek HR assignment help in the UK. This will help you save your time and do internships or part-time work in the related field.

Wrapping up!

This brings us to the conclusion. If you are willing to go to the UK either to study Strategic Human Resource Management or for a job, then you must do some research. If all the information matches your personal preferences, you should definitely consider it as your dream destination. We hope this blog will be helpful for you to make a decision.