UTAMU employs a blended educational model for postgraduate programs, combining face-to-face and online learning. Students can learn online through the e-learning system and e-library even when not on campus. Programs follow a 15-week semester with an initial block of face-to-face classes, followed by individual and group self-study, then a second block of face-to-face classes. Assessment includes attendance, online access, discussion board participation, two continuous assessments, and a final exam. The model aims to facilitate continuous learning.

1. UTAMU Postgraduate Educational Model
UTAMU employs a blended educational methodology that caters for all types of students
enrolled for postgraduate programmes. The blended form of teaching and learning involves
face-to-face and online learning. Through the well-integrated and enriched e-learning system
and e-library students are able to undertake learning even when they are not at UTAMU.
All postgraduate programmes are coordinated by the UTAMU Graduate School. Currently,
UTAMU offers six postgraduate programmes under the School of Business and Management
(SBM) and one programme under the School of Computing and Engineering (SCE) for the
academic year 2014/2015.
All postgraduate programmes run for two semesters comprising of 15 weeks of teaching and
learning.
The model follows a block release of modules during the face-to-face teaching facilitated by a
student self paced individual and group online learning as shown below;
School of Business and Management (SBM)
1. Students will have 15 weeks of study distributed in the following way;
a. In the 1st
week, students will be provided with online content prior to the face to
face and the entire learning schedule.
b. 2nd
and 3rd
weeks of the semester will be for face to face and in each week, 3 hours
will be allocated for each course unit. A total of 6 hours will be used for the first
block release in the two weeks. For example, assuming the course unit has 12 topics
to cover, the first 6 should be considered in the first 2 weeks block release and then
the last 6 in the eighth and ninth week block release. So a total of 12 hours will be
used for the entire semester.
c. The time for teaching between 18:00 – 21:30 every day as per the schedule. During
these hours, at least all topics should be covered, students’ groups formed and
continuous assessment offered.
d. The 4th – 7th weeks will be used for self study and group work by the students from
anywhere at any time
e. During the 8th
and 9th
weeks the students will return for the second block release
where they will use a total of 6 hours for face-to-face learning. During this time the
students will be taught, offered continuous assessment and other issues addressed.
f. During the self study the following will be undertaken;
i. Online resources, links and other resources via the e-learning system will be
provided and students provided access
ii. The lecturer will provide continuous interaction with the students at least
twice a week

2. iii. In the 8 and 14 week of the semester, students should be able to submit
their first and second continuous assessment via the e-learning system or
present it
b. In the 15-week of the semester, the students will hand in their second continuous
assessment and also seat for the face to face examination
2. All course units within all the programmes under SBM will follow this model but those
course units that are not cross cutting and fall in the PGD in Monitoring & Engineering and
PGD in Project Planning and Management will follow the distance option mode described
below
3. The assessment of the students will be tagged on the following so that continuous learning
is facilitated;
a. Face to face attendance === 5 Marks
b. Access to the E-learning system === 3 Marks
c. Use of the online discussion board constructively === 2 Marks
d. 2 Continuous Assessments === @15 Marks
e. Final Examination === @60 Marks
Summary Table
Morning Evening: 17:00 – 21:00 pm
Week One Online access, registration etc
Week Two Block Release One
Week Three Block Release One
Week Four Self Paced Learning
Week Five Self Paced Learning
Week Six Self Paced Learning
Week Seven Self Paced Learning
Week Eight Block Release Two and First Continuous
Assessment Submission
Week Nine Block Release Two
Week Ten Self Paced Learning
Week Eleven Self Paced Learning
Week Twelve Self Paced Learning
Week Thirteen Self Paced Learning
Week Fourteen Self Paced Learning
Week Fifteen Second Continuous Assessment Submission
and Examinations
Option B (Only affects the distance students)
• Students for the PGD in Monitoring & Engineering and PGD in Project Planning and
Management who are on distance will be allowed to do course units that are not cross

3. cutting using this model described under this option. However, the rest of the courses that
are cross cutting will be undertaken using the model described above.
• It should be noted that the distance students may not be able to attend the block release as
presented in option A. Therefore in that situation the following will be used for the distance
students only.
o In the first - third weeks the distance students will be opened up to online resources
before they come in for their one week face to face
o Distance students will be invited to attend face to face in the fourth week of the
semester. During this week 3 hours for each course unit will be used but the student
will be full time in that week. All the content for the first block release will be done
in that week.
o They will go away and do self-paced learning during the fifth–ninth week.
o In the tenth week, the students will come back for the second block release and do
their final face to face 3 hours per course unit.
o In the 15-week of the semester, the distance, evening and weekend students will
hand in their second continuous assessment and also seat for the face-to-face
examination. All students irrespective of whether they are distance, evening or
weekend, they follow the same calendar for assignments submissions, test and
examination seating.
School of Computing and Engineering (SCE)
1. Students will have 15 weeks of study which will be distributed in the following way;
a. In the first week, students will be provided with online content prior to the face to
face, communicated to about the entire learning schedule, requested to register to
attend the course.
b. The student will have the second and third weeks of the semester for face to face
and in each week 3 hours will be allocated for each course unit. Therefore a total of
6 hours will be used for the first block release in the two weeks. For example
assuming the course unit has 12 topics to cover, the first 6 should be considered in
the first 2 weeks block release and then the last 6 in the eight and ninth week block
release. So a total of 12 hours will be used for the entire semester.
c. The students will be provided with the practical sessions in the fourth week
depending on what has been prepared by the lecturer.
d. The time for teaching will be between 18:00 – 21:30 every day as per the schedule
that will have been developed
e. During these hours, at least all topics planned for that period should be covered,
students’ groups formed and continuous assessment offered.
f. The fifth – eighth weeks will be used for self study and group work by the students
from any where at any time
g. During the ninth and tenth weeks the students will return for the second block
release where they will use a total of 6 hours for face-to-face learning. During this
time the students will be taught, offered continuous assessment and other issues
addressed.

4. h. In week Eleven the students will be provided with another practical session as a
follow up with what has just been taught in the ninth and tenth weeks
i. During the self study the following will be undertaken;
i. Online resources, links and other resources via the e-learning system will be
provided and students provided access
ii. The lecturer will provide continuous interaction with the students at least
twice a week
iii. In the 8 and 14 week of the semester, students should be able to submit
their first and second continuous assessment via the e-learning system or
present it
f. In the 15-week of the semester, the students will seat for the face to face
examination
2. The assessment of the students will be tagged on the following so that continuous learning
is facilitated;
g. Face to face attendance === 5 Marks
h. Access to the E-learning system === 3 Marks
i. Use of the online discussion board constructively === 2 Marks
j. 2 Continuous Assessments === @15 Marks
k. Final Examination === @60 Marks
Summary Table
Morning Evening: 17:00 – 21:00 pm
Week One Online access, registration etc
Week Two Block Release One
Week Three Block Release One
Week Four Practical Session
Week Five Self Paced Learning
Week Six Self Paced Learning
Week Seven Self Paced Learning
Week Eight Self Paced Learning
Week Nine Block Release Two and First Continuous
Assessment Submission
Week Ten Block Release Two
Week Eleven Practical Session
Week Twelve Self Paced Learning
Week Thirteen Self Paced Learning
Week Fourteen Self Paced Learning
Week Fifteen Second Continuous Assessment Submission
and Examinations