Academic Programmes

Programme Overview

The PG Diploma in Business Excellence and Sustainable Organisational Performance is a distinctive postgraduate qualification that equips current and future leaders with the tools, models and frameworks to embed excellence, quality, and sustainability at the heart of their organisations.

This programme blends the rigour of internationally recognised frameworks—including the EFQM Excellence Model, ISO Standards, and Investors in People—with practical, action-oriented learning and deep industry engagement.

Delivered by the Stirling Centre for Strategic Learning and Innovation (SCSLI) and accredited by a leading Scottish university, the programme is endorsed by the British Quality Foundation (BQF), the UK’s national partner of the EFQM.

Who Should Enrol?

This programme is ideal for:

• • Business improvement and quality professionals
  • Senior managers driving change or transformation
  • SME and public sector leaders focused on performance and service excellence
  • Consultants and assessors working with ISO, EFQM, or organisational learning models

Whether you’re preparing for accreditation, leading a transformation initiative, or future-proofing your operating model, this diploma provides a structured pathway to sustained excellence.

Programme Structure

Stage 1: PG Certificate (60 Credits)

(Each module is 10 credits)

1. Foundations of Business Excellence
   Explore the evolution of excellence thinking, comparing global frameworks including EFQM, ISO, Baldrige, and IIP.
2. The EFQM Model in Practice
   A hands-on exploration of EFQM 2020, focusing on purpose-driven leadership, sustainable strategy, and stakeholder value.
3. ISO Standards and Integrated Management Systems
   Examine how ISO 9001, 45001, 14001 and other standards support excellence, and how to embed them into a cohesive system.
4. Organisational Learning and Culture
   Understand how learning ecosystems and organisational behaviour impact performance, innovation, and adaptability.
5. Quality Tools for Business Performance
   Practical application of Lean, Six Sigma, PDCA, benchmarking, and process excellence tools in real environments.
6. Industry Excellence Challenge
   A consultancy-style project where learners collaborate with an organisation to assess performance using EFQM or ISO models.

Stage 2: PG Diploma (Additional 60 Credits)

(Each module is 20 credits)

1. Leading Business Excellence Transformation
   Develop the mindset and skillset to lead cross-functional transformation programmes, underpinned by systems thinking.
2. Sustainability, ESG and Social Impact
   Integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into excellence frameworks and organisational strategy.
3. Capstone: Excellence in Action
   Undertake a comprehensive improvement or transformation project in a chosen organisation, culminating in strategic recommendations and impact reporting.

Learning Experience

• Blended Delivery: In-person intensives in Stirling + live online masterclasses
• Endorsement: Programme endorsed by the British Quality Foundation (BQF)
• Industry Engagement: Each module includes an organisational case, site visit or practitioner panel
• Applied Learning: Assessments are practice-based—designed to deliver impact in your organisation or for a client

Why Choose This Programme?

• The only postgraduate diploma in the UK fully integrating EFQM, ISO, IIP, and ESG
• Delivered by leading experts with real-world experience in quality and performance excellence
• Strong connections to UK and international quality communities via BQF and EFQM
• Opens a pathway to EFQM Assessor certification and further study at master’s level

Key Features at a Glance