Study Guide

Descriptions

Study objectives:
The Master's Degree Programme in Business Management is part of Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS) Master School. TUAS Master School brings together all Master’s degree programmes at TUAS in the fields of Business, Culture, Healthcare and Social Services and Technology. It gives the students an excellent chance to create new multidisciplinary networks with other experts both in Finland and globally. The School of Leadership Excellence provides the students a possibility to study and acquire skills and competences needed as a business leader and manager whereas the School of Professional Excellence focuses on developing the skills and competences needed as a specialist in the selected discipline.

In the leadership (MBA) studies the student develops his/her managerial profile as a motivating and effective leader who achieves results and change by managing people ethically and who renews and develops the organisation based on appropriate methods and research data.

The aim of the Master’s Degree Programme in Business Management (90 ECTS) is to further develop the competences needed in the management positions in a demanding global business environment. The programme is particularly targeted at individuals who are aiming at a management position in any kind of business or other organisation. The programme is a part-time training programme for future general executives. The target group consists of managers or experts with several years of working experience, and who want to further enhance their knowhow in management.

The core content of the programme provides competences mainly for general management positions, but also leadership skills for executive management of special functions such as sales, marketing, production, development, financial or human resources management. All managers need skills in leadership and change management, knowledge of strategic thinking and management, as well as project, innovation and network management, and basics of financial management. He/she can also think critically and conduct/write master level research report. The programme develops all these skills.

It should be noted that the context of this programme is business in private sector. Turku University of Applied Sciences has other Master´s degree programmes (in Finnish) whose context is both the private and the public sector organisations as an employer. The studies facilitate sharing of tacit knowledge within diverse groups. The versatile student contacts acquired during the studies may be of great benefit to the student in the future.

More about the language of instruction:
English is the teaching language and the MBA Thesis must be written in English, but students are allowed to include 10 ECTS courses in Finnish in the Master´s Degree in Business Management.

Study contents:
The Master’s degree consists of core competences, complementary competences, and thesis work. Part of the mandatory core competence studies are common for all MBA programmes, and part are specific for the Master´s Degree in Business Management. The core competences in the Master´s Degree in Business Management Programme consist of leadership and change management, strategic thinking and management, project, innovation and network management and basics of financial management.

Complementary competence studies include elective studies that can be taken freely from the other TUAS Master’s Programmes or from the Masters’ Programmes of other universities.

The thesis work is in most cases done as a working life development project. At the beginning of the studies the student creates an individual study plan for herself/himself with the tutor teacher.

Structure of studies:
The extent of the study programme is 90 ECTS credits. The students applying with other than Bachelor of Business Administration degree can graduate accordingly, e.g. with the Bachelor of Engineering or equivalent degree, one can also graduate as Master of Engineering (60 ECTS credits).

The studies are composed of:
compulsory core competences 40 ECTS Cr
elective complementary competences 20 ECTS Cr
thesis work 30 ECTS Cr.

The studies common to each leadership programme include studies in research methods and in future operating environments. The rest of the compulsory studies deepen the insight specific to each leadership programme. Students may further deepen or expand their competences by choosing elective courses from the other programmes.

The Master’s Degree studies at TUAS Master School are flexible and can be completed while working full-time and from anywhere in Finland. The programme is built on mixed-mode studies including lectures, seminars, e-learning, teamwork and independent work. There are two (2) days of contact sessions monthly. The planned length of the studies is 1.5-2 years.

Final project:
The thesis is a central part of the studies. The thesis work starts already at the beginning of the studies and it is carried out as a working life oriented development project. The thesis will not only develop the student’s knowledge and skills in a certain study field and specific topic but also gives the possibility to enhance skills in leading teams and work groups. Thesis is written in English.

Career opportunities:
By the time the student graduates, he/she has created new knowledge and reformed the working life with the Master's thesis work. The student’s network has expanded both in Finland and globally. In addition, the student has developed his/her expertise and acquired tools for advancing his/her career. He/she has acquired the knowledge needed in management positions in business enterprises.

Qualification:
The University of Applied Sciences Master's degree gives the qualification to a public office in Finland.

Possible jobtitles after graduation:
Management director, General manager, Development manager, HR manager, Management consultant, etc.

Internationalization:
Students have the opportunity to complete part of their studies outside Finland at the higher education institutions with which Turku University of Applied Sciences has signed a cooperation agreement. In addition, students can integrate internationalisation in their studies e.g. by participating in the intensive weeks organised by the international networks as well as by taking part in international conferences and projects. Professional and research literature in English forms a significant part of the learning materials and internationalisation.

Co-operation with other parties:
The programme is planned and implemented together with the working life. The interaction between students working in different positions plays an important role in the development of professional skills and the creation of collaborative networks.

A central part of the Master's studies is the Master’s thesis. The thesis work starts already in the beginning of the studies and it is carried out as a working life oriented development project. The thesis will not only develop your knowledge and skills in a certain study field and specific topic but also gives you the possibility to enhance your skills of leading teams and work groups.

Research focus:
Studies are characterised by a research and development approach. The students are welcome to join the research and development projects running at Turku University of Applied Sciences.

Postgraduate study opportunities:
A Master’s degree awarded by a university of applied sciences provides eligibility for further academic studies as well as for applying for professional teacher education. Universities may set conditions on granting rights for further studies in the form of e.g. supplementary studies.

Objective

After completing the program, the student is able to
· Develop own leadership identity towards motivating and capable executive/manager
· Lead as results-oriented and ethically diverse people and change
· Renew and develop the organisation and its functions by applying appropriate methods based on facts
· Design, lead and monitor projects
· Think strategically, plan and execute selected strategies
· Understand the basics of management accounting and finance
· Create favorable working environments and processes for innovation
· Lead and communicate skillfully with international networks, alliances and customer relationships
· Think creatively and analytically to solve managerial problems
· Develop own future career

Development

The pedagogical approach applied in the leadership (MBA) studies is Innovation pedagogy that refers to an approach of constructivist and problem-based learning. Master´s students study alongside their work and want to broaden and deepen their theoretical knowledge and get models to apply theory in their own work. Studying is part time and involves both contact and distant learning. In addition to individual learning, collaborative learning in teams is applied to meet the needs of working life. Integration between studies and applied RDI activities and working life orientation play an important role in the studies. Learning takes place partly in virtual and in multi-disciplinary environments. On average, there are two (2) consecutive contact teaching days in a month. The student creates an individual study plan (ISP) at the beginning of his/her studies, where he/she selects studies offered in Masters programmes related to, among others, the completion of the master´s thesis. A central part of Master´s Degree in Business Management (MBA) studies is the master´s thesis in which the student will not only develop the knowledge and skills in a certain study field and specific topic, but will also have the possibility to develop his/her work and workplace.

Further information

The objectives for skills levels in a Master’s Degree are based on the legislation on universities of applied sciences and the European Qualification Framework (EQF). The level corresponding to a Master’s Degree is level 7. The assessment criteria for each course are described in its implementation plan. Performance requirements vary depending on objectives, content and the method of implementation. The courses and the thesis are assessed on a scale of 0 to 5. Assessment focuses on competence and its development. The course assessment methods vary according to the objectives of the study module. Assessment may focus on the outcome (for instance, a report or a seminar presentation), on the process (the student’s own activity and actions during the course) or on both. Students receive regular feedback on their performance from their teachers. Peer- and self-assessment as well as client company feedback on performance are also utilized. The degree assessment framework is used as the basis for the assessment. The Degree Programme will be developed according to the principles of continuous improvement. In the development work, feedback from the students and working life as well as their initiatives have a key role. Feedback is collected with, for instance, student questionnaires and group-specific development discussions.