Study Guide

Descriptions

Study objectives:
The Master's Degree Programme in Technological Competence Management is part of Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS) Master School. TUAS Master School gives the students an excellent opportunity to create new networks with other experts beyond fields, both in Finland and globally. In the School of Leadership Excellence the students study and acquire skills and competences needed as a business leader and manager whereas in the School of Professional Excellence the focus is on developing into 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 while ethically conducting people and who renews and develops the organisation based on appropriate methods and research data.

In the degree programme of Techonological Competence Management you will learn managing, leadership, competence development, process and quality management, analytical thinking and project management skills. The programme gives you the competence to lead and develop organizations and work in their management board.

After completing the studies you will have the capabilities to anticipate technological changes and utilize their potential from the change management perspective. You will learn how to build a technology strategy and roadmap based on client and organization needs and recognize and utilize the potential of digitalization. You will also learn how to execute development projects, develop organization´s capabilities, team work and networking. Moreover, you will be able to renew and develop organizations by applying suitable methods and research.

During your studies you will learn how to develop your own leadership towards a motivating and effective leadership. You will also learn how to effectively and ethically manage change and people. You will get tools to continuously develop your own leadership profile.

The Master's Degree Programme in Technological Competence Management is primarily directed to people in working life with the aim of providing the capacity to develop towards managerial tasks. It is well suited, for example, to production, product development and product managers, and people who seek or have just started in such careers. The programme can be carried out alongside work. The students graduate with a Master of Business Administration degrees. Applicants should have at least two years of work experience.

Study contents:
The Master’s degree consists of core competences, complementary competences, and the Master’s thesis. Core competences consist on courses that are common for all the master students and studies about technological competence management.

Common courses teach tools to anticipate future needs and future research. Moreover, you will develop your research and development competence such as data collection, research ethics and process modelling.

Technological competence management studies gives you capabilities about process and quality management and technology management.Complementary competence studies include elective studies that can be taken freely from the other TUAS Master’s programmes or from the Master’s programmes of other universities.

At the beginning of the studies, the student creates an individual study plan with the tutor teacher. The Master’s thesis is in most cases done as a working life development project.

The studies are mainly in Finnish but international material will also be used. There are some English courses in the curricula and students can participate in exchange programs organized by TUAS or partner university.

Structure of studies:
The extent of the study programme is 90 ECTS.
The studies consist of
• Compulsory core competences 40 ECTS
• Elective complementary competences 20 ECTS
• Master’s thesis 30 ECTS.

The programme is built on mixed-mode studies including lectures, seminars, e-learning, teamwork, and independent work. There are on average two days of contact teaching days monthly. Due to personal study choises, it is possible to have more contact teaching days.

Studies consist of 5 credit modules that typically include two contact teaching days. Elective studies will help you to expand your knowledge. You can choose courses from TUAS or some other universities. Completely virtual studies are also available.

Final project:
A central part of the Master's studies is the Master’s thesis. The thesis work starts already at the beginning of the studies and it is carried out as a working life oriented development project. Thesis work is normally conducted in student´s own organization or in TUAS research and development projects.

Career opportunities:
After completing the studies you can work as an expert, developer or manager in public or private organizations. You can also work in education and teaching if you also complete pedagogical studies.
After graduating you can work for instance in production, product management, product development and innovations or process and quality management.

Qualification:
A Master’s degree awarded by a university of applied sciences provides the same eligibility for public posts as a degree awarded by a university. The education provides general competence for management and development tasks. Extensive development and expertise in the field make national and international mobility possible. The education follows the European Qualification Framework (EQF) proficiency level descriptions and the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) proficiency descriptions. The level corresponding to the Master’s degree is 7.

Possible jobtitles after graduation:
· Research and Development Manager
· Project Manager
· Production Manager
· Product Manager
· Quality Manager

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. The students can also engage in internationalisation by participating in intensive events organised by international networks, as well as by taking part in international conferences and projects. Part of the studies can be in English.

Co-operation with other parties:
The studies at the School of Leadership Excellence are designed and implemented in collaboration with working life. The working life connection is primarily built around the student, the student's workplace, networks, and education. The interaction between the students working in different positions plays an important role in the development of professional skills and the creation of collaborative networks.

The most important element of the degree is the Master’s thesis, which is done as a development project that serves the working life. The thesis increases the student's professional skills and competence and serves the development needs of working life. Local, national and international actors are also involved in the research and development activities.

Students can apply for courses at other higher education institutions and include these in their degree. Students can also take advantage of the joint online study offering at CampusOnline provided by the Finnish universities of applied sciences. http://campusonline.fi/ The industry participates in the development of the education. .

Research focus:
Studies including different tasks, projects, and Master's thesis are characterised by a research and development approach and collaboration with working life. The students are welcome to join the research and development projects running at Turku University of Applied Sciences.

Postgraduate study opportunities:
The studies provide eligibility for further academic studies. Universities may set conditions on granting rights for further studies in the form of, for instance, supplementary transitional studies.

Objective

After completing the programme, the student is able to:
· develop his/her own leadership identity towards becoming a motivating and capable executive/manager
· manage people and change in a results-oriented and ethical way
· renew and develop the organisation and its operations by applying appropriate methods based on facts
· manage and develop a technology organisation
· master business and financial management principles in a technology-oriented organisation
· anticipate technological and other changes in businesses and working life and exploit their potential from the change management perspective
· develop a technology strategy and roadmap aligned with the requirements of the organisation
· identify and exploit the business potential of digital transformation
· implement and manage development projects and project activities in an organisation
· lead skills and capabilities development, build up teamwork and networking according to the organisation’s strategy, competitiveness and efficiency

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 to 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 applied RDI activities and working life orientation plays an important role in the studies. Learning takes place partly online and in multi-disciplinary environments. On average, there are two 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 Master’s studies related to, among others, the completion of the Master´s thesis. A central part of the Technological Competence Management leadership 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 the 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 the objectives, the content and the method of implementation. The courses and the thesis are assessed on a scale of 0 to 5. The 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 utilised. The degree assessment framework is used as the basis for the assessment.

The Degree Programme is developed according to the principles of continuous improvement. In the development work, feedback from the students and working life, as well as their initiatives, play a key role. Feedback is collected with, for instance, student questionnaires and group-specific development discussions.