The Strategic Management in a Changing World programme will develop analytical and entrepreneurial thinking

The new master's programmes starting in the autumn of 2022 will be Strategic Management in a Changing World and People Management and Organizational Development offered by the Department of Management Studies, as well as the Business Analytics programme of the Department of Information and Service Management. The first applications for these programmes can be made from the turn of the year 2021–2022. In addition, the structure of the Global Management programme (CEMS) will change.

The Strategic Management in a Changing World programme will prepare its graduates for work in business development, consulting, and diverse other corporate roles. The programme will bring together modern business practices and the newest research to provide skills and knowledge in strategic analysis, formulation, and implementation.

The programme differs from traditional strategy programmes in that the programme emphasises the opportunities that sustainable development and continuing digitalisation and globalisation create for businesses. Those who complete the programme therefore are very well prepared to work in demanding specialist tasks. They utilise an analytical and critical approach in society for globally significant trends and changes.

The programme emphasises analytical skills and entrepreneurial thinking, which are generally needed in the strategic work of organisations and especially in the development of new, sustainable business.

Programme gives skills for sustainable development of business activities

Assistant Professor Patrick Shulist, who oversees planning for the programme, says that professors and lecturers at the School of Business have the top-notch skills and knowledge to offer a competitive programme.

‘In addition to the excellent skills and knowledge of our teaching personnel, the content of the new programme distinguishes it from others of its kind. Teaching a strategy as a continuous process, as well as the focus on sustainable development, digitalisation, and an international field of action are implemented in the programme with great emphasis. These themes are currently taught in many programmes at Aalto as well but graduates of this new programme will primarily become experts in the development of business activities, not necessarily experts specialised specifically in sustainable development or information technology,’ Patrick Shulist says.

About 40 students will be accepted in the first year. Later, the intake is to be increased to 60 students. Those graduating from the programme will be qualified for many different tasks, from of consultation to analysis. Their competitive advantage on the labour market will be a broad understanding of business and strategic management as well as analytical skills and a business-type approach to creating business activities.