Aalto University School of Business

Master's Degree Programme in International Design Business Management

URLaalto.fi/en/studies/education/programme/international_design_business_management_biz_master
Description

The International Design Business Management (IDBM) programme is a joint teaching and research platform of the Aalto University School of Business, the School of Art, Design and Architecture, and the School of Science. The programme is intended for all students with interest in interdisciplinary work, design driven innovation, creative business models and product development.

The purpose of the IDBM programme is to develop world-class expertise in global design business management through multidisciplinary research and learning that cuts across the areas of business, design and technology. The IDBM programme aims to train skilled professionals for key roles in global design business. The programme emphasizes the importance of design as a competitive factor, linked with state-of-the-art technology and business models.

The key offering of the IDBM programme is the Industry Project, which is a real-life assignment from a sponsoring-company that a multidisciplinary team of four to six students undertakes during the first academic year. The programme gives future marketers, engineering experts and designers an opportunity to practice important interpersonal skills through cooperative industry projects and specialized courses. The programme builds on the business, design or technology skills and competence achieved at the bachelor’s level, enabling students to make full use of their own potential as members of interdisciplinary teams, often within project-based work.

Learning outcomes

In terms of knowledge:

  • Individuals must widely understand and be critically able to approach the knowledge that is needed to undertake new business ventures in global environments.
  • This includes understanding and having the best current knowledge of the systemic nature of global issues and the impact of globalization; of the multidisciplinary nature of responses needed to address these issues; of the need to possess the best knowledge projections of the future through foresight; and the need to understand agile and flexible operational practices.
  • They must master professional specialized concepts, applications and knowledge linked to their own business, design or technology background that are relevant to global business development.
  • Additionally, they must be able to understand the issues related to the creation and application of new knowledge within and in between domains.

In terms of skills:

  • Operating independently and in teams, individuals must be able to arrive at successful cross-cutting solutions within complex, ambiguous and demanding problem settings and environments.
  • Furthermore, individuals must be able to create new knowledge and practices, while applying it in multidisciplinary settings.
  • Individuals must be able to execute demanding tasks in expert and entrepreneurial roles, while also being able to develop new strategic and operational approaches in complex and unforeseeable circumstances.
  • Within global business settings, individuals must be able to manage and lead initiatives and other individuals.
  • While demonstrating abilities to accumulate personal expertise and knowledge, the individual must also possess the ability to evaluate the action of self and of teams/groups and be responsible for the professional development of others.
  • The individual must have excellent written and oral communication skills within the professional sphere, as well as outside of it.
Teaching ModeFull Time
LanguageEnglish
Academic RequirementsAcademic background in business or economics
BeginFall
Length24 Months