The specialisation is a unique interdisciplinary study that provides a relevant and future-oriented leadership education. Using problem-based learning, the study aims to provide knowledge on how we can analyse and understand value creation in businesses, and through decisions, management and leadership contribute to increased sustainable value creation.

The study aims to provide students with:

• Various perspectives on subject areas within strategy, economics, innovation and leadership, which can contribute to better decisions and development of their own business. The study integrates theory and practical application, while participants work on current issues from their own business.
• Current research-based knowledge about strategic leadership in a broad perspective. Many businesses are in a situation of constantly changing competition, often from international competitors, and therefore a holistic understanding is necessary to meet challenges and create and exploit opportunities.
• The ability to highlight factors that help businesses to develop and mobilise resources in a way that provides lasting competitive advantages.
• The opportunity to build networks for learning and further development both in and outside the teaching situation.

After completing the specialisation, candidates are expected to have achieved the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The candidate has

• advanced knowledge of how the strategy and management discipline has developed over time and sound knowledge of the scientific methods and approaches that form the basis for the strategy and management subjects.
• advanced knowledge of strategic analyses of enterprises and the environments and markets they operate in, including from a sustainability perspective.
• in-depth knowledge of finances and business and specialised knowledge of strategy and management and their importance to value creation in the enterprise.
• in-depth knowledge of how strategy and management skills can be applied to new issues.

Skills

The candidate can

• analyse and apply a critical approach to various sources of information and use them to structure and formulate academic reasoning.
• apply research-based strategy and management theories and tools in practical and theoretical problem-solving in different enterprises.
• carry out independent strategy and management projects in accordance with applicable academic and ethical standards.

General competence

The candidate can

• stay up to date and make use of new research-based strategy and management knowledge in their future career.
• apply a global, sustainable approach to strategy and reflect on ethical issues in their own enterprise.
• discuss and present subject-related issues and analyses with specialists as well as with the general public.
• communicate extensive independent work in writing and orally using language that is appropriate to the field in question.