MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMME IN CREATIVE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

University of Art and Design Helsinki – School of Art and Media Pori
MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMME IN CREATIVE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT


PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
Master’s degree programme in Creative Business Management offers multidisciplinary expertise in managing creative processes and business in the creative economy. Creative economy is primarily a field of immaterial production, where general human abilities – communication, language, affections, relations – become the fundamental productive force. Our perspective is on the user becoming a decisive factor in production processess, and applying design methods to production processes themselves and not merely to product development. The studies focus on diverse issues of production, from concept design to media production and knowledge and brand management, and management of creative processes and research of immaterial production from a user-centered perspective. The programme is offered in collaboration with Turku School of Economics, Pori Unit which provides a multidisciplinary study environment for the students. The students will build contacts with the local industry and commerce and do project work in cooperation with companies from Satakunta region.


WHO CAN APPLY
The program is aimed at students who have successfully completed their bachelor’s degree or a polytechnic degree in the field of cultural production, media, design or other applicable discipline or have by other means achieved similar qualifications. In addition, the applicants should prove their experience of creative work and/or leading creative teams or an enterprise in the creative field.


PROGRAMME AIMS
The core aim of the programme is to educate experts in human-centered design processes, who understand the logic of immaterial production and are familiar with commercial principles, and able to apply their knowledge in practice. The learning objectives of the programme are:

1. Graduates of the programme understand the features and functions of creative economy and creative industries. They are skilled in user-centered and innovative product and service design and are able to create sustainable enterprise.

2. Graduates are able to function in multicultural and -disciplinary teams and understand cultural differences between disciplines and professional fields. They are able to recognise the rich interfaces between sciences and fields and to facilitate constructive dialogue.

3. Graduates grasp the phases of creative design processes, understand the conditions of creative work and are able to facilitate the building of creative surroundings. They understand the role of creativity in organisations and their development.

4. The programme offers a value sensitive, participatory and active environment, which allows differences in opinions. This educates experts with good interaction skills, who can articulate their ideas in a clear fashion and offer constructive criticism. Their leadership skills are well developed and they are able to create and upkeep an open and appreciative working culture.


WORK PROSPECTS
After graduating, the attendees can work in a variety of positions in the creative field, and also in traditional industry and service sector, and as researchers of creative economy in research institutions. Their work prospects are enhanced through their connections to companies built during projects and active interest and gathered expertise in specific tasks and positions.


STUDY STRUCTURE
The two-year, 120 credit degree programme in Creative Business Management leads to a master’s degree in arts (MA).

The structure of the degree programme consists of major subject studies (media production), multidisciplinary integrative studies and minor studies offered by other units at the University Consortium of Pori. Study methods include workshops, projects, practice work, intensive courses, lectures and personal guidance. Students are guided using a personal study plan, which helps them find their individual study paths and required professional competencies. The students also follow their progress through digital portfolio work.


LANGUAGES
The programme will be taught in Finnish and English..

APPLICATION PROCESS
The application deadline for the CBM degree programme is annually between January and February. A maximum of ten MA students are chosen to the programme through a two-phased admission process. In the first phase the applicants send in a completed application form with attached copies of degree certificates, a curriculum vitae, a letter of interest (A4) and a portfolio presenting their work. The portfolio must contain the documentation of participation in a media or cultural on other similar production. In the second phase the applicants are asked to write an essay on a related theme and present their portfolio in an interview.


CRITERIA OF ADMISSION
In the portfolio and admission test the student should demonstrate talent, motivation and development potential in the field of visual culture, media, design or other applicable fields and critical and analytical thinking skills. The evaluation also takes in regard the work and study experience of the applicant and their view on creative work and its management.


ADMISSION IN 2009
A maximum of 10 students.