Degree Programme in SME Business
Degree
Programme in SME Business Management (In Finnish)
Qualification awarded
Bachelor of Business
Administration
Level of qualification
The degree programme leads to a higher education degree which is a first cycle
Bachelor-level degree in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). According to
the eight-level classification of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)
the degree represents level 6.
Specific
admission requirements
Please see
the
Applicant's Guide
or the website
www.seamk.fi/hakeminen.
Applicant's Guide's
instructions are written in Finnish for degree programmes taught in Finnish and
in English for degree programmes taught in English. On the website, application
and instructions are in Finnish language for the degree programmes taught in
Finnish.
Specific
arrangements for recognition of prior learning
Applications for recognition
of prior learning are directed to the AHOT-team, i.e. to the head of the degree
programme and the student counselor. For the students in the adult education
group the coordinator of adult education for the degree programme is included in
the team. See also the general AHOT-guidelines for Seinäjoki UAS.
The thesis, project courses
(e.g. KE16D096110, KE16D085130, learning projects) and the course Learning
skills are excluded from recognition of prior learning. For practical training
(ETYÖHA) a limited possibility of recognition of prior learning exists; see
course description for details. With the exception practical training, partial
recognition for courses is generally not available.
If recognition is applied
for on basis of previous studies, the said studies should be from an institution
of higher education and registered after 1.1.2001. When recognition of prior
learning is sought for studies in languages, accounting and financial
management, business law and information technology registered prior to
31.12.2007, demonstration of skills/knowledge may be requested.
Written and oral exams,
written assignments, presentations, portfolios and interviews are used in
assessing prior learning. The decision for recognition of prior learning is made
by the teacher or, if the course in question is taught by a visiting lecturer,
by the head of the degree programme.
Qualification requirements and regulations
Please see
the
Degree Regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.
Pedagogical approach
Teaching and learning in the
programme involves extensive teamwork together with long-term business partners
(focal enterprises). Students complete several comprehensive assignments for the
focal enterprises, which enables them to perceive the links between the various
areas of business right from the beginning of their academic career.
Working with partner
companies and engaging in teamwork support the development of students'
professional expertise and their social and mental growth into SME business
managers or mature entrepreneurs. The pedagogy applied in the programme
emphasises the development of readiness for the working world while studying.
The period of internationalisation increases students' language skills and
supports their personal growth into an independent decision-maker.
More and more, the
management of business calls for skills in information acquisition and
processing, ability to work in collaboration with others, problem-solving
skills, constant openness to learning new things, and the ability to combine
various types of information in practical work. Teaching in the Degree Programme
in SME Business Management emphasises the constructivist theory of learning
whereby the active role of the student and his/her world of experience play an
important part in the teaching and learning process. It is the teacher's
duty to act as a facilitator of learning and co-ordinator of studies.
Profile
of the programme
The studies in the programme
emphasise problem-solving skills and learning by doing. The point of view taken
in the programme is that of a generalist, e.g. the manager of a company.
Therefore, teaching emphasises the development of students' ability to see the
whole picture and competence in managing multidimensional entities. Strong ties
to the international environment are also a distinctive characteristic of the
programme. The global business environment calls for good language skills and
the ability to work successfully in multicultural settings.
A student in the degree
programme prepares for varied management and development tasks in business. The
students familiarize themselves with different expertise areas of doing business
such as business planning, leadership, marketing, industrial management,
financial management, business law and international contacts. Application of
expertise in the aforementioned areas requires skills in communications, use of
information technology, project planning and languages, which the students also
develop in the programme. Some of the studies can be completed through
customised projects ('learning projects') for example in the focal enterprise.
Application of acquired expertise to practice during studies increases the
students' preparedness for working life.
Students outline their area
of expertise in SME business management in their Personal Study Plan. During
their second year of studies, students draft their career plans and create a
personal study programme according to their plans. Students may specialise for
example in marketing, online business, production management, or service
development. If a student plans to run a business immediately after graduation,
then the necessary studies (s)he should engage in are included in their study
plan.
International activities
During their third year of
study, students usually spend one semester in a foreign institution of higher
education where they complete 15 to 30 credits of coursework. There is a broad
network of institutions in Europe, America, Australia and Asia from which
students may choose the area that best suits their interests. Students may also
apply to a higher education institution not included in the network.
Students in the degree
programme also have the opportunity to obtain a double degree: a UAS degree in
business at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences and a BBA in the Hannover
University of Applied Sciences and Arts. To receive the double degree, students
complete three years of study in the Degree Programme in SME Business Management
at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences and one year in Hannover. The final
thesis is written in English and there are two thesis supervisors. Students do
their practical training in Germany or some other foreign country.
Students who do not wish to
complete a double degree may also do their practical training abroad. Moreover,
there are courses taught in English available and visits by exchange students
and foreign guest lecturers, all of which promote the internationalisation of
the students.
Occupational profiles
The Degree Programme in SME
Business Management prepares students for responsible job positions in the field
of business with special emphasis on management and entrepreneurship in small-
and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs). Bachelors of business administration from the
programme are professionals in managing businesses, have the knowledge and
skills needed to establish their own enterprise or to develop an existing
enterprise in a global operations environment.
There are a number of job
positions available to students graduating from the programme, e.g.
entrepreneur, managing director, development manager, logistics foreman,
investment manager, marketing designer, etc.
Access to
further studies
Students who have completed
this programme are eligible to continue on to a university of applied sciences'
master's degree programme in social sciences, business and administration.
(University of applied sciences act 351/2003, in Finnish)
Course
structure
Students complete a total of
60 credits of coursework each year. The total amount of credits for the entire
degree programme is 210, which takes about 3.5 years to complete. The programme
comprises Basic Studies and Professional Studies, language studies,
internationalisation studies, and studies in entrepreneurship as agreed upon,
practical training, elective studies as outlined in the Personal Study Plan, and
the final thesis.
Examination regulations, assessment and grading
Please see
the
Degree Regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.
Graduation requirements
Please see
the
Degree Regulations of
Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.
Mode of
study
Full time studies except in
the adult education group where studies are multiform (part-time).
Contact
persons
Head of the degree programme:
Mr. Tero Turunen, tel. +358 40 830 2366, e-mail: tero.turunen(at)seamk.fi
ECTS departmental
coordinator / International coordinator: Ms Marjo Arola, tel. +358 40 830 4216,
e-mail: marjo.arola(at)seamk.fi
Student counsellor: Ms Raija
Rauma, tel. +358 40 830 4214, e-mail: raija.rauma(at)seamk.fi
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