Bachelor of Culture and Arts, Cultural Management

Name of the Degree Programme

Degree Programme in Cultural Management

Field of study

Arts and humanities
The classification of the educational field is based on the international ISCED classification used by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Specialisations

The degree programme does not include any specialisation studies

Qualification awarded

Bachelor of Culture and Arts

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) and National Qualifications Framework (NQF), the degree represents level 6.
The description of the level of the Degree is included in the Statute, at
http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2017/20170120

Specific admission requirements

Eligibility for studies at a university of applied sciences is stipulated in the Universities of Applied Sciences Act 932/2014.

The selection criteria are specified in the data of the Degree Programme at www.opintopolku.fi and www.seamk.fi/haku

Qualification requirements and regulations (incl. graduation requirements)

See the Degree Regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.

Examination regulations, assessment and grading

See the Degree Regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.
Link

Structure of the studies

In accordance with the Universities of Applied Sciences Act, the studies of a Degree Programme consist of basic studies, professional studies, practical training promoting professional skills, free elective studies, and a final project/thesis. The extent of the studies is 60 credits a year.

The studies consist of the following modules:

- basic studies
- professional studies of the degree programme
- professional studies of a cultural manager
- optional workshops
- free elective studies
- practical training
- final thesis

The basic studies are studies common to all the degree programmes of SeAMK. The degree programme is implemented through productions. The professional studies are interspersed between the productions; some of the theoretical studies may also be implemented as separate courses.

At workshops, the student can deepen or widen their knowledge. The degree includes 25 credits of workshop studies. The supply of workshop studies is established for every academic year. A workshop is arranged if there is a sufficient number of participants. Not all workshop studies are necessarily arranged during the studies.

The programme includes guided practical training in working life (60 credits). The studies also include free elective studies (10 credits) and a final thesis (15 credits). The Degree Programme in Cultural Management has good international networks. This provides excellent opportunities for studies or traineeship abroad.



The curriculum includes five seams permeating through the studies and extending over them. They are based on SeAMK’s reports, studies and strategy, as well as on the national and international recommendations and regulations related to education provided by universities of applied sciences.
- The Information Search seam strengthens the student’s professional and field-specific information search skills throughout the studies.
- The Internationalization seam secures the improvement of the student’s international competencies during their studies.
- The studies corresponding to the Entrepreneurship seam help the student understand the central and growing role of entrepreneurship in society.
- The Sustainable Development seam makes the student aware of social responsibility and helps them understand the diversity of sustainable development as a working life skill.
- The seam of Career Guidance helps the student recognise their competencies and own strengths. It also includes working life knowledge, job search skills, and lifelong learning.

Students have the opportunity to include multidisciplinary, working life-oriented project studies in their personal curricula (FramiPro). The students can participate in the FramiPro studies for one semester after their first year of study (30 credits).

Learning outcomes

The cultural manager's core competencies include the design and implementation of productions, productization, brand building, and communication. The cultural manager is able to anticipate and assess benefits of productions, be they cultural, economic, or social. A student who graduates from the programme is able to design content and productions for different target groups in a profitable way. Productions may be cultural service products, events, media products, or campaigns, irrespective of the field.

Profile of the programme

Starting from the first year of study, the common thread of the studies comprises projects and commissions implemented in cooperation with working life. Projects enable multidisciplinary cooperation and networking. Professional studies, the orientation of practical training, and career counselling secure the depth of the student's professional competencies.

In their studies, the student can exploit different methods of group guidance and ideation. The studies include basics of production techniques and production management. The core elements of the studies of a cultural manager also include pricing, financing and budgeting, as well as efficient production design. The student learns to anticipate and assess the benefits achieved through productions, be they cultural, economic, or social.

The student learns to utilise digital media as a marketing tool. Interpersonal skills and networking skills comprise the core competencies of a cultural manager. The command of intercultural communication in different languages is part of the cultural manager's studies.

Generic and subject specifc competences

Competencies are extensive knowledge entities, or combinations of the individual’s knowledge, skills, and attitudes. They describe qualifications, performance potential, and the ability to cope with professional duties.

Common/general competencies are fields of know-how common to different Degree Programmes, but their special characteristics and importance may vary between professions and work assignments. General competencies form the basis for professional activities, cooperation, and the development of expertise. According to Arene’s (Rectors' Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences) recommendations, general competencies include learning skills, ethical competence, cooperation skills, innovation skills, and internationalization skills. In addition to the above-mentioned competencies, entrepreneurial skills and quality management skills are emphasized in the degree studies of SeAMK as competencies common to all.

Degree programme-specific competencies form the basis for the development of the student’s professional expertise.The cultural manager's field-specific competencies include familiarity with operational environments, command of production processes, business skills, as well as development and people skills. Through command of field-specific competencies, the cultural manager deepens their own professional identity.

Pedagogical approach and learning environment

The studies in cultural management are based on project learning, which means that starting from the first year, all the studies are integrated with working life. Individual courses are integrated into larger productions or projects, and students act in groups of different sizes. Students' team work skills and interpersonal skills develop through collaborative learning.


The teacher's role is to be a mentor-counsellor, who facilitates and supports the student's learning process. Through learning assignments, projects and practical training, the student also explores in depth the subareas of culture in which they are especially interested. The student's own career path is planned throughout the student's studies. Networking is particularly important, for which real cooperation with working life is sought throughout the studies. The studies include small group work, expert lectures, company visits, learning assignments, project work and practical training in real learning environments.

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning (RPL)

The RPL procedure means the identification and recognition of the student’s previously acquired learning. The student has the opportunity to apply for the recognition of their competencies if the competencies correspond to the learning goals of the Degree Programme. The identification process is closely connected with the preparation of the student’s personal curriculum and is updated during personal counselling discussions.

The identification and recognition practices are presented in the RPL Instruction of SeAMK. It specifies how recognition of competencies is applied for, how the application is processed, and how the student is informed of it. The instruction lists the RPL contact persons of each Degree Programme, who counsel students on matters related to the process.

In the assessment of prior learning, for example the following evidence is used:

– certificates on training courses with similar content and on other training courses
– testimonials and further clarifications by an employer
– interviews with the student
– written and oral exams or reports
– functional or written assignments or other evidence
– presentations, portfolios

The final project/thesis and the Maturity Test cannot be submitted to a RPL procedure.


Studies completed at other institutions may also be included in the optional and free elective studies. Prior work experience replacing the practical training is reported as instructed by the degree programme. Previously acquired expertise expires in 10 years. The teacher who processes the application may request additional information or demonstration of prior learning, if necessary.

Work-based learning and work placements

The degree programme includes tow traineeship periods: the first one accounts for 25 credits and the second one 35, respectively. The student does the first traineeship as early as the autumn of the second year of study and is able to apply their competencies gained while studying. During their second traineeship, the student goes deeply into working life challenges with a development task designed together with the supervisor at the traineeship workplace. The practical training is the cornerstone of the professional identity of the cultural manager.


The student’s salaried work during their studies and the competencies achieved through it can be used in order to complete a course. This is referred to as employment-integrated learning, and it can also be related to voluntary work or hobbies. It is essential that the things or skills learned through working contribute to the attainment of the learning goals of the course. Learning achieved through employment-integrated learning can be verified, for instance, through skills demonstrations and assignments.

Occupational profiles

The cultural manager's extensive competencies are needed in different productions in the creative sector, the coordination of productions, and administrative tasks in the public, private, and third sectors. There is a need for the cultural manager's competencies in the media and entertainment industry, publishing, sports-related productions, advertising and marketing organisations' productions, art productions (music, theatre, TV, film), as well as game and other interactive productions.
After completing the vocational language studies the student is able to communicate in spoken and written situations related to his field of study. He can search for information and follow the development of his professional field in the target language.

Internationalization

Students are encouraged to gain international experience. An internationally-oriented study module of approximately 30 credits, mainly targeted at incoming exchange students, is offered during one semester; second or third-year students of the degree programme are also eligible to participate. Moreover, students can complete part of their studies in another country. They can spend all or part of the practical training periods abroad. On several courses, students use professional literature written in a foreign language as study material and have exams based on it.

Access to further studies

After three years of work experience, the student will be eligible for further studies for a Master’s Degree in the field in question.

Graduation requirements

See the Degree Regulations of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences and instructions for graduates at Intra.

Mode of study

Full-time studies.

Head of degree programme

Mr Esa Leikkari, tel. +358 40 830 4270, e-mail: esa.leikkari(at)seamk.fi

Student counsellor

Ms Johanna Ikola, tel. +358 40 868 2005, e-mail: johanna.ikola(at)seamk.fi

Coordination of Practical Training

Ms Sari Havulehto, tel. +358 40 830 3975, email: sari havulehto (at)seamk.fi

Coordination of international mobility

Tiina Välimäki, +358 40 830 4127, tiina.valimaki(at)seamk.fi, students planning an exchange period in Europe
Maria Loukola, +358 40 830 2240, maria.loukola(at)seamk.fi, students planning an exchange period outside Europe

Student services

Tel. +358 20 124 5055, opiskelijapalvelut(at)seamk.fi