Study Guide

Descriptions

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM AND AREAS OF COMPETENCE

The Degree Programme in SME Business Management provides knowledge and skills in managing and developing business. The student becomes familiar with different areas of business competence, such as business planning, management and leadership, marketing, industrial economics, financial management, business law, and international business. The student also develops his/her skills in communication, ICT, project management, and foreign languages. The graduate also understands the impact of digitalization on business models and processes. Part of the studies can be conducted in tailor-made learning projects for example in the student's own enterprise or job. A personal curriculum can be used to focus on areas of the student's own interest.

The degree program also includes methodological studies that provide basic skills in research and development, internships that apply theory to practice, and, as a rule, a thesis commissioned by companies or other organizations. In addition to internships and theses, the aim is to expand students' gripping surfaces in working life by offering opportunities to participate in business projects and providing good skills for job search and career guidance.

Students have many opportunities to increase their international skills, experience, and understanding of cultures at different stages of their degree studies. There are e.g. courses related to internationalism and intercultural activities, as well as many opportunities to increase language skills. An extensive language program provides an opportunity to develop and expand language skills. Studies are available in Swedish, English, German, French, Spanish, and Russian, as well as Finnish as a foreign language.

Study and internship exchange periods abroad provide an opportunity to deepen experiential international competence. The student has the opportunity to complete a double degree, in which case he or she will receive a diploma from both SeAMK and a foreign partner university. Incorporating internationality into studies creates a good ability to move to an increasingly multicultural and global working life after graduation.

In addition to international mobility periods, the degree program includes opportunities for internationalization at home: experiencing and learning internationality on SeAMK's own campus. International conferences and seminars bring international interaction and opportunities for international networking to the campus. For students, the events are also an opportunity to experience different internationality and strengthen e.g. own tutoring.

The implementation of sustainable development takes into account ethics and all dimensions of sustainable development. The goal of sustainable development is to help students become aware of social responsibility and to understand the multidimensional significance of sustainable development also as a working life skill.

OCCUPATIONAL PROFILES

Competencies are broad sets of competencies, ie combinations of an individual's knowledge, skills, and attitudes. They describe the competence, performance potential, and ability to perform the tasks of the profession.

Common/general competencies are areas of expertise common to different degree programs, but their specific characteristics and importance may vary in different professions and positions. General competencies form the basis for working life, cooperation, and the development of expertise. The general competencies are presented in accordance with the recommendation of the Arena (Rector's Council of Polytechnics) as follows: learning skills, ethical competence, work community competence, innovation competence, and internationalization competence. In addition to the above, the degree teaching at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences emphasizes entrepreneurial skills and quality management skills as common competencies.

The competencies specific to the degree program form the basis for the development of the student's professional expertise:

1. Extensive business skills (entrepreneurial skills, work community skills, learning skills))

Bachelor of Business Administration
- identify and describe the company's core processes and understand the effects of different aspects of the business on each other
- understands the interaction between the company's operations and the business environment and adopts an entrepreneurial and entrepreneurial way of working
- understands the basics of profitable business and is able to analyze the company's operations and risks
- understands the influence of the individual on the activities of the work community and is able to act effectively
- understands the importance of communication and actively creates interactions between both internal and external stakeholders, including in a global business environment

2. In-depth business skills (learning skills, internationalization skills, entrepreneurship skills)

The Bachelor of Business Administration has in-depth knowledge of the business areas in the area of expertise according to his / her personal study plan (marketing, financial administration, management, and business development, digital business, international business).

3. Methodological competence in business administration (innovation competence, ethical competence)

Bachelor of Business Administration
- masters the basics of research and development activities necessary for the acquisition and acquisition of in-depth knowledge of business economics, taking into account ethical issues
- be able to apply applied economic mathematics and statistical methods using the necessary information systems
- have adequate skills in the application of qualitative and quantitative research methods

4. Applied competence in business administration (innovation competence, quality management competence, work community competence)

Bachelor of Business Administration
- is able to apply business theories and is able to solve problems, e.g. in an internship, project studies, and thesis
- is able to apply the latest business knowledge in the work community
- is able to develop business processes and apply quality thinking


PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH

SeAMK's current strategy is implemented in the study of the degree program in business administration. Learning aims at the development of applied competence in expertise and information is produced from reliable sources based on research data, both from practical contexts and theoretical starting points. Competence can be demonstrated in many ways and competence-based assessment is applied in competence assessment.

Learning takes into account the learner's previous knowledge and interpretations and helps him/her to connect the new learning subject to his / her previous knowledge and experience base (socio-constructivism). This view of learning emphasizes social interaction and the importance of authentic tasks and environments in knowledge construction. According to it, it is important and essential to developing the student’s understanding of their own learning skills and self-assessment skills (metacognitive skills). The student’s knowledge (theoretical knowledge), doing (practical knowledge), and being (identity work) are constructed through reflection. Using appropriate learning methods, the student is helped to reflect and see the connections between these three areas.

Connectivism based on socio-constructivist learning utilizes online environments in learning. At its heart is the constant updating of information and the learner’s awareness that reality and knowledge are constantly changing.

The teaching and learning of the degree program are based on the so-called Flipped Classroom (Flipped Learning) model: course content and assignments can be studied online in advance and the next contact classes will be used for interactive learning and assignments. To support studies, study groups will be established in the area if a sufficient number of students register for them.

During the third year of study, students complete an internship in a company or other organization, in which analytical and reflective assignments are prepared, as well as before, during, and after the internship. In the fourth year, students do their thesis.

Learning diaries and portfolios, self-assessments, and group peer reviews are used as learning tasks that promote integration.

According to the personal curriculum, studies can be completed in business co-operation projects or business space activities by developing one's own business idea.

The courses can also be completed as virtual studies, in which case it is possible to deviate from the implementations presented in the study guide.

Development

Curriculum development is an ongoing process which takes into consideration the competence needs of the working life in the region, student and graduand feedback and the development work in the national networks of the field. Important sources of information for curriculum development include results of the follow-up studies of graduates, foresight information concerning technological development and changes in the operational environment as well as the SeAMK RDI work and its results.

Objective

Bachelors of Business Administration that have graduated from the Degree Programme in SME Business Management have an overall picture of business operations and know business processes. They have the competences required for starting and running a business enterprise. They have initiative as well as good teamwork, communication and interaction skills. They are able to look for and analyse information needed in business. They can apply their theoretical knowledge and develop business operations. They know how to take profitability into consideration in their work. They can communicate in at least one foreign language in professional contexts. They are able to operate as independent entrepreneurs and in tasks of business expertise.