Business Management, Kokkola

Minna improved her language skills

The main reason for choosing BBA programme was that all the lectures were held in English, and of course the opportunity to go and study abroad as an exchange student attracted me...

 

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General abut the programme

The Degree Program in Business Management on bachelor level focuses on supporting SMEs in the surrounding area in their internationalization process. A research among the companies was made, in order to find out which skills and qualifications are needed to be successful on international markets.

The overall objective of the program is to provide students with professional, international, personal and social competences to operate in an international business environment.

The accredited program in Business Management provides both international and Finnish students with a coherent link between business and technology within the international business community.

The focus of the programme is entrepreneurship and international business. Throughout the studies students examine the growth of business enterprises from the business concept to a fully operational company in the international market.

Continuous change in the society has brought about a number of significant changes in the organisation of learning and teaching. The emphasis is on relatively large functional modules as well as on learning strategies through which the students will develop their ability to manage change. The modules are based on the functional areas of a business enterprise.

Our strengths

The program started already in 1996, so it has developed into a well functioning program and is a very attractive program with good reputation among students. In 2010 it was the most attractive English business program in Finland, when it comes to applicants per study place.

The program provides good possibilities to study in an international surrounding in your home country, as this is a group of multicultural students. International guest lecturers also visit the program, which supports the internationalization process of students.

Kokkola and the surrounding area is a bilingual area and the companies are internationally oriented. The Ostrobothnians are clearly not afraid of jumping into the unknown and new challenges and that is why the region has more companies and entrepreneurs that any other part of Finland. This gives the internationally oriented students good cooperation and work possibilities from the very beginning of their studies.

Studies

This a 3.5- year study program with a modular structure, each year has a specific theme and there are four modules every year. The studies consist of lecturing, group work and student’s presentation, so students are very active themselves from the very beginning and work to improve their intercultural competence skills.

The first year consists of Basic studies and the theme is;
Setting up a new business; focus on entrepreneurship

• The infrastructure of a new business
• Starting a new business
• Resource management
• The business enterprise and its environment

The second year consists of Professional studies and the theme is;
Internationalization of the business

• Starting export operations
• Aspects of distribution
• Studies abroad (2 modules)

The third year the Professional studies continue and the theme is;
Developing new business areas

• Business analysis
• Areas of development
• Learning organization and bachelor’s thesis
• Global business studies

The forth year autumn is reserved for work placement in an area of development.

Please find the Structure of the degree programme and the courses below.

Co-operation with companies

The program is very practically oriented and students have a good possibility to cooperation with companies in the area. The cooperation can be projects, presentations, thesis assignments and work placement.

The program has good contacts to following companies and organizations in the area;
Anttila, Halpa-Halli, Minimani, KPO, Citymarket, Boliden, Best-Hall, Art-Print, Keski-Pohjanmaan Kirjapaino, Decatour Electronics, A Häggblom, Nordea, Manpower, Baltic Yachts, M Rauanheimo, Beneveo, HUR Oy, Central Ostrobothnia Hospital Center, Kokkola Sport Hall, Kärkkäinen, Eila Helen, CB City Kokkola, Kokkola Tourism, Town of Kokkola, KOSEK.

Placements after graduation

Bachelors graduated from this program have good possibilities to be employed and underneath some examples of employments;

• export & import manager
• sales representative
• marketing manager
• key accountant
• office manager
• project manager
• purchase manager
• CFO
• financial manager
• human resource manager
• entrepreneur

Many students from the program set up their own business during their studies and they continue to work in their own company after graduation.

When graduating students are asked about their employment situation and from the graph underneath you can see the development during the years 2003-2009. It should be noticed that the situation is in general much better about half a year after graduation.

Internationalisation

The modular structure of the program also include studies abroad, which is a good opportunity for students to get a deep understanding of the internationalization process and to develop their language skills and skills in intercultural competence. The compulsory work placement can also be completed abroad and this gives students a great advantage when it comes to understanding international markets.

The university has exchange agreements with a lot of universities abroad and studies abroad are supported by grants.

Extra Material

Further Information

Head of Programme in Business Management, Principal lecturer
Birgitta Niemi
tel. +358 (0)44 725 0350

Department of Technology and Business
Talonpojankatu 2
67100 Kokkola
Finland

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