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Curriculum

Master Business Innovation (MBI)

A 15-credit compulsory area provides you with the foundations of Business Innovation, while the elective core area focuses on the key competencies of six MBI profiles.

Curriculum Overview

Core Competencies

The MBI combines the traditional strengths of the University of St.Gallen (HSG) with theory, methodology, mindset, network, research proximity, innovative teaching formats, and practical relevance in the field of Business Innovation.

Learning objectives include:

  • Thinking, deciding, and acting entrepreneurially
  • Conceptually and prototypically developing products, services, and business models
  • Analysing, understanding, and designing complex value creation processes
  • Developing organisational, technological, and social transformation competencies
  • Gaining a fundamental understanding of technology and computational thinking.

Explanation of the Study Structure

The MBI curriculum is composed of three parts: core studies (54 ECTS credits), contextual studies (18 ECTS credits), and the Master’s thesis (18 ECTS credits). While the core studies focus on developing students' expertise in business innovation, the contextual studies aim to enhance social and cultural competencies.

Kontextstudium

Das Kontextstudium ist ein weiteres Alleinstellungsmerkmal der Universität St.Gallen (HSG). Es integriert Wissen über Fachgrenzen hinweg und stärkt die sozialen und kulturellen Kompetenzen unserer Studierenden in besonderer Weise. Sie blicken ganzheitlich „über den Tellerrand“ und belegen Kurse in Fokusbereichen und im Skillsbereich. Das kultur- und sozialwissenschaftliche Lehrangebot in den Fokusbereichen ist äusserst vielfältig und auf das MGM-Studium abgestimmt. Im Skillsbereich erwerben Sie ergänzende Kompetenzen und praktische Fähigkeiten für Ihren Erfolg in der Wirtschaft. Das Kontextstudium ergänzt Ihr Fachstudium und wird mit 18 ECTS-Credits vergütet.

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Our MBI programme is designed for a study duration of 3 - 4 semesters. It is only possible to start in the autumn semester, with HSG degree also in spring semester.

The MBI is characterised by a hybrid language model. One third of the core studies (18 ECTS) have to be completed in German language, another third of the core studies (18 ECTS) have to be taken in English language.

A total of 90 ECTS credits must be completed, which are structured as follows:

The core studies  in MBI are composed of

  1. Compulsory subjects (15 ECTS)
  2. Core electives (27-39 ECTS)
  3. Electives (0-12 ECTS)

The MBI program begins with the "MBI Kick-off " in week 37 as an introductory event before the start of the program. Through four compulsory subjects you will gain a basic understanding of Business Innovation:

  • Fundamentals in Business Innovation: Gain a common, multidisciplinary reference and knowledge base. (4 credits, to be taken in the first fall semester).
  • Business Innovation I and
  • Business Innovation II:
    Two consecutive basic modules will provide you with in-depth expertise as an analytical and reference framework for the program and for developing the MBI-specific mindset.  (4 credits, to be taken in the first fall semester).
  • Research methods for business innovation:You will learn methods of application-oriented research as a basis for systematic problem solving. (3 credits, to be taken in the fall or spring semester).

The area includes three different vessels:

  • «Methods course»: 
    a methods course worth 3 credits is to be taken (maximal 15 Credits possible).
  • «Research-, Practice- und Ventureprojects (RPV) /Issue Coverage courses (IC)»:
    Three courses, each worth 4 credits, are to be taken (12 Credits)
  • «Core electives»: 
    Minimum 12 Credits and maximum 24 Credits (normally a minimum of four and a maximum of eight course of 3 credits each) (12-24 Credits).

The core competencies of the MBI program are concentrated into five profiles in the core electives. Each MBI profile is described by a job outline and is equipped with a portfolio of courses from which you can, but do not have to, compile your core electives:

  • Business Development
  • Digital Channel & Customer Relationship Management
  • Start-up & Scale-up Entrepreneurship
  • Supply Chain & Operations Management
  • Technology Solution Architect
  • Transforming and Managing Digital Business

See Downloads for an  overview with detailed descriptions and recommended core courses. Ensure that your chosen profile provides you with the necessary technical, methodological and practical competencies to be optimally prepared for future-oriented fields of activity:

    In the electives, courses from other Master's degree programmes of the HSG can be taken. Alternatively, you can take other courses from the MBI's core electives or Methods instead, but none from the "FPV/IC".

    The contextual studies represent one of the most important unique selling points of the University of St. Gallen by strengthening the social and cultural competences of our students in a special way. Here, our MBI students can "think outside the box" and receive credit for courses in focus areas as well as in the skills area. The cultural and social science courses are very diverse and can be tailored to the MBI programme, while the skills area teaches essential competencies and practical skills for success in the corporate world. In focus areas such as "Technology", "Media" or "Responsibility" you will complete a total of 12 to 18 credits. In the optional area "Skills" you can take up to 6 credits. Up to 6 credits can also be substituted by practice credits or campus credits. The contextual studies complement the core studies and are compensated with 18 credits.

     


     

    You can write the Master's thesis (18 credits) during your studies, whereby the topic of the thesis may originate from both the core and contextual studies.

    Practice credits can be awarded for activities that have a close thematic relation to the Master in Business Innovation. Criteria for this can be found on StudentWeb.

    Graduates hold the title "Master of Arts HSG in Business Innovation". Before the fall semester 2013, the program was called «Master of Arts HSG in Informations-, Medien- und Technologiemanagement». 

    “I had the privilege of working with HSG MBI graduates in the course IC: Innovation with the United Nations. They developed innovative, professional projects to strengthen the UN and advance the Sustainable Development Goals.”
    Katja Hemmerich, United Nations, Course «IC: Innovation with the United Nation»

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