MBA in Applied Artificial Intelligence

"Artificial Intelligence has transformed our total way of life. The advent of AI has revolutionised all business and social activities and will generate massive economic opportunities as well as social prospects. Businesses in many industries are continuing to explore and investigate how to utilize AI to help in cost savings, upgrading of services, market penetrations and streamlining of logistics and many other operations locally and globally. While AI permeates many sectors in the economy, job markets of the current and future decades as well as the necessary skillsets would significantly be changed."

The MBA in Artificial Intelligence is one of the specialisations in our Master of Business Administration programme offered at Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences to full-time and part time students, with a 'tech' background, from the Netherlands and around the World. This programme is fully taught in English and will introduce students to the job market and prospective employers.

This specialisation is aimed at exposing students to this fast-growing and exciting immersion into the world of Artificial Intelligence, while emphasising the role AI plays in business operations. The curriculum is devised to equip students with the skills, knowledge and experience to manage the complexities of an AI-driven business world and to improve business process efficiency and effectiveness.

With an MBA specialised in AI, students will lead teams to the frontlines of technological development, all while keeping track of profitability and economic sustainability. In shaping tomorrow’s businesses. The course is built around AI theory as well as AI tools and techniques to solve concrete with varied constraints or voluminous data. Through case studies, guest lectures, and group projects, students will be immersed in a world which will help students to upgrade their competencies and skills In this area.

We welcome students with an academic background in science and technology and a minimum of 3-years' professional work experience to apply for this programme. Having a background in business or management is not a prerequisite for admission. This programme is modular in nature, with the first semester designed to equip students with the foundations in management, providing the tools they require to specialise further in the MBA in Artificial Intelligence programme.

Course structure

The Wittenborg MBA is delivered in a block format, with 2 modules being covered every 6 weeks. The classes are inter-disciplinary - students study shared modules in semester 1 with MBA students from different business specialisations. Due to the rolling entry (6 times a year) groups are dynamic, extremely international and diverse.

The modules are delivered intensively over consecutive days in the so-called 'block format', which means that each module has 6 days of teaching split into two blocks of 3 days. Teaching methods include group work, case studies, presentations, and live projects. The course is delivered through a variety of approaches including lectures, presentations, tutorials and case studies, with an emphasis on interactive learning. Each module is taught by two lecturers, often a full time Wittenborg lecturer and a quest lecturer from a partner university. Modules include regular guest speakers from industry.

Areas of study

Management subjects address key issues of strategy, marketing, operations, human resources, accounting and financial planning, studied in parallel with deeper international corporate finance and investment modules. Options include consultancy and multi-unit management. Students acquire research skills, which they can apply to academic or industrial projects.

Syllabus

Semester 1

• Management Accounting & Finance
• Marketing Management
• Human Resource Management
• Operations Management
• International Management
• Information Management

Semester 2

• Artificial Intelligence in Business
• Business Statistics 
• Digital Security & Crisis Management
• Problem-solving with AI 
• Strategic Management

Throughout the programme: Research Methods, 3 Project weeks, leading to the Final Project

The master's programme is delivered in a 'block format', with 2 modules being covered every 6 weeks. Core module classes are inter-disciplinary - students study shared modules with master's students from different business management specialisations. Due to the rolling entry (6 times a year), groups are dynamic, extremely international and diverse.

The modules are delivered intensively over consecutive days in the block format, which means that each module has 6 days of teaching split into two blocks of 3 days. Teaching methods include group work, case studies, presentations, and live projects. The course is delivered through a variety of approaches including lectures, presentations, tutorials and case studies, with an emphasis on interactive learning. Each module is taught by two lecturers, often a full-time Wittenborg lecturer and a guest lecturer from a partner university. Modules include regular guest speakers from industry.

The artificial intelligence (AI) industry is a vast and rapidly evolving field. It includes a range of technologies and applications that enable machines to mimic human intelligence or enhance human capabilities.

The AI industry is a dynamic one with a huge amount of innovation and change. It's a key driver of the fourth industrial revolution, impacting sectors from healthcare to finance to entertainment. It's worth noting that as technology evolves, new subfields and specialties within the AI industry may emerge and existing ones may evolve or merge.

Key components of the AI industry include:

• Machine Learning (ML): This is perhaps the most prominent part of the AI industry. ML involves designing and training algorithms to learn from and make decisions or predictions based on data. It includes subfields like deep learning, which leverages neural networks with many layers ("deep" structures), and reinforcement learning, which focuses on training systems to make a series of decisions.
• Natural Language Processing (NLP): This part of the AI industry focuses on enabling machines to understand and generate human language. It powers applications like virtual assistants, translation services, sentiment analysis, and chatbots like me, ChatGPT.
• Computer Vision: This is the field focused on enabling machines to 'see' or interpret visual data from the world around us. It is used in facial recognition technology, image and video analysis tools, autonomous vehicles, and much more.
• Robotics: Though not all robotics involves AI, the intersection of these fields is significant and growing. AI is being used to make robots and drones more autonomous, enabling them to navigate and interact with their environment in increasingly sophisticated ways.
• Data Science and Analytics: This field, while not always labeled as AI, often involves the use of AI to process, analyze, and extract insights from large amounts of data.
• AI Hardware: As AI algorithms get more complex, they require more powerful and specialized hardware. The production of graphics processing units (GPUs), tensor processing units (TPUs), and other specialized chips for AI applications is a significant industry in itself.
• AI Ethics and Governance: As AI becomes more ingrained in society, concerns around privacy, bias, job displacement, and other ethical issues are increasingly prominent. There's a growing focus on developing guidelines, regulations, and technologies to address these concerns.

An MBA graduate who has specialized knowledge in the AI industry can find a range of opportunities across various sectors. An MBA can help bridge the gap between technology and business, enabling graduates to work on strategic initiatives and leadership roles involving AI. Here are a few possible career paths:

1. AI Product Manager: AI Product Managers play a critical role in leading cross-functional teams to develop, launch, and improve AI-driven products. They understand both the business and technical aspects of the product and work to align them with the market needs and company goals.

2. Technology Consultant: Technology consultants help organizations effectively implement and utilize AI technology. With a deep understanding of AI's potential and limitations, they can provide valuable guidance on AI strategy, implementation, and troubleshooting.

3. Business Analyst: A Business Analyst with a focus on AI can work to integrate AI solutions into business processes, finding ways to improve efficiency or leverage AI for strategic advantages. They would work closely with both the business and tech teams to understand the needs of the organization and design effective AI-enabled solutions.

4. AI Strategy Manager: An AI Strategy Manager would be responsible for defining an organization's overall AI strategy, including identifying opportunities for AI deployment, overseeing AI project implementation, and ensuring alignment with broader business objectives.

5. Chief AI Officer or AI Director: In some companies, especially larger ones or those with a strong focus on AI, there are high-level management positions dedicated to overseeing the use of AI. These roles involve strategic decision-making and coordination of AI initiatives across the entire organization.

6. Sales and Marketing in AI: MBA graduates can also leverage their knowledge of AI to excel in sales and marketing roles for AI products or services. They can work as sales managers or marketing managers for AI-driven products or services, understanding the needs of the clients and communicating the value proposition effectively.

7. AI Start-up Founder or Executive: With a combined knowledge of business and AI, an MBA graduate could also start or manage a company offering AI-powered solutions.

8. Investment Analyst/VC for Tech Startups: With the explosion of AI startups, there's a demand for analysts and investors who understand both the business and the technology side of these companies.

In addition to these roles, an MBA graduate with a focus on AI could bring valuable expertise to a variety of other positions and industries. Having an understanding of AI can be a strong differentiator in the job market, as AI continues to be a transformative force in the global economy.

A Bachelor's degree or equivalent recognised qualification;
-  A bachelor's degree from all domains/fields are acceptable.

A minimum of 3 year's related work experience after obtaining bachelor's degree;  
- Applicants are required to submit 2 recommendation letters from which at least one is a reference from a company or organisation where they have worked before.

English Language Requirements

Academic IELTS with overall score of 6.5 orTOEFL Equivalent. Click here for an overview of the equivalent scores. 
The TOEFL Code of Wittenborg is 4889.

If a student does not meet the English language requirement criteria, they have the option to apply for the pre-master programme.