MBA with specialisation in Smart Industry

Our world is at the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which will transform businesses and the way we work at an egregious pace. This revolution is propelled by rapid developments in ICT innovation and it is expected to profoundly change the industry in the coming decades. This cross-cutting theme helps businesses and industries to become more competitive through faster and more efficient utilisation of the opportunities ICT has to offer.

The MBA in Smart Industry is specially designed by WUAS to train future business administrators to understand the implications of exponential technologies such as artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and cognitive automation, advanced analytics, and the Industry Internet of Things (IIoT). This program will guide students through the process of critical analysis, planning and implementation of innovative digital businesses and operation strategies from a practical business point of view. In this course, students will:

• Deal with strategic dimensions of digital business transformation through case study analysis. 
• Acquire the fundamentals to comprehend innovative digital business strategies and their impacts on corporate decisions and on the company’s growth and sustainability.
• Develop the skills and knowledge regarding concepts of strategic management and applications in the future global marketplace particularly in the field of IIoT business transformation and new business models.
• Understand how today’s jobs and associated skills are morphing into new jobs and career pathways that continue to evolve along with advanced technologies.

This programme is intended for students who aspire to learn the strategic fundamentals and acquire the skills to be capable of analysing digital transformation and Smart Industry related issues. By the end of this program, students should be able to understand, discuss and evaluate business strategies and tactics applied in the Smart Industry.

The Wittenborg MBA is delivered in a block format, with 2 modules being covered every 6 weeks. The classes are interdisciplinary - students will 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 guest lecturer from a partner university. Modules also include regular guest speakers from the industry.

Areas of Study

Semester 1

Semester 1 provides students with 6 of the core MBA subjects, balanced equally over the semester. Each module is weighted at 5 European Credits. These modules incorporate a number of classic functional business administration areas, which, besides by forms of classical delegation of knowledge, will be grasped by reflective learning, i.e. learning in which students reflect on their prior work experience or, in cases of part time students, on their current work and employment organisation in the light of the materials provided in the various modules. Students must have done all Semester 1 modules in order to do Semester 2 modules.

Reflective learning helps to develop critical thinking, self-awareness and analytical skills. It involves an individual in a reflective process. During Semester 1, guest speakers will be invited to give seminars during the third week of each block (Assignment and Literature review weeks).

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

Semester 2

Semester 2 provides students with four compulsory modules, that build on the core modules from Semester 1. In addition to that, students follow 5 modules from the chosen specialist “pathway” Smart Industry. 

Semester 2 Specialist Modules

• Artificial Intelligence in Business
• Business Statistics
• New Smart Economy 
• Cyber Security in Integrated Autonomous Business Operations
• Strategic Management

During Semester 2, students are also given 9 sessions of Quantitative and Qualitative Techniques for Research in preparation of the Final Project. They will complete this with the production and submission of a Final Project Proposal.

Technology changes at an accelerated pace. Where you bring technology, ICT and business together, you can lead the way. You will be able to see and use such opportunities - and know how to convert technical highlights into added value for companies. This MBA Degree responds to the challenge of the fourth Industrial Revolution and the Digital Transformation of industries. Businesses are in demand of professionals with a global perspective of the Smart and Connected Industry, merging the command of enabling technologies and a profound understanding of the keys for their practical application to business.

“An international business administration professional will develop into a career person who is able to organise, develop products, services and policies, instigate and execute policies, perform under stress, control processes, analyse organisation traits, utilise human resources and plan their management, motivate staff and personnel, manage financial information, use information effectively, plan and organise campaigns, understand internal and external markets, interact with the surroundings and network, manage chains, communicate effectively, show leadership skills, manage meetings, present ideas, sell ideas and products, speak and write in good English language, participate in company and organisation decision making and understand local and international cultures and the effects these have on the organisation and the individual.”

“Business Administrators can operate in financial or technical environments but also management and leadership settings and a combination of these. They must understand the need for leadership and motivating people. They must understand the impact of change and the need for innovation. The Business Administrator will understand the need for good communication skills and have a good understanding of society, economics and sustainability. Understanding the need for stable and solid management within a company, large or small is important. A businessperson in modern day Europe needs to be able to communicate with people across the continent and across the world, and requires the ability to understand the effects of national and international governments on the business ventures they are involved in.”

Some popular career paths for MBA in Smart Industry graduates include:
Various job opportunities await you once you graduate - in countless international and national firms or organisations with a technological orientation or in major consultancy companies. Graduates can work as Project Leaders, Programme Managers, R&D Managers, Consultants, Process Improvement Manager, or Manager Operations.

 “An MBA qualified Business Administrator is specifically able to manage a number of complex and integrated business operations within an international or a local setting, at both a tactical and strategic level, using skills and competencies that require a capability of inter-disciplinary thinking. They will show the ability to combine solid research and critical analysis skills to develop an organisation’s corporate strategy within its business and cultural domain.”

MBA Enhancing Your Career!
MBA graduates are often fast-tracked into senior management positions and this MBA program has been designed for those who wish to pursue senior management positions or as preparation for further study in business, such as a DBA, or a PhD.

The main target groups for the MBA Smart Industry program are:

• Dutch or other EU graduates who are working in an organisation, managing people or processes, and are looking to improve their career opportunities within their current employment position. These students are supported by their employer and can study the program part-time;
• Dutch, or other EU graduates who have been working in an organisation, managing people or processes, and are looking for a full-time MBA program that will increase their employability chances in an international market with a focus on the Smart Industry;
• International graduates in the Netherlands, who have completed a Bachelor degree and have worked in an organisation with responsibility managing people or processes, who are looking to improve their career opportunities, either at their current employer or in the search for a new opportunity with a focus on the Smart Industry.
• International students worldwide, from business or non-business fields, with a proven number of years managing people or processes within an organisation. These students are looking for an English-taught, internationally orientated MBA programme with a special interest on the Smart Industry that can allow them to improve their career prospects in the job market either at home or in the Netherlands, either at their current employer or at a new organisation, and possibly continue their studies at a higher level.

All the above target groups can include students with both a business bachelor background and a non-business bachelor background. Wittenborg sees the second group as the most important group of students; i.e. non-business graduates, for instance technical or arts graduates who have already certain experience within the Smart Industry who have developed within an organisation to a position in which they manage people or processes and now wish to support their career development with an academic qualification in business administration.

• a Bachelor degree or equivalent recognised qualification;

It is not necessary to have obtained a Bachelor degree from the domain of Business Administration.

• 3 years professional experience;

Applicants are requested to provide 2 reference letters from which at least one is a reference from a company or organization where they have worked before;

English Language Requirements

IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL Equivalent. Click here for an overview of the equivalent scores.
The TOEFL Code of Wittenborg is 4889.

With its work experience requirement, the admission requirements reflect the national requirements in the Netherlands for entry into a professional Master such as the Wittenborg MBA. The English language proficiency level requirement is ½ a point higher than the minimum national requirements in the Netherlands.

Selection procedure

There is no specific selection procedure for students wishing to enter the MBA, however non-EU (visa) students are “screened” according to their background, in order for the institute to be able to guarantee their immigration status.

The screening comprises of an interview, collection and correlation of all IND required documents, including proof of sufficient funds, taking into account any scholarships provided by Wittenborg (Orange Tulip Scholarship, for instance) or by third parties (NUFFIC, EU, etc).

Details on Scholarships at Wittenborg can be found at http://www.wittenborg.eu/wittenborg-financial-assistance.htm 

Applicants are required to provide a motivation letter in which they describe the reasons for choosing Wittenborg’s programme, as well as the reason for wanting to study in the Netherlands (international students). Student motivation is important as the programmes are demanding and especially for international students there is a criteria that they complete at least 50% of all their credits in a year.