Master of Science (MSc) in Engineering (Global Innovation Management) 2017

1: Preface

Pursuant to Act 261 of March 18, 2015 on Universities (the University Act) with subsequent changes, the following curriculum for the Master programme in Global Innovation Management is stipulated. The programme also follows the Joint Programme Regulations and the Examination Policies and Procedures for the Faculty of Engineering and Science.

2: Basis in Ministerial orders

The Master’s programme is organised in accordance with the Ministry of Higher Education and Science’s Order no. 1328 of November 15, 2016 on Bachelor’s and Master’s Programmes at Universities (the Ministerial Order of the Study Programmes) and Ministerial Order no. 1062 of June 30, 2016 on University Examinations (the Examination Order). Further reference is made to Ministerial Order no. 111 of January 30, 2017 (the Admission Order) and Ministerial Order no. 114 of February 3, 2015 (the Grading Scale Order) with subsequent changes.

3: Campus

The programme is offered in Aalborg.

4: Faculty affiliation

The Master’s programme falls under the The Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University.

5: Study board affiliation

The Master’s programme falls under the Study Board of Production.

6: Affiliation to corps of external examiners

The Master’s programme is associated with the external examiners corps on Nationwide engineering examiners/Machine.

7: Admission requirements

Applicants without legal claim to admission

Admission to the Master programme in Global Innovation Management requires:

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent, at second-class level or higher, in an engineering, science or technology subject 
• An appropriate level of competence in the English language, through attaining IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 232/95

Students with another Bachelor’s degree may, upon application to the Board of Studies, be admitted after a specific academic assessment if the applicant is deemed to have comparable educational prerequisites. The University can stipulate requirements concerning conducting additional exams prior to the start of study.

8: The programme title in Danish and English

The Master’s programme entitles the graduate to the Danish designation Master of Science (MSc) in Engineering (Global Innovation Management). The English designation is: Master of Science (MSc) in Engineering (Global Innovation Management).

9: Programme specifications in ECTS credits

The Master’s programme is a 2-year, research-based, full-time study programme. The programme is set to 120 ECTS credits.

10: Rules concerning credit transfer (merit), including the possibility for choice of modules that are part of another programme at a university in Denmark or abroad

The Study Board can approve successfully completed (passed) programme elements from other Master’s programmes in lieu of programme elements in this programme (credit transfer). The Study Board can also approve successfully completed (passed) programme elements from another Danish programme or a programme outside of Denmark at the same level in lieu of programme elements within this curriculum. Decisions on credit transfer are made by the Study Board based on an academic assessment. See the Joint Programme Regulations for the rules on credit transfer.

11: Exemptions

In exceptional circumstances, the Study Board study can grant exemption from those parts of the curriculum that are not stipulated by law or ministerial order.  Exemption regarding an examination applies to the immediate examination.

12: Rules for examinations

The rules for examinations are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures published by the faculty on their website.

13: Rules concerning written work, including the Master’s Thesis

In the assessment of all written work, regardless of the language it is written in, weight is also given to the student's formulation and spelling ability, in addition to the academic content. Orthographic and grammatical correctness as well as stylistic proficiency are taken as a basis for the evaluation of language performance. Language performance must always be included as an independent dimension of the total evaluation. However, no examination can be assessed as ‘Pass’ on the basis of good language performance alone; similarly, an examination normally cannot be assessed as ‘Fail’ on the basis of poor language performance alone.

The Study Board can grant exemption from this in special cases (e.g., dyslexia or a native language other than Danish).

The Master’s Thesis must include an English summary (or another foreign language: French, Spanish or German upon approval by the Study Board). If the project is written in English, the summary must be in Danish (The Study Board can grant exemption from this). The summary must be at least 1 page and not more than 2 pages (this is not included in any fixed minimum and maximum number of pages per student). The summary is included in the evaluation of the project as a whole.

14: Requirements regarding the reading of texts in a foreign language

It is assumed that the student is able to read academic texts in modern English and use reference works, etc. in English.

15: Competence profile on the diploma

The following competence profile will appear on the diploma:

A Candidatus graduate has the following competency profile:

A Candidatus graduate has competencies that have been acquired via a course of study that has taken place in a research environment.

A Candidatus graduate is qualified for employment on the labour market based on his or her academic discipline as well as for further research (PhD programmes). A Candidatus graduate has, compared to a Bachelor, developed his or her academic knowledge and independence so as to be able to apply scientific theory and method on an independent basis within both an academic and a professional context.

16: Competence profile of the programme

The graduate of the Master programme:

Knowledge

• Has knowledge in the following subject areas that, in selected areas, is based on the highest international research in a subject area
  • Enterprise Engineering and Design
  • Operations Development and Strategy
  • Innovation and Change Management
  • Global Performance Management
  • Business Intelligence
  • Global Implementation.
• Can understand and, on a scientific basis, reflect over the subject area’s(s’) knowledge and identify scientific problems.

Skills

• Excels in analysing complex business problems, designing new innovative business solutions, scientific methods and tools, and general skills related to employment within Global Innovation Management
• Can evaluate and select among the subject area’s(s’) scientific theories, methods, tools and general skills and, on a scientific basis, advance new analyses and solutions
• Can communicate research-based knowledge and discuss professional and scientific problems with both peers and non-specialists.

Competencies

• Can manage work and development in complex and unpredictable situations requiring new solutions
• Can independently initiate and implement discipline-specific and interdisciplinary cooperation and assume professional responsibility
• Can independently take responsibility for own professional development and specialisation

17: Structure and Contents of the programme

The Master of Science in Global Innovation Management (GIM) is a unique 2-year programme offered jointly by the Department of Design Manufacture and Engineering Management (DMEM) at the University of Strathclyde (Scotland), The centre of Industrial Production at Aalborg University (Denmark) and The Institute of Technology and Innovation Management at Hamburg University of Technology (Germany), which enables graduates of first degrees in engineering, science and technology to successfully manage the innovation process across international boundaries. 

Students study at two European Universities with the programme’s delivery over two years providing a greater depth of learning, more industrial engagement and a rich cultural experience.

The programme is fulltime over 24 months and divided into 4 semesters of study.

All students take a common first year at the University of Strathclyde, then select to deepen study at Hamburg or apply skills and knowledge in an industrial internship at Aalborg, followed by finalizing their Master theses. The programme is delivered in English and intended for excellent graduates of first degrees in Engineering, Science and Technology. The MSc award is made jointly by the University of Strathclyde and the second year institution.

The 3^rd semester at Aalborg University is allocated to gaining practical international experience. The semester will enable students to appreciate theoretical reflective work practice and cultural challenges. The aim of the semester is to

1. Gain practical experience within the subject field
2. Analyse and reflect on educational experiences and professional practice
3. Clarify the Master’s Thesis topic.

The 3^rd semester project is carried out in collaboration with a global company while the student is working there. The purpose of this semester is to design and execute an individual project study within the topics of the programme. This will enable student to demonstrate proficiency in innovation and integration processes as well as management and implementation of technological and organisational change projects.

During the 4^th semester at Aalborg University, the Master’s Thesis is completed. The Master’s Thesis may be combined with the 3^rd semester in an extended Master’s Thesis.

18: Overview of the programme

19: Additional information

The current version of the curriculum is published on the study board’s website, including more detailed information about the programme, including exams.

All students who have not participated in Aalborg University’s PBL introductory course during their Bachelor’s degree must attend the introductory course “Problem-based Learning and Project Management”. The introductory course must be approved before the student can participate in the project exam. 

20: Commencement and transitional rules

The curriculum is approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Science and enters into force as of September 2017 for 1^st and 3^rd semester.

Students who wish to complete their studies under the previous curriculum from 2016 must conclude their education by the summer examination period 2018 at the latest, since examinations under the previous curriculum are not offered after this time.

21: Amendments to the curriculum and regulations

Minor editorial changes have been made in connection with digitisation of the study curriculum.