Start-up Development and Impact Innovations (MBA)

Learning in a small group and in close contact with experienced experts from (start-up) practice, research and academic teaching enables an interdisciplinary exchange under optimal learning conditions. Studying in heterogeneous and diverse teams promotes the creative and innovative skills of our participants and prepares them for the transformation of entrepreneurship.

The modular and clearly structured curriculum offers all students who are working and/or interested in starting a business maximum flexibility and enables them to optimally combine their studies, career and family commitments (work-study-life integration). As starting a business places maximum demands on the flexibility and individual planning of the degree programme, the MBA will be offered as a part-time degree programme with two study options from summer semester 2025. Students have the option of completing their studies either within four semesters as part of the "fast track" or in five semesters as a regular part-time programme. Both study programmes are compatible and can be individually adapted during the course - it is not necessary to decide before the start of the programme. This means that students can decide each semester whether they would like to shorten the duration of their studies by bringing forward the on-demand courses. This gives students the freedom to adapt their further education to their individual life plans.

The world is facing major challenges, and at the same time these challenges offer the best opportunities to create something new. Green start-ups no longer strive solely for economic success, but want to help shape innovations and transformations that have a positive impact on the world. Students are encouraged to develop a start-up idea or business innovation that combines economic, ecological and social aspects.

We ensure that our teaching is up-to-date. At least 50 per cent of lecturers contribute their own wealth of practical experience and up-to-date knowledge from the start-up ecosystem. This is underpinned by complementary face-to-face sessions within the start-up scene for direct application and networking. In addition, our aim is to prepare students for the future in terms of the green economy with impulses from practice and current research projects.

An entrepreneurial mindset is also an important key to innovation and transformation in established companies. Corporate entrepreneurs are the driving force behind progress in their companies. In order to continue to be successful in a more resource-conscious world, the corporate philosophy must therefore be: People, Planet, Profit, because the global relevance of making the economy climate-neutral means that only companies that operate sustainably will be competitive in the long term. The resulting structural change requires agility and resilience throughout the entire company and necessitates the development and implementation of a coherent sustainability strategy.

The MBA participants are enabled to discover their own purpose, recognise their own potential and strengths, develop a responsible entrepreneurial attitude and act accordingly. The programme provides students with all the know-how relevant to start-ups as well as the tools and methods for business transformation to drive forward the independent development and implementation of their start-up and innovation projects. Knowledge of innovation concepts as well as methods and techniques for the (digital) transformation of companies are taught as part of the continuing education programme in business administration. The direct application focus and strong integration into practice give students a high level of process understanding, enabling them to develop the ability to organise work processes in a quality-conscious manner and with a high degree of self-management, efficiency and structure.

Students develop a deep understanding of purpose, both in terms of their own mission and in relation to organisational practice. They will be able to identify risks and global challenges and develop solution and market entry strategies. Students will be able to analyse, design, critically reflect on, introduce and manage transformation processes and innovations in new organisations as well as in existing companies.

A central component of the degree programme is the development of leadership skills and management knowledge. Students are not only prepared for founding their own company, but also for activities in the field of innovation and for taking on management responsibility within existing companies - whether in start-ups or corporations, in associations and NGOs. The degree programme forms the interface between research and practical expertise and enables graduates to recognise challenges as opportunities - and therefore as potential business opportunities - in order to shape the future and implement sustainability in an entrepreneurial way.

After successfully completing the programme, students will have the knowledge to successfully found and develop a start-up and take on management responsibility. They also acquire the key skills required to work in innovation management in large corporations, actively initiate and manage transformations and drive sustainability in companies.

Potential areas of activity:

Start-ups, innovation hubs, impact hubs, incubators, accelerators, innovation management, strategic management, management consultancies, market research, product management, marketing

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree enables further academic qualification in the form of a doctorate and a subsequent academic career in research and development, teaching and transfer. It also offers the opportunity to enter academic and science-related fields of work that do not necessarily require a doctorate.