Innovation has become a central part of modern business, extending beyond new products to include new business models and significant R&D investments. For those wondering how to monitor an internet strategy, understand user website perception, or launch new tech-based products, the Innovation Management program at the Poznan University of Economics aims to provide the answers.
The Innovation Management program at UEP is rooted in the discipline of management and quality sciences. Its curriculum is designed to align directly with the university's mission. The focus is on educating students to become independent employees and leaders capable of tackling complex problems related to innovation. This applies not just to private enterprises but also to governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Graduates are equipped with skills to creatively and critically find the right tools for implementing innovations in both commercial and non-commercial settings. The knowledge and skills offered are based on innovative solutions that utilize the latest technologies, with a strong emphasis on the so-called digital economy.
The program's primary goal is to prepare its graduates to function effectively in a rapidly changing job market. The curriculum is built upon four key areas of knowledge and competence. These include a deep understanding of the digital economy's rules, creativity linked to innovation processes, behavioral economics related to buyer behavior, and socially responsible management that supports innovation.
Students learn to analyze data from websites and online platforms to make strategic decisions. The program also prepares them to analyze buyer behavior through participation in research conducted in the university's dedicated laboratories, such as the ShopLab and ConsumerLab.
Graduates will possess interdisciplinary theoretical and practical knowledge of marketing at both operational and managerial levels. This includes understanding the principles of creating and designing innovations, awareness of current market, social, and technological macro-trends, and familiarity with modern concepts of innovation management and creative thinking, such as the "creative tension" technique.
Further knowledge areas cover the assumptions of behavioral economics, including changes in consumer and internet user behavior. Students also learn methods for collecting and analyzing market data and forecasting economic processes. The curriculum addresses the impact of marketing innovations on the economy, the environment, and society, including the ethical challenges involved.
In terms of practical skills, graduates will be able to utilize innovation management methods within a broad strategic perspective. They will learn to acquire, analyze, and evaluate market information, as well as forecast complex socio-economic processes using advanced quantitative and qualitative methods, with particular emphasis on information and communication technologies.
The program develops the ability to start and run one's own enterprise, particularly designing market activities using internet tools. Students also gain skills in coordinating group projects, leading teams, and designing products and managing brands while considering the principles of sustainable development.
Social competencies are a key component. Graduates are encouraged to critically evaluate their knowledge and the information they receive. The program fosters a commitment to lifelong learning, self-assessment, and responsibility for joint tasks. It also emphasizes intellectual honesty, ethical awareness in research, and entrepreneurial action.
Graduates of the Innovation Management master's program are prepared for a wide range of roles. These positions include E-commerce Manager, E-marketing Manager, Social Media Coordinator, R&D Manager, Project Manager, Brand Manager, Product Manager, and Data Analytics Manager. The skills acquired are also relevant for specialist roles in marketing, sales, and e-commerce departments.
The profile developed in the Innovation Management program at UEP aligns well with professions identified by the World Economic Forum as stable or "future-proof." Roles such as online marketing specialists, sales and marketing specialists, and e-commerce specialists are in high demand by Polish employers, indicating the program's relevance to current market needs. Graduates are positioned not only to fill existing managerial roles but also to create new jobs as entrepreneurs.
The Innovation Management program at UEP offers an interdisciplinary education focused on the digital economy and practical application. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of innovation processes, data analysis, and behavioral economics, utilizing university resources like the ShopLab and ConsumerLab. The curriculum is designed to develop practical skills in strategic management, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship, alongside crucial social competencies such as critical thinking and ethical responsibility. Graduates are prepared for a variety of in-demand managerial and specialist roles in fields like e-commerce, R&D, and digital marketing, aligning with current and future job market demands.