The Curriculum for Master of Management of Technology

Master programmes are research-based higher educations within the continuing education system for adults. A professional, part-time Master programme leads to a Master degree and aims to provide students, who have practical professional experience and a relevant educational background, with a higher education in a specialised field or in a broader perspective in an academic or multidisciplinary field.

A Master programme shall, on a scientific basis, provide students with knowledge, skills, and competences that qualify them to be able to perform highly qualified functions in companies, institutions, etc. Moreover, a Master programme must ensure that students are able to use the scientific methods and concepts of the subject in connection with:

• assessment and solution of theoretical and practical issues,

• dissemination of professional issues and solution proposals to peers and non-specialists,

• management and development of complex work situations,

• self-establishment of professional and interdisciplinary cooperation, and

• own professional development.

A Master programme is completed at a level that corresponds to a Master's programme. A Master programme constitutes an independently round of educational course.

Master of Management of Technology

The Master's programme in Management of Technology (MMT) is rated at 60 ECTS credit points, which corresponds to the work of a full-time student for one year, but the teaching is organised so that full-time workers can follow and complete the degree over two to four years. The MMT is relevant to those with a technical or commercial background, who are interested in and perhaps already responsible for technology management and have the ambition to gain knowledge, skills, and competences in relation to interdisciplinary, technology-based value creation. Students following the MMT programme accumulate knowledge about the most recent and relevant scientific research into technology management as well as both known and emerging technologies, and they acquire the competences they need to strategically lead organisations' exploration, development, implementation, and exploitation of continually changing technological opportunities. To suit the needs of their organisation and their career ambitions, students can choose electives focusing on, among other things, value creation within specific technology application areas / based on specific technologies, e.g., autonomous solutions and additive manufacturing.

The underlying educational principles at the University of Southern Denmark are Active Teaching and Learning. Teaching at the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences must live up to these principles, and the students, staff and management share the responsibility of ensuring that the principles are fulfilled throughout the entire course of study. The overall goal is to improve student learning on the basis of academic competency, academic development and pedagogical innovation in a committed learning community.

The underlying principles are implemented on a study programme and lecturer level. The impact of implementation for the study programme as a whole is described in the curriculum, and the impact on scheduling and the conduct of teaching and exams are laid out in each course description and lecture plan.

Based on the competency profile, the study programme in Management of Technology particularly attach importance to teaching forms that: 
The underlying educational principles are enabling teaching and active learning based on the students' own practical experience. The overall goal is to increase student learning outcomes based on academic competency, academic development, and pedagogical innovation in a binding learning community.
Based on the competence profile, the MMT programme is particularly focused on teaching forms that ensure the transfer of the learned from the learning situation to the students' own practice and technology management related challenges that they face in their day-to-day work within private companies, public authorities, or institutions.

The Faculty of Business and Social Sciences is responsible for the realisation of the principles throughout the course of study. The guiding principles are implemented at the level of education and teaching on the initiative of the individual head of studies and professional lecturer with support from the Department of Business & Management. The impact of the implementation for the MMT programme as a whole is stated in the curriculum, and the importance of the planning of and conduction of teaching and examinations is unfolded in the individual course description and teaching plan.

The teaching is as much as possible supported by action learning principles and based on the students' own cases and problems. Teaching and testing/examinations will generally link specific issues and key challenges from the students' own environments to theory and concepts that can help structure and strengthen the work with specific technology management issues. This form of teaching presupposes that the students are motivated to work actively with their own practice during the course of the programme, which can thus also lead to an expectation that the teachers, to the best of their abilities, are able to understand the practical challenges that the students face in their daily work.

Professional and societal connection

The MMT is rooted in a strong and prioritised innovation and technology management research environment, focusing on society-, industry-, and organisation-relevant issues, including the consequences of rapid technological change at a national, international, and global level. The MMT programme sheds light and reflects on the potential value creation and the implications of known and emerging technologies to society, industries, organisations, and individuals, and it addresses an increasing need for building and acquiring new knowledge, skills, and competences in the field of technology management.

An Advisory Board has been set up to advise the MMT studies management:

• by contributing to visions of the future and to the development of strategies that reflect societal, industry, and organisational development and needs in relation to technology management,

• on (changing) competency requirements in technology management related matters,

• on profiles of potential candidates for the MMT programme,

• by asking critical questions about the overall content and structural planning of the MMT programme.

The professional competency goals of the MMT programme are listed as part of the section The structure of the programme.

The applicant must have at least two years of relevant professional experience, after the entrance exam. Emphasis is placed on whether the applicant's business experience, as a whole, is relevant to the programme.

See § 2.5 "Entry requirements" for further details. 

Master programmes are self-paid programmes in accordance with the regulations in the Ministerial Order on Part-time education at universities (deltidsbekendtgørelsen). A fee is charged for participation in the teaching incl. examination and other assessment.

Cf. the Ministerial Order on Master Programmes access to the programmes are contingent on applicants having completed at least one relevant:

• Bachelor degree

• professional Bachelor education 

• medium-cycle higher education

• Diploma degree completed as an adjusted course, or

• foreign education at the same level

Applicants must have at least 2 years of relevant work experience after completing the qualifying education.

The university can admit applicants who do not meet the conditions above, but who, based on a concrete assessment, are deemed to have educational prerequisites that can be equated with this, including applicants who have completed a diploma degree as a flexible course. The university can decide that the applicant must complete supplementary tests no later than the time set for the start of studies. 

The Study Board´s additional provision

Below are examples of further education that gives access to admission to the MMT programme, subject to relevant work experience:

• Professional Bachelor´s degree within the areas of, e.g., mechanical, design, or software engineering

• Bachelor's or Master's degree within the areas of, e.g., business/industrial economics or computer science.

• product development,

• project development/management,

• product management,

• sales and marketing of technology-based products or services,

• business development, and

• general management

The head of studies can, in consultation with the admissions department, give access to the programme for applicants who do not meet the above-mentioned educational terms. 

Supplementary test: Based on a submitted curriculum vitae with a detailed overview of passed educational elements to date, the university assesses whether there is a basis for offering a supplementary test.

Relevant professional experience can be constituted by the applicant having - after completion of a qualifying education - worked with or at present working within the fields of for example:

• Innovation management

• Technology management

• Project and portfolio management

• Product management and development

• Engineering

• Software development

• Digitalisation

• Business development

• Operations management

Single course students: Students who do not wish to participate in all elements of the study programme can be admitted as single course students, if the prerequisites with reference to admission requirements are met (see above), and if the university deems admission appropriate based on practical and pedagogical considerations. Due to the academic progression, the single course student is expected to have acquired the same academic prerequisites as the regular students when choosing a course. For some courses, there can be a requirement for having completed other courses first. Such requirements will be stated in the respective course description. The courses Technology Management Project and Master Project are part of the full programme only and therefore not offered as single courses. A diploma is issued for passed courses.

Language proficiency when tendering in English: The applicant must have English language skills equivalent to level B (Danish high school definition), i.e., adequate skills for English language teaching to be followed, and also be able to understand the English-language curriculum as well as write English-language assignments. Notice that the whole MMT programme is taught in English. Documentation is required, alternatively the university may decide that the applicant must complete supplementary tests for English skills adequate to the above mentioned level, no later than the time set for the start of studies.

The Master programme MMT consists of 60 ECTS-points all together. 

Mandatory courses:  37.5 ECTS

2.5 ECTS: Management of Technology; Product Development & Innovation; Competitive Strategy; Organisation Design; Project & Portfolio Management; Product Marketing & Management; Interpretive Market Insight; Digital Transformation; Intellectual Property Rights; Innovating for Sustainability; Commercialisation Strategy

5 ECTS: Introduction to Emerging Technologies; Technology Management Project

15 ECTS: Master Project

Electives: The MMT programme also consists of electives equivalent to 7.5 ECTS. The MMT programme offers its own technology oriented electives.

Progression courses: Before the course Technology Management Project can be commenced, students must have passed mandatory MMT courses corresponding to minimum 10 ECTS, the remaining courses might be either electives or mandatory MMT courses corresponding to 5 ECTS, i.e., 15 ECTS in all. Also for other courses, there can be a requirement for progression, i.e. for having completed other courses first. Such requirements will be stated in the respective course description. The Master Project ends the programme. 

The Master Project must result in a Master´s thesis, which is a major written assignment that documents skills in applying scientific theories and methods within a professionally defined topic. The Master´s thesis offers a great opportunity to make its own mark on the course of study. An example of this is the possibility of writing a business-based thesis in the context of and/or in cooperation with the student's workplace. To obtain the Master's degree in Management of Technology, the student must successfully defend the Master's thesis in an oral examination

The Studyboard´ s additional provisions: 

The MMT programme allows for focusing on specific technology management areas and technology-based value creation along the way, depending on students' choice of electives and project topics. 

The programme is structured so that students completing it within the normal study period of two years experience a natural progression of courses. However, the programme allows for flexibility, as it is structured in a way so that students can to some extent choose the order of priority of the courses. This is especially relevant to students who extend the study period up to four years. Moreover, most courses can be read as single courses and are therefore planned, taught, and evaluated accordingly. 

Teaching is mainly conducted as quarters, apart from 5 ECTS courses and the Master Project, which are conducted in semesters. Teaching is organised as course-focused days, i.e., only one course is taught per teaching day. The MMT programme is offered in Odense. However, visits at e.g. companies can be part of the courses.

An exam/test is passed when the assesment Passed, or the grade 02 or higher is obtained. Passed exams/tests cannot be retaken. The Master programme is passed when all exams/tests are passed.

As a general rule, the grade 00 can be included in the assessment of partial tests. If the overall exam is passed, partial tests with the grade 00 cannot be retaken.In courses, where the grades 00 and -3 cannot be included in the assessment of the tests, all partial tests must be passed with minimum 02, in order to pass the course. If this is the case, it will appear from the course description, under Rules. 

The Study Board’s additional provisions:

The education is passed, when a grade of minimum 02 or Passed is obtained for each individual course. If a course consists of partial tests, it will appear from the course description how the partial tests weigh, in the final grade of the course.

A weighted average is not calculated for the study programme.

The Faculty's additional provision:

The Faculty can, in extraordinary cases, allow that the oral master's defense, are held outside the University of Southern Denmark.

The Study Board's supplementary provisions:

A student can, when special circumstances justify this, obtain permission to take an exam/test at a Danish representation or other pre-arranged locations abroad, when the representation in question agrees to this. An application must be submitted to the Study Board. For more information, please refer to the study programme's website at SDU.dk.

When assessing the Master project emphasis must, in addition to their academic content, also be placed on students' spelling and formulation skills, regardless of the language the assignment is written in. 

The spelling and formulation skills are included in the overall assessment of the Master project, the main emphasis must however be on the academic content. 

Unless the spelling and formulation skills are an essential part of the purpose of the test, the university may grant exemptions from this rule, if the student can document a relevant disability, cf. § 11, subsection 5 in the Examination Order (Eksamensbekendtgørelsen).

The Study Board's additional provisions:

The impact of the student’s spelling and writing skills on the grade is limited unless there are considerable marked deviations from the usual academic language.

Exams/tests can be either internally or externally assessed.

External exams/tests are graded by one or more examiners and at least one external examiner appointed by the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science.

Internal exams/tests are graded by one or more teachers (examiners) appointed by the university among the teachers at the university. 

External exams/tests must cover the important parts of the study programme, including the Master project. At least 1/3 of a study programme’s total ECTS points must be documented by external exams/tests, excl. exams/tests for which credits have been transferred.

It is evident from the individual course description whether an exam/test is internally or externally assessed.

Exams/tests are conducted in the teaching language, unless the purpose of the exam/test wholly or partially is to document abilities in a specific language.

The Study Board’s additional provisions:

The  entire master´s programme is taught in English, but oral exams/tests may in addition to English be conducted in Danish, (Swedish and Norwegian), if possible. Written assignments are handed in in the teaching language.

Choice of the form of exam/test in each individual course must take several factors into account. There must be a clear connection between the individual course’s purpose, content, learning activities and exam form, so that the examination result in the individual course reflects the student's level of achievement of the learning objectives of the course. 

For the study programme as a whole, the aim is to have a variation of exam/test forms across courses, so that the students overall are tested in the different types of knowledge, skills, and competencies that are represented in the competency profile. This is to ensure that the student's overall examination results reflect the student's level of achievement of the study programme's learning objectives.

Disciplinary measures may be taken in cases of cheating in exams/tests or disruptive behaviour during exams, cf. Rules for disciplinary measures against students at University of Southern Denmark. Find the rules on the study page at mitSDU.dk. 

If an assignment is rejected or an exam/test is canceled due to documented irregularities, a re-examination fee will be charged if the course is resumed. For further information, please refer to the programme's website under "General rules for payment".

The university may grant exceptions from determined exam or test conditions, such as offering special conditions to students with physical or mental disabilities, and to students whose native language is not Danish, when the university finds it is necessary to equate these students with other students. It is a condition that the offer does not change the academic level of the exam or test. Reference is made to § 6 in the Examination Order (Eksamensbekendtgørelsen).

The study board´s additional provisions:

An application for special test conditions is sought through SPOC with relevant documentation for proof of disability. This can be done when enrolling on the first course of the programme. In this case, the decision for special test conditions will apply to subsequent courses on the programme. 

Exams/tests are arranged individually or as group exams. An assessment of the student's individual performance must be given for individual exams/tests as well as for group exams, and an individual grade must be given.

It is evident from the individual course description if an exam/test is arranged as a group exam. If an exam/test is arranged as a group exam, the group size, length of the examination, and the possibility to choose an individual examination, is evident from the individual course description. 

If a written assignment does not meet the formal requirements determined in the individual course description, including the demand of individualisation, the assignment can be rejected. If the assesment is rejected, an assessment will not be given and the student has used an examination attempt, reference is made to § 22 in the Examination Order (eksamensbekendtgørelsen).

Reference is made to §§ 13, 15 and 23, subsection 2 of the Examination Order (Eksamensbekendtgørelsen) and to the examination requirements in the respective course descriptions

The Study Board’s additional provisions:

As a generel rule, the maximum number of students in a group exam is 3 students. The Study Board may to deviate from this rule. If so, it will appear from the course description.

Written group exams, composed by a group of students, must state which parts of the assignment/project each student is responsible for, if the assignment/project is not followed by an oral exam. The proportions of the written assignments is set so that the scope of pages and/or time for the oral test with a group consisting of two people is +50%, and a group of three people is +75%. However, the introduction, summary and conclusion may be written jointly. 

Examinations are always carried out individually, also for group assignments. When the examinee is examined on a group-produced product, he or she must be able to take responsibility for (i.e., be examined in) the overall product. It is not permitted for the other group members to be present in the exam room prior to their own examination. 

The re-exam in a course, is held in the same way as the ordinary exam/test, unless specific requirements concerning the re-exam are stated in the course description.

A potential alternative form of examination, for the re-exam, will appear in the course description, including conditions for when the alternative form of examination applies. 

The Study Board’s additional provisions:

As a general rule, re-examinations are held in February for autumn courses and August for for spring courses. The Study Board may decide to hold further re-examinations in the following exam term. This will appear from the respective course descriptions. Participation in the re-examination requires participation in the ordinary exam/test in the same exam term.

Students, who have participated in the ordinary exam/test without having passed it, have the opportunity to participate in the re-examination, in the same exam term. If the re-examination is not passed, the student has the opportunity to take part in the next ordinary exam/test. Late registration or absence from the exam/test counts as an examination attempt, and the student does not have the right to retake the test.

The Study Board can grant access to a re-examination on the basis of a dispensation application, if there are unusual circumstances. Unusual circumstances relate to specific, individual conditions of the individual student, which could hardly have been foreseen or are not to blame. Being busy at work, for example, is not an unusual circumstance.

If the Study Board grants a dispensation, the used examination attempt is cancelled. If the Study Board does not grant a dispensation, the student has the opportunity to take part in the next ordinary exam.

When illness prevents a student from taking part in an exam/test, the student has the option of taking a re-exam. This requires that the student contacts the master's secretariat no later than on the day of the exam/test, and that medical documentation for the illness are obtained from one's usual doctor or other relevant authority, as soon as possible. The declaration must contain the date or period when you have been ill, and this must fall within the examination period. Payment for the medical certificate is covered by the student. The documentation is sent to the master's secretariat via SPOC as soon as possible, but no later than one month after the exam/test date. In case of long-term illness, the Study Board is contacted.

If a student does not pass the re-examination, the student are not entitled to a new re-examination, but have the opportunity to take part in the next ordinary exam/test.

For the Master project, students who achieve a grade of 00 or below are given the opportunity to work on the project, so that it can be assessed again. However, in that case, the student must not only improve the work already done but also work on additional topics relevant to the project.

The Study Board's additional provisions: 

The student has 3 exam attempts to pass an exam/test. The payment covers participation in the teaching once and potentially 3 exam attempts, which must be held within an academic year. For the Master project, special rules apply, as the payment covers 2 exam attempts; the ordinary test and a potential re-exam.

The 3 exam attempts consists of: 

• The exam that follows immediately after completion of the course or module.

• The associated re-examination (if you do not pass the ordinary exam) as well.

• The next ordinary test attempt, which is held within one year after the first ordinary exam.

If the student does not meet the prerequisites set by the university for participating in the exam/test, an exam attempt is used. A prerequisite can, for example, be participation in teaching and will appear in the course description.

All written exams at The Faculty of Business and Social Sciences are digital.

Allowed aids, including internet access, will appear in the course description. Reference is also made to SDU's rules for examinations, which can be found on the study's website at www.sdu.dk under "Programme structure"/"Examination".

Each semester the examination syllabus is published on the course page in the e-learning system.
Examination will always be held according to the most recent syllabus.

In individual cases, the Study Board can grant credit transfers for courses from another Master degree. Reference is made to § 16 of the Ministerial Order on Master Programmes (Masterbekendtgørelsen) and the Study Board's website on credit transfer at SDU.dk.

The Study Board's additional provisions: 

Credit transfer is granted after application to the Study Board and applied for through the application portal SPOC.

The Study Board's assessment, which is always individual, includes several factors, including the scope and level of the syllabus for the course in question, the academic relevance to the masters programme MMT and the topicality of the course. A maximum of 15 ECTS credits can be obtained.

Registration for teaching and exams/tests:

Registration deadlines for Master programmes and courses are determined by the university. The registration deadline is published on the study page for the programme.

When a student is registered for teaching in a course, the student is automatically registered for the first ordinary exam/test. Registration for subsequent exam attempts is agreed with the study programme well in advance before the exam/test.

Withdrawal from teaching and exams/tests:

Withdrawal from teaching is made to the master's secretariat. Timely withdrawal is 31 August for autumn courses and 31 January for spring courses. 

Withdrawal from teaching is made to the master's secretariat. The deadline for withdrawal for an exam/test (ordinary as well as re-exam) is set so that timely withdrawal entitles the student to an exam attempt the next time an ordinary exam/test is held in the course. It is required that the payment covers additional attempts. Timely withdrawal does not give the right to participate in the re-examination date scheduled in the same semester as the ordinary exam/test. Late withdrawal results in the exam/test being registered as a used exam attempt.

The following withdrawal deadlines apply: The examinee must report to the master's secretariat no later than the weekday before the first day of the exam for the individual course. The first exam day is determined as follows:

• Home assignment: Date of submission

• Home assignment with a fixed topic/handed out questions: The day of the topic/questions being handed out

• Written exam: on the actual day of the exam 

• Oral exam on the basis of a written product is the date of submission of the written product

• Oral exam/test is the actual day of the exam/test, however on the first day of the exam, if the exam/test is held over several day.
  

In case of illness on the day of the exam or during the time for preparation for the exam, the master's secretariat must be contacted on the day of the exam at the latest and documentation for illness is handed in the application portal SPOC as soon as possible. Documentation is required, e.g. a doctors note or similar proof of current obstacles. If the examinee does not do so, the right to a re-examination is lost, and one can only sit for the next ordinary exam/test.

The programme is scheduled over two years and must be completed within a maximum of four years. .

Application for an extension of the programme is approved by the Study Board through the application portal SPOC.

The Master´s thesis of the MMT programme constitutes 15 ECTS and is further described in the course description of the Master Project.The successful oral defence of the Master's thesis completes the programme.

If there is a restriction on participants for a course, this and criteria for selection will appear from the course description.

Electives are mainly taught in the spring semster. 

Courses from other SDU professional Master's programmes might be relevant as electives but must be pre-approved by the Head of Studies. Courses from other universities might be submitted after application addressed to the Study Board through the application portal SPOC. 

Complaints about exams/tests can be submitted to the university. For further information and guidance on complaints about exams/tests, reference is made to the study page at SDU.dk and §§ 33-45 in the Examination Order (Eksamensbekendtgørelsen).

The university's final decisions can be submitted to to the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science by students, when the complaint concerns legal questions.

The deadline for filing a complaint is two weeks from the date on which the decision is notified to the complainant. The complaint is submitted to the university, who gives their opinion on the matter. The complainant must have the opportunity to comment on the university's opinion within a period of at least one week. The university sends the complaint to the Agency enclosing the opinion and any comments from the complainant.

Current transitional rules of the study programme are set out in the progression models, Currently no transitional rules apply.