3 ECTS credits
86 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4016186ENR for all students in the 1st semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Studenten die dit opleidingsonderdeel opnemen, moeten geslaagd zijn of ingeschreven voor ‘Inleiding tot ondernemerschap ’ of ‘Introduction to Entrepreneurship’ of ‘Technologisch ondernemerschap’ of ' Business Management and Entrepeneurship'. Students in the Master of Business and Technology need to have obtained a credit or at least need to be enrolled for ' Technological Entrepreneurship'
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Business Technology and Operations
Educational team
Kevin De Moortel (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
27 contact hours Lecture
59 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This course applies a range of business concepts to a high-technology industry; that of advanced materials and manufacturing. The advanced manufacturing industry is a strong asset for the European economy and an important driver of employment and prosperity, but is going through one of its greatest periods of change since the Second World War. The technologies used to shape, join, finish, and measure components and materials are changing radically after decades of more incremental advancements. Here, advanced materials are an important area of research and innovation and provide key inputs to production and manufacturing.

The course is situated at the nexus of business and technology. From the business side, concepts include those inherent to entrepreneurial and innovative organizations (e.g. innovation typologies, entrepreneurial strategy, IP protection...). From the technology side, students will be introduced to technologies inherent to the advanced materials and manufacturing industry (e.g. graphene, nanotechnology, digital twins...). Particular attention will be given to recent digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and AR/VR, and to their business impact.

Taken together, the course prepares students to understand and cope with conducting contemporary business in an industry 4.0 context. 

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Slides and business cases., Available through Canvas.
Digital course material (Recommended) : Additional information on business concepts., Available through Canvas.
Digital course material (Recommended) : Complementary reports, slides or papers on (digital) technologies., Available through Canvas.
Additional info

Recommended prior knowledge

From the start, the course will focus on the application of business concepts. The course spends little time on defining or explaining in depth the business concepts. Therefore, we recommend that the student (1) holds a certain degree of prior business knowledge (e.g. through prior entrepreneurship / business courses) or (2) is prepared to process additional information related to the business concepts to fully grasp the content of the course. In the latter case, the lecturer will provide additional information through the Canvas environment.

The course is taught in English.

Teaching methods

HOCs: 27 hours

The instructor and students interact in collective contact-dependent moments and (actively) engage with the learning materials. For some topics, the course uses a case-study approach. Here, the student is expected to read and prepare business cases. The course occasionally (typically for two or three HOCs dependent on availability and relevance) invites relevant guest lecturers from the advanced materials and manufacturing industry. Presence to these guest lectures is mandatory.

ZELF (self): 59 hours

  • Independent or external study to keep up with the course material during the semester and run through background information: 1 hour / hour of lecture (27 hours).
  • Preparation of business cases or exercises: 2 hours / business case. Typically three business cases are handled (6 hours).
  • Preparation of exam (26 hours).
  • Calculation excludes the processing of additional information that falls under prior knowledge.

This description of the teaching methods is indicative, in order to assess the expected study load.

Learning Outcomes

General competenties

Taking the advanced materials and manufacturing industry as a context the student can:

  • Explain and discuss the characteristics from a range of (digital) technologies.
  • Explain how certain business concepts apply to (digital) technologies.
  • Recognize and apply business concepts and (digital) technologies to seen cases or examples.
  • Recognize and apply business concepts and (digital) technologies to new cases or examples.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Oral exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: The student gets three open questions. The student gets 20 minutes to prepare the oral exam (closed book).

Additional info regarding evaluation

Presence to guest lectures is mandatory.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Business Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Civil Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Chemical and Materials Engineering: Profile Process Technology (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Chemical and Materials Engineering: PR Profile Materials (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Photonics Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Electromechanical Engineering: Vehicle Technology and Transport (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Chemical and Materials Engineering: Profile Materials
Master of Chemical and Materials Engineering: Profile Process Technology
Master of Electromechanical Engineering: Sustainable Transport and Automotive Engineering
Master of Civil Engineering: Standaard traject (BRUFACE)
Master of Business Engineering: Business and Technology: Standaard traject
Master of Physics and Astronomy: Minor Economy and Business