APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN! APPLY

  • Home
  • Master of Science in Business Administration (MBA)

Master of Science in Business Administration (MBA)

Master of Science in Business Administration (MBA)

Master of Science in Business Administration (MScBA – 120 ECTS, 2 academic years, full-time)

Professional Profile

The Master of Science in Business Administration (MScBA) study program at POLIS Business School has been designed around a creative approach to entrepreneurship, building on the strong tradition of the MBA (Master in Business Administration) program that POLIS University has developed for approximately one decade as a Joint Diploma program with IPAG Business School, Paris, France. The previous joint program consisted of 90 credits, was delivered over an extended period, and comprised two years of study. Through this cooperation, POLIS University significantly strengthened its academic and institutional capacities in the field of business administration.
The program has now been reorganized in accordance with changes in Albanian legislation into a Master of Science in Business Administration, with a particular focus on innovation and leadership in entrepreneurship.

The Master of Science in Business Administration program provides knowledge in traditional areas of entrepreneurship and business, including: Strategy and marketing; Human resources; Finance; and other related fields., The program also addresses innovative areas and emerging business profiles, including: Digital business; Innovative entrepreneurship; Leadership; Financial auditing; Circular and environmental economics; and other contemporary fields of business and management. The MScBA program aims to equip students with both scientific knowledge and practical skills, delivered through advanced teaching methodologies in the field of business, such as the Harvard Case Method, which is based on the analysis of real-world case studies. Students also work with specialized academic literature and updated scientific databases, as well as internationally recognized sources with broader professional application, such as the World Economic Forum, Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, and others.

The MScBA program works closely with the Diaspora Business Chamber, as well as with the IF Innovation Factory @ POLIS University, including the digital laboratory FabLab “MakersSpace” and the innovative entrepreneurship incubator for students and alumni, “TiranaInc.”
The entrepreneurship incubator for young people is an initiative involving five Albanian universities: POLIS University, Metropolitan University, the University of Tirana, the Polytechnic University of Tirana, and EPOKA University. The initiative is supported by EU4Innovation, GIZ, SIDA, and the Municipality of Tirana.

Employment Opportunities
The integration of scientific and applied approaches with practical challenges in business and entrepreneurship makes the MScBA program a valuable instrument for cross-functional and cross-sector employment.
Graduates are prepared to work across a wide range of business departments and functions within companies and the private sector, as well as in both the public and private sectors.
More specifically, graduates of this program may find employment in various departments within Public Administration, including: Procurement; Finance; Human Resources; Marketing; Communication; and other administrative and managerial departments. Within the private sector, MScBA graduates are well positioned for employment in departments such as: Human Resources; Economics; Marketing; Production and Logistics; Sales; Customer Relations; Finance and Accounting; Auditing; Quality Management; and other related business functions. Another important career option is self-employment or involvement in a family business, through the establishment and development of private or social enterprises. Entrepreneurship continues to represent an increasingly attractive opportunity in current market trends. As this is a Master of Science program, it is also suitable for students interested in pursuing an academic and research-oriented career. Graduates may therefore continue their professional development within: Higher education institutions; Research institutions; Educational and research organizations; Non-governmental organizations (NGOs); Research institutes; Professional associations; Chambers of Commerce; and other related organizations.

EDUCATION PROGRAM

Semester I
Advanced Marketing Objectives: Students are introduced to the concepts, analyses, and activities that constitute marketing management; Understand the marketing process from market research to decision-making about product, distribution, promotion, and pricing, which together constitute the marketing mix; Learn how to conduct a rigorous analysis of the company, customers, competitors, and collaborators within the overall business context, and understand the process of creating, communicating, and delivering customer value through the marketing mix. Key Words: marketing mix, customer needs, distribution channels, promotional activities, price selection, product, price, promotion, distribution
Finance Objectives: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the principles and practices of reporting of financial statements and their analysis. This course presupposes a basic knowledge of financial accounting and finance. To guarantee the same starting point for all students, concepts will first be explained of financial accounting, will continue with the practice and techniques analysis of financial statement. Key Words: financial and reporting, financial statements, users of financial statements, analysis of financial statements, financial decision-making, financial reports.
Operations Management Objectives: Recognize the role of operations in building the firm’s competitive strength and in fulfilling the firm’s goal of creating value and meeting customer expectations; Familiarity with the concepts and techniques involved in the design, implementation and management of operations; Familiarity with the contribution of operations management to business performance and strategy; Familiarity with the key decisions that operations managers must make within the broader corporate and industry context, from initial product and process design to inventory and quality management, maintenance and development in their own time. Key Words: operations management and strategy; operations performance objectives; process design; capacity management; deployment; scheduling; supply chain management; inventory management
Managerial Economics Objectives: Acquisition by students of in-depth knowledge on economics managerial, on the economic principles of effective management in the structures of different markets, related to sales and pricing strategies. Acquisition of knowledge and ability to use instruments for analysis of strategic interaction in the case of oligopoly. Acquisition of knowledge and ability to use instruments for the analysis of monopolistic competition markets, of economies of scale and space savings, benefits from ‘experience’ and “first step” advantages. Acquisition of knowledge on the company’s relationship with the branch, on the developments of news in this report, and on the analysis instruments of this report. Acquiring knowledge and mastering the instruments for the analysis of managerial decision-making in the case of un-certainty and risk, in the case of internal risk-seeking, risk-averse managerial tendencies, and risk-neutral. Enabling students to solve related exercises and problems with the instruments of economic analysis of managerial decision-making. Students’ training for the economic analysis of concrete situations managerial, for identifying problems and potential solutions. Key Words: managerial economics, market analysis, quantitative demand analysis, consumer behavior, production management
Business Management Objectives: Students are encouraged to take the “subjective” initiative to try to gain experience in the entrepreneurial field, with the risks and pleasures of this process. They acquire the main knowledge related to the figure of the entrepreneur and the management of the enterprise, as well as to orient themselves in the issues of cause-and-effect analysis of the factors that determine the success of SMEs; they learn the ways of measuring the effectiveness and evaluation of an enterprise, as well as compare from a practical point of view the models of building SMEs, drawing general conclusions on the performance and effectiveness of the organization; they judge the factors that determine successful entrepreneurship as well as the effectiveness of the selected methods for implementing strategies, distributing and managing sufficient financial and human resources, operational support and distributing responsibilities; they reason as entrepreneurs on the organization of a business, having professional competences to make decisions independently and responsibly on its effectiveness and performance.; The discussion on the legal spaces that new enterprises have in Albania. Key Words: entrepreneur and entrepreneurship, start-up stimulation, business models, organizational structures, market analysis.
Semester II
Strategic Management Objectives: Identifying, verifying and raising the assumptions made about (1) the environment, (2) the missions and (3) the core competencies we need; Analyze the attractiveness of the industry, value-chain, resources, capabilities, levels of business and strategies; Manage objectives – what is and what is not – and new leadership theories of management prac-tices, as well as those related to competitive strategies; They are familiar with related and unrelated diversification; mergers and acquisitions; joint ventures and strategic alliances. Key Words: strategic management, strategic planning, strategic changes, competitive strategy, organizational purpose, PESTEL framework, strategic control
Corporate Finance and Equity Objectives: The program equips students with comprehensive skills to manage the finances of medium and large enterprises and make strategic investment decisions. It fosters strong analytical capabilities, enabling students to evaluate financial decisions with precision and effectiveness. Through the program, students will: Enhance analytical abilities focused on financial and enterprise risk management, as well as overall business direction; Develop decision-making skills tailored to addressing key challenges in the private sector, such as sustainable growth and responsible operation; Strengthen communication skills in financial terminology, enabling clear and effective dissemination of complex financial information to both specialized and general audiences. Key Words: corporate finance, financial statements, performance reports, time value of money, shares, bonds
Human Resource Management Objectives: To understand the wide development of the field of Human Resources, from traditional more administrative approaches, to HR as a partner in strategic approaches, as well as to translate concepts and theories into Balkan realities; Work with human resource concepts and apply them to the issue of “Human Resource Development for Productivity”; Develop a view of human resources (HR) in their organizations; Develop a view of the ‘future of work’; To analyze the situation of human resources in their companies Key Words: strategic human resource management, talent development, motivation, collective learning, performance management, people and innovation
Business Law Objectives: Differences between common law (of English-speaking countries) and civil law (European-continental); Knowing the degree to which European Union legislation tries to reconcile these two types of rights in business regulation; The company as a legal ‘person’ with rights and responsibilities; Corporate liability and limitation of liability of various types of companies, their owners and managers, directors and auditors; Product Responsibilities; Contracts and how they are canceled (terminated); obligations of buyer and seller, legal resources for enforcing a contract, including arbitration and litigation; Auditing: Responsibilities of auditors and companies in different jurisdictions; Laws relating to investment and financing, including various forms of debt and equity; Employment, health, insurance and other laws that regulate business; Intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks and technology transfers; How to get consultations and use legal advice – inside and outside the firm. Key Words: legal system, EU, legal entity, contract, intellectual property, employment law, investment laws, etc.
International Business Objectives: The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the field of international business. It will specifically cover the fundamental theories of international business, analyze the cause-and-effect relationships of factors that influence success across national borders, manage functional business operations in a global context, and explore the opportunities available in the international market. Furthermore, the course will evaluate the elements that contribute to the success of organizations and assess the effectiveness of selected methods for implementing strategies, providing operational support, and distributing responsibilities. Key Words: globalization; international trade; foreign investment; emerging markets; strategy and organization; marketing; HRM; intellectual property
Leadership Objectives: It inspires students to appreciate the unique nature of human beings as both leaders and followers; Builds a sense of courage and moral leadership; It ensures that students know the main theories, traits, skills, styles, attitudes and behaviors of leadership; It empowers students to motivate each other during group work; Builds diverse, high-performing teams; Designs complex- adaptive organizations through vision and strategic leadership that shape organizational culture and values. This course presents both the practice and theory of leadership with reference to the contexts of business and organizational life beyond business. The main goal is the leadership development of students as current and future leaders of themselves and others. The philosophy of this is best summed up in the words of James March: “The critical concerns of leadership are not technical issues of management or power, they are fundamental issues of life.” Key Words: traits, behaviors, relationships, group dynamics, transformational leadership, digital and knowledge workers, change, power and influence
Semester III
Corporate Social Responsibility Objectives: The aim of this course is to equip students with the tools and confidence needed to recognize and respond effectively to ethical challenges, which are an integral part of organizational life. Through a “think before you act” approach, students will build a foundation for both personal and professional success. Additionally, students will gain an understanding of how Professional Social Responsibility (PSR) influences corporate culture and learn how to develop a comprehensive PSR strategy for organizations. Key Words: ethic, transparency, fairness, integrity, accountability, stakeholder engagement, sustainability, transparency and reporting
Competitive Strategy Objectives: This course focuses on how companies achieve high financial performance by using appropriate competitive strategies; Analyze strategies and understand the role of strategy in creating the company’s competitive advantage; Understand how the company’s strategy evolves over time because it seeks to adapt to changes in the environment and the need of the company’s management to increase financial performance; Learn how to profit by using competitive advantage; recognize the link between financial performance and competitive advantage; They recognize the importance of innovation; Learn to use Porter’s model of competitive advantage; Key Words: strategy, competitive advantage, Porter’s theory, diversification theories, game theory, innovation, market entry and exit theories
Research Method Objectives: Knowing the relationship between research, theories and different research methods for the field of environment, planning, etc. The process of reaching the conclusion of a paper by means of scientific methods. Preparation of a paper referring to academic methods of citations, references. Ability to analyze, understand reports and publications about scientific research. Understanding and avoiding the problem of plagiarism. Preparing students in the selection of a diploma topic for research through the application of research methods. Key Words: research process; qualitative and quantitative methods; ethics in research; data collection and analysis; data interpretation; project proposal
Business Analysis Objectives: Sufficient technical knowledge to use Excel software; They use formulas in excel and know interface operation; Build databases and acquire skills to synthesize quantitative data; Basic data processing and build simple indicators; Read business financial statements and identify relevant information. Key Words: software, excel, data processing, financial data, financial health, database import
Thesis and Diploma Project (Project Proposal) Objectives: This research project proposal focuses on an in-depth study of a specific theoretical or applied business problem. Each student will prepare a detailed research proposal over the course of the semester, guided by an instructor who provides feedback and direction. Students are expected to submit regular progress reports, enabling ongoing discussion of challenges and specific aspects of their work, fostering a thorough approach to their chosen research topic. Key Words: project proposal, assistance, selection, field of interest
Semester IV
Digital Business Objectives: The subject aims to let the student learn and understand the principles of Digital Business and Business Intelligence, both current and emerging technologies. At the same time, the student will: Understand the most widespread digital business models; Understand the opportunities and risks of new disruptive Technologies; Understand business intelligence; Be able to apply them to traditional business models; Be able to apply them to provide innovative business models; Be able to apply them to organizations of any size; Be able to use typical tools; Be able to determine the starting path for a new enterprise using digital business. Key Words: business intelligence, digital business, disruptive technologies, block-chain, Web 3.0, Metaverse, virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, generative artificial intelligence
Financial Audit Objectives: The purpose of this course is to develop knowledge and help students understand the main principles of external auditing; During the course, students will understand how audit processes work and will know basic auditing techniques, with the aim of being able to audit the financial statements of economic entities. During the development of the course, we will consider the theoretical and practical aspects of the audit process, the latest developments in the profession, the regulatory framework, the factors that influence future developments; Key Words: audit, business environment, audit regulatory framework, audit planning, risk
Thesis and Diploma Project Objectives: This research project proposal focuses on an in-depth study of a specific theoretical or applied business problem. Each student will prepare a detailed research proposal over the course of the semester, guided by an instructor who provides feedback and direction. Students are expected to submit regular progress reports, enabling ongoing discussion of challenges and specific aspects of their work, fostering a thorough approach to their chosen research topic. Key Words: project proposal, assistance, selection, field of interest
Professional Internship Objectives: The primary purpose of the internship or teaching practice is to fulfill the requirements of the study program while also enabling students to apply their knowledge in a real-world labor market context. Throughout the internship, students are expected to work under the guidance of the director, participating in activities that test and expand upon the knowledge they have gained during their studies. Key Words: teaching practice, training, labor market, organization, processes, responsibility