International Enterprise Information Management MSc
Why choose this course?
The International Enterprise Information Management MSc is offered as a partnership between Kingston University and Neu-Ulm University and leads to a dual degree from both universities. The programme is designed to develop new knowledge and skills that are particularly important to design and implement information systems strategies in international organisations.
You will have the opportunity to enhance your personal and professional development by studying in both countries together with your colleagues from the other university and by undertaking an international internship in the 'other' country (German students will complete the internship in the UK while UK students will complete theirs in Germany), in an international business organisation.
As a student of this programme you will gain a strong theoretical background which will greatly increase your employability in international information management. The international focus of the programme, in combination with the internship experience opportunity will inform your International Project and enable you to succeed in a global setting.
The programme is delivered in both countries in English (the first teaching block at Neu-Ulm University and the second teaching block at Kingston University).
| Mode | Duration | Attendance | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full time | 18 months | Two 30-credit modules per teaching block | September 2022 |
Please note: this programme is only offered to home/EU students.
| Location | Penrhyn Road (Kingston University) and Neu Ulm University, Germany |
2021/22 entry
If you are planning to join this course in the academic year 2021/22 (i.e. between August 2021 and July 2022), please view the information about changes to courses for 2021/22 due to Covid-19.
Continuing students
Students who are continuing their studies with Kingston University in 2021/22 should refer to their Course Handbook for information about specific changes that have been, or may be, made to their course or modules being delivered in 2021/22. Course Handbooks are located within the Canvas Course page.
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- You will gain a dual degree from two universities – Kingston and Neu-Ulm University in Germany.
- You will study in two countries, with an overseas internship giving you relevant international industry experience.
- Career prospects are excellent: demand for is specialists and consultants is fast-evolving.
What you will study
The study includes fundamental elements of business organisations and an understanding of the strategic value of information systems (IS), its design and architecture and its role in the efficiency of complex international customer oriented operations. On completion of the taught modules you will have an opportunity to spend six months on an internship in industry, which is one of the key attractions of the programme.
Typically the programme will be delivered according to the following plan:
- Teaching block 1 – September to January:
- Modules are delivered by the Neu-Ulm University.
- Students study two 30-credit modules.
- Teaching block 2 – January to April:
- Modules are delivered by the Kingston University.
- Students study two 30-credit modules.
- Industrial internship (non-credit bearing) – May to October
- International Project (60 credits) – students submit this in January
For a student to go on placement they are required to pass every module first time with no reassessments.
Modules
Teaching block 1
Teaching block 2
Internship and final project
Core modules
Enterprise Information Systems
30 credits
Students are introduced to the management of information systems (IS) on a company-wide level. This includes the planning, design and development of IS, as well as the necessary concepts, methods and tools. Also, related activities and concepts such as advanced project management and business-consulting methods are part of this module.
With respect to enterprise IS as a subject of scientific research, you are introduced to scientific work in general and in particular to the domain of IS research (ISR) and the related questions and activities.
Business Information Management
30 credits
Students are introduced to business strategy, business intelligence and organisational performance. You will learn to lead an enterprise in the intended direction with the support of corporate performance management (CPM), as measures and measurement systems are the foundation of returning values to investors and owners of enterprises.
In this context, you will familiarise yourself with business analytics and business intelligence (BI) and learn how to define a business intelligence strategy. As a prerequisite to successful BI and CPM, data management and data quality play an important role. You will develop an understanding of the practices and processes of data quality assessment and improvement as well as to manage the increasing amount of data and use it as competitive advantage. Furthermore, you will get familiar with BI architecture and the technical, organisational, and entrepreneurial requirements for a successful implementation.
Core modules
Modelling Enterprise Architectures
30 credits
The module focuses on various components of modelling an Enterprise Architecture. It deals with modelling the business and the underlying information and software system to support the business. It follows the object-oriented paradigm for the development lifecycle, and utilises UML as the modelling language. Indicative contents include aspects of enterprise architectures, business analysis, business modelling, business process reengineering, requirements engineering, object oriented concepts and principles and UML.
On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:
- Critically evaluate and utilise a specific enterprise architecture framework.
- Apply the principles of requirements engineering to capture, priorities, model and document functional and non-functional requirements, whilst appropriately collaborating with relevant stakeholders.
- Perform business analysis and business process reengineering to develop business models.
- Critically evaluate and utilise a software development lifecycle.
- Apply object oriented development concepts, tools and techniques utilising the UML modelling language.
- Critically evaluate and utilise research methods, tools and techniques, taking into account legal, professional and ethical issues in the development of information and software systems.
Data Management and Governance
30 credits
This core module looks at ways organisations manage, store and secure data. Different approaches and methods will be explored to model data requirements into entity-relationship diagrams, logical diagrams and normalisation.
On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:
- Explain the fundamental concepts of data modelling and database design and implementation.
- Translate process models and systems requirement models into a database design using class diagrams and entity relationship diagrams and write SQL statements for the definition, access and control of data.
- Evaluate different approaches to the storage and management of unstructured data such as images and multimedia data.
- Critically assess information governance within the context of different organisations.
- Describe and deploy data encryption techniques suitable for encrypting, signing and protecting data and highlight their correct usages and understand the principles and techniques of steganography, and how these can be used.
- Evaluate the security risks presented by computer networks and understand the role of vulnerability assessment tools and other security-related software and be able to put them to use and design and deploy a firewall to secure a network.
Core modules
Internship
0 credits
This module is a stand-alone, non-credit bearing module for the International Enterprise Information Management MSc. The module is taken as an industry-based internship and it does not contain a taught component. The module aims to provide you with a unique opportunity to acquire professional experience in an international working environment and give them access to a variety of professional practices. The relevant information is provided via StudySpace, in the Internship Guide and in the Course Handbook. During the course of the internship you are required to maintain regular meetings with your internship supervisor as described in the Internship Guide and in the Course Handbook and to keep a record of these meetings and of progress.
International Project
60 credits
This module constitutes the major individual piece of work of the International Enterprise Information Management MSc where you carry out a project involving independent critical research, design and implementation (where applicable), inspired and informed by the internship experience or, exceptionally, by an industry-based case study. The internship (or the case study) prepares you for the International Project module and informs the creation of the project proposal.
The information above reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. Updates may be made on an annual basis and revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. The regulations governing this course are available on our website. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this may not be offered.
Entry requirements
Teaching and assessment
Who teaches this course?
This course is delivered by the School of Computing and Information Systems in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing.
The Faculty's wide selection of undergraduate and postgraduate courses covers a diverse range of subject areas, from aerospace to geography; from mathematics and computing to biotechnology; and many more. Our collaborative set-up provides new opportunities for our students, and we design our courses with industry professionals to ensure you stay up to date with the latest developments.
School of Computing and Information Systems
The School of Computing and Information Systems offers high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate courses, designed to reflect the developing needs of business and industry. We deliver our teaching in an exciting and challenging learning environment, and make use of modern, well-equipped facilities.
Our courses cover the range of modern technologies in computer science, information systems and software engineering, with specialisations in games technology; network and wireless technologies; information security; electronic business; and embedded systems.
Postgraduate students may run or assist in lab sessions and may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.
Fees for this course
Additional costs
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.
What this course offers you
- This programme leads to a dual degree from both Universities, and is delivered at Neu-Ulm University for the first teaching block and at Kingston University London for the second teaching block.
- You will study in an international environment.
- You will have the opportunity to undertake an International internship.
Facilities
There is a wide range of facilities at our Penrhyn Road campus, where this course is based. You will have access to a modern environment with the latest equipment, including:
- dedicated postgraduate computing laboratories, fully equipped with fold-flat LCD screens, data-projection systems and high-spec processors;
- state-of-the-art hardware and the latest software, including:
- development software and tools - such as Linux, Microsoft.net, Dreamweaver MX, Flash 8, Eclipse, Java 2 Standard and Mobile Editions, tools for Motorola and Nokia phones, UML and CASE tools and NXP Processors Development Kits;
- Digital Signal Processors (dsPIC Digital Signal Controllers);
- IP Set Top Box development environment (NXP's STB810);
- Electronics Laboratory; and
- a mix of wireless LAN technologies;
- the library – offering subject libraries, online database subscriptions and resource materials;
- a postgraduate teaching suite; and
- the dedicated Graduate Centre on campus, providing seminar rooms and social spaces.
Our dedicated team of IT technicians support the labs and are always on hand to provide assistance.
Resources in London
Kingston is just a 30-minute train journey from central London. Here you can access a wealth of additional libraries and archives, including the British Library and the Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Where this course will take you
The demand for IS specialists and consultants is fast-evolving and this programme, with its balance of theory and applied specialist learning, its international nature and especially its international internship opportunity prepares graduates well for the senior technical and management positions in a range of fields such as:
- IS strategy;
- IS development and implementation;
- systems analysis and design projects;
- database design and development projects;
- international IS consultancies; and
- international supply chain strategy design and implementation.
Careers and recruitment advice
The Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing has a specialist employability team. It provides friendly and high-quality careers and recruitment guidance, including advice and sessions on job-seeking skills such as CV preparation, application forms and interview techniques. Specific advice is also available for international students about the UK job market and employers' expectations and requirements.
The team runs employer events throughout the year, including job fairs, key speakers from industry and interviews on campus. These events give you the opportunity to hear from, and network with, employers in an informal setting.
How we work with industry partners
On the course you will have an opportunity to spend six months on an internship in industry. The objective of the internship (to be followed by the International Project) is to provide you with hands-on experience of the way that information systems (IS) are applied into real international business case scenarios. It is envisaged that the UK students will undertake their internships in Germany and the students from Germany will undertake their internship in the UK thus gaining an experience in a different business culture.
Kingston University and Neu Ulm University have secured a pool of industrial partners willing to take part in this programme. They include companies such as Apple, Sony, Disney, Newedge, Marsh McLennan, Ernst & Young, Royal Bank of Scotland and NTT Data. Both institutions endeavor to continuously expand the pool of companies willing to participate, but the internship is not guaranteed to a student, as such. All students have an opportunity to apply for it and this will be greatly encouraged. The internship is not credit bearing, but significantly impacts on the International Project work and it is subsumed in the 60-credit value of that module. Placement supervisors – members of staff involved in the programme – will be responsible for monitoring the quality of the work, as described in the job template for each placement, in accordance with Kingston University processes and clearly specified within the liaison agreement to ensure the quality of the internship supervision.
Current research in this subject
Many of our staff are research active. This ensures they are in touch with the latest thinking and bring best practice to your studies.
Digital Information Research Centre
The Digital Information Research Centre at Kingston University is dedicated to the advancement of the theory and applicability of computer science to enable internationally leading work in the field of informatics, addressing the needs of society in the thematic areas of health, communications, security and data. It provides an inclusive and outward-looking environment for research development, fostering interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research to achieve maximum impact in real-world applications.
Since 2009 researchers in the Digital Information Research Centre have generated more than 650 academic publications, received £4million of external research income and supported a PhD population of 120. Research funding has been received from a wide range of sources, including UKRC, EU FP7 and H2020, KTP, Innovate UK and industrial sponsors. A strong contribution to the REF 2014 submission was made by researchers in the School, with a rank achieved of 57% nationally, and with an overall score of 90.2% of the national average. Overall, more than 50% of the research was judged to be 3* or above.
The scope of the research within the Digital Information Research Centre is substantial. It is envisaged that research can be developed to further the excellence already achieved. Collaborative effort on research projects, both inside and outside the University, will help to achieve this overall aim.
