Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Business Innovation and Sustainability

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Jyvaskyla

Program Overview

The Bachelor's Degree Programme in Business Innovation and Sustainability at the University of Jyväskylä equips you with science-based skills in innovation management, sustainable business practices, international business, corporate social responsibility, strategy, and entrepreneurship—all taught entirely in English over three years (180 ECTS credits). It's perfect for driven students who want to become change makers, tackling global challenges through business impact at the prestigious Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics (JSBE).

Curriculum Structure
Year 1
You'll kick off with a strong foundation in core business principles and sustainability basics, building essential skills for innovative thinking right from the start. Courses like *Introduction to Business Innovation* and *Sustainable Management Fundamentals* introduce you to new business development and responsibility in business, while *Decision Making in Business* sharpens your analytical edge for real-world applications. This year sets you up to see business not just as profit-driven, but as a force for positive societal change.

Year 2
Here, you'll dive deeper into practical tools for sustainable strategies, blending innovation with ethical decision-making. Key modules such as *Innovation Management* and *Corporate Social Responsibility* explore strategy and entrepreneurship in global contexts, complemented by *Sustainability Competences*, which teaches you to apply these in genuine business scenarios. You'll start connecting theory to practice, preparing for collaborative projects that mirror industry demands.

Year 3
The final year ramps up with advanced integration, culminating in your *Bachelor's Thesis* and *Seminar*, where you apply everything to a capstone project on sustainable innovations. Courses like *Sustainable Business Models* and *Method Studies in Innovation* focus on decision-making, new business development, and real-world sustainability challenges, giving you hands-on experience in global business contexts. By graduation, you'll be ready to lead with confidence in a rapidly changing world.

Focus areas
Sustainability, international business, corporate social responsibility, innovation management, strategy, entrepreneurship, new business development, responsibility in business, and decision-making.

Learning outcomes
Develop science-based business skills to become an expert in business innovation and sustainable business; gain competences in managing innovations, sustainable strategies, and global challenges through collaboration; produce a bachelor's thesis applying knowledge in real business contexts.

Professional alignment (accreditation)
JSBE holds triple accreditation from AACSB, AMBA, and BGA, ensuring top international quality in research and teaching for career-ready graduates.

Reputation (employability rankings)
The programme drew 475 applications for just 30 spots in its first joint round, signaling huge demand and strong appeal among global applicants from 98 countries; JSBE's focus on sustainable business research outputs in elite journals like Journal of Cleaner Production and Business Strategy and the Environment boosts employability in high-impact roles.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

In the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Business Innovation and Sustainability (BIS) at the University of Jyväskylä's School of Business and Economics (JSBE), you'll dive right into hands-on learning that builds real-world skills in sustainable business, innovation, and decision-making—applying what you learn through practical projects like developing new business ideas and tackling genuine business challenges. This isn't just theory; the program emphasizes science-based thinking in a truly international environment, where you collaborate with students from over 100 countries and use JSBE's top-tier resources to create impact in business and society. With JSBE's triple accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, BGA), you're gaining skills from a world-class business school focused on sustainable business research and real-world application.

Here's how you'll get that experiential edge, drawing directly from the program's structure and JSBE's strengths:
- Bachelor's thesis, seminar, and method studies: Put your knowledge to work by conducting original research on sustainable innovations, business responsibility, or entrepreneurship, guided by experts in JSBE's Sustainable Business research group.
- Genuine business context projects: Apply competences in new business development, sustainability decision-making, and innovation management through studies designed for real-world scenarios, often in group settings that mirror global teamwork.
- Student exchange programs and international collaborations: Gain global exposure by partnering with other institutions, building networks and practical experience in sustainable business across borders.
- Access to JSBE research groups and facilities: Work alongside leading researchers in Sustainable Business (covering corporate environmental management, circular economy, and sustainable strategies) and Sustainable Marketing and Consumption, using their interdisciplinary insights for your projects.
- Support from JSBE's sustainable focus areas: Leverage ongoing research in sustainable business and economy, including four specialized groups on strategy, responsible leadership, and ethics, to inform hands-on learning in innovation and sustainability.

Progression & Future Opportunities

In the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Business Innovation and Sustainability at the University of Jyväskylä's School of Business and Economics (JSBE), you'll dive into hands-on, science-based learning that builds real-world skills in sustainability, innovation, and business strategy—think tackling corporate social responsibility and entrepreneurship through practical projects tied to cutting-edge research. As part of an AACSB, AMBA, and BGA accredited school, you'll have access to JSBE's focused research ecosystem, including the Sustainable Business Research Group, which explores everything from circular economy models to sustainable marketing, giving you tools to apply classroom knowledge directly to business challenges. This sets you up to become a change-maker, with opportunities like global student exchanges at partner universities to broaden your perspective.

Here are some standout ways the programme delivers experiential learning through JSBE's dedicated facilities and resources:
- Collaborate on sustainability research via the Sustainable Business Research Group, diving into corporate environmental management, circular economy, bio-economy, and sustainable business models with international partners like UC Berkeley and Bocconi University.
- Engage with the Sustainable Marketing and Consumption field for hands-on studies in consumer behavior, pro-environmental practices, and digital sustainability marketing, drawing from high-impact publications in journals like Journal of Cleaner Production.
- Tap into JSBE's core research area of sustainable business and economy, working across groups on strategy, entrepreneurship, responsible leadership, and organizational ethics to address real consumer, firm, and societal challenges.
- Connect to the university-wide School of Resource Wisdom (JYU.WISDOM) and related initiatives like ecosocial education research for transdisciplinary projects on planetary well-being and resource-smart thinking.
- Explore circular economy innovations through the Center of Expertise for Circular Economy (CECE), a network linking JSBE research with company product development and spin-off opportunities.