Developed in partnership with future employers.

Prepare yourself to be the business leader of tomorrow. From day one, you will be immersed in a simulated working environment where your learning journey is at the center. You will learn on campus, online, peer-to-peer, in teams, through personal coaching and mentoring, and finally on the job, all in one internationally-focused Master's degree program. Work side-by-side with executives from top global organizations and obtain certificates for specific skills in your concentration.

MSIM students can choose from three emphases that will focus their study on an important contemporary topic: Responsible Management and Climate Action, Digital Transformation, or Leadership for Sustainable Food Systems.

Structure

Franklin's MSIM leverages the best practices of in-class, online and on-site learning. Courses taught on the Franklin campus address contemporary managerial topics, are taught seminar-style in small groups, involve diverse international students from a variety of backgrounds and are delivered by experts with years of managerial experience. The online courses cover the latest, most relevant and most-applicable topics students can study and are designed and taught by industry leaders who work at organizations such as Google, the United Nations, Amazon and many others. The practical experiences give students the opportunity to work and network in an international organization. Working on actual projects, students get the knowledge, experience and credentials to launch into the next phase of their careers.

The Master is made of 3 main blocks:

  1. Leadership and Management (Fall – September to December, Lugano)

    During this term students will learn leadership and management in a participative and collaborative setting. The pace of this term is intense, and the experience provides the foundation for transformation. At the end of the term students will begin to be empowered as change agents. Faculty and instructors, many who are pioneers in their spheres of competence, share their expertise with students.

  2. Knowledge and Skills for Employment (Spring – January to May, Lugano)

    In the spring term, students will deepen their expertise in collaboration, project management and self-management. This term is built in collaboration with partner institutions and will allow students to develop the skills necessary to be competitive in their fields. Students will join live conferences and network with experts and professionals from international organizations.

  3. Experiential In-Organization Learning (Summer – May to July, Geneva)

    Students will join project teams at partner institutions and gain hands-on experience in their chosen field of emphasis. Students will be challenged and trained to work on real ongoing projects sponsored by international organizations and businesses.

Fall (Aug–Dec)

Engage in 21st century leadership and management: a total immersion

Spring (Jan–May)

Build your learning portfolio with your tutor: in-depth knowledge and skills for employment

Summer (May–Jul)

Apply what you learned through consulting projects: a practical experience
Seminars, in-class learning, and executive workshops Hybrid learning platforms (online and in-class), company visits, conferences, career workshops, guest lectures and seminars

Climate Action: Working with a UN Agency team on a solution for a climate issue important to you

Digital Transformation: Working with global consulting firm and Lugano Living Lab, Digital Bootcamp in South Korea

Sustainable Food Systems: Food systems project internship choosing from Food Tech startups, global corporations or NGOs.
Professional and Personal Coaching

 

Tuition and Scholarships

Tuition for the Master of Science in International Management is paid in Swiss Francs.

2020 - 2021 Tuition CHF 25,000

See additional estimates for direct and indirect expenses for Master's students

A merit scholarship is available for qualifying students admitted to the Master of Science in International Management program. See Responsible Leadership Scholarship for details.

Discover our three emphases
Emphasis in Responsible Management and Climate Action
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The experience you gain in this interdisciplinary Master's program conceived in partnership with the United Nations will enable you to develop ways to bridge the gaps between the goals of NGOs and the challenges of industry and government.

The Master of Science in International Management with an emphasis in Responsible Management and Climate Action will prepare you to work with organizations worldwide that are engaged in dealing with the realities of addressing climate change. Individuals who can find solutions to NGO issues from a business perspective that spans many sectors are in high demand. You will become part of and help to build a virtuous circle that leverages educational, social and business innovation for the benefit of humanity.

This international, cross-cultural and inter-generational program will give you the opportunity to collaborate directly with people from multiple backgrounds, work directly at the UN through the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and apply systemic thinking to business and organizational solutions. You will experience transforming environmental goals into functional solutions through practical projects and strategies. When you complete your Master’s, you will be prepared to apply new skills and perspectives to any organizational context, and you will be primed to influence the hearts and minds of new generations toward a green economy.

Practical Experience

UNITAR and Climate Action

Students will work with a coach and a professor on a self-directed program of study that combines online study with a practical field experience with one of the UN agencies. The online part introduces students to key pieces of the UNITAR agenda, including modules on climate change and how it relates to development, cities, human health, the environment, and global warming. Other course modules include the 2030 Agenda, the UN system, the green economy and leadership. While learning online, students will also visit the UN in Geneva once a month to join global conferences and learn under the supervision of a UN coach.

Working with UN Project Teams - Geneva, Switzerland

Students will work on an applied project/internship mandated by an existing agency team at the UN that includes working between Lugano and Geneva for a period of approximately 6 weeks. Students will be asked to write up a final report on the field study and practical experience that discusses how the UNITAR course work informs their final project and how the experience functions as a capstone to the entire MSIM experience.

Employability

Graduates from this program will have a practical experience with the United Nations on their CVs. While you are a student in this Master's program, not only will you have the chance to work with leading professionals and entrepreneurs, but after completing the UNITAR component, you will also join a project team working on Climate Change Action directly at the UN in Geneva. You will live in culturally diverse environments and will learn multi-stakeholder collaboration at an international level. You will be challenged to find practical, sustainable solutions to real problems facing industry, government and NGOs in the area of Climate Change.

Emphasis in Digital Transformation
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Discover the complex world of digital transformation and correct the trajectory of business in line with principles of sustainability and responsible leadership.

The Master of Science in International Management with an emphasis in Digital Transformation is your next step toward understanding the ethical questions and technological potential of the 21st century. Big Data analysis, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Marketing and Digital Communication are just a few of the future-dominant practices that are advancing in our society. You will have access to the latest resources and certifications to improve your skills and knowledge, and you will co-create real solutions with impactful thought leaders and executives from global organizations.

This international, cross-cultural and inter-generational program will give you the opportunity to collaborate directly with people from multiple backgrounds, apply systemic thinking to business and organizational solutions, and travel for one week to South Korea to visit international tech giants like LG Electronics, Samsung and Hyundai.

Practical Experience

Digital Transformation Practices

Students will work with a Coach and an Academic Coordinator on a self-directed course that combines online study with learning expeditions to global companies active in the digital transformation space. Students will be able to choose a specialization in either Digital Marketing, Big Data Analysis or Artificial Intelligence as their focus for Digital Transformation Practices. Through a partnership with Coursera and under the guidance of their Academic Coordinator, students will enroll in special topic online classes to supplement their chosen specialization. Students will also have opportunities to engage with executives from companies such as Google and a ‘Big Four’ global consulting firm to gain additional skills for employability.

Digital Bootcamp - Seoul, South Korea

Students will spend one week in Seoul, South Korea learning about the most advanced technologies and visiting world-famous global Korean companies Samsung, LG Electronics and Hyundai. They will visit Seoul School of Integrated Sciences and Technologies (aSSIST) and learn more about digital transformation from faculty experts.

Working with Global Consulting Firm & Lugano Living Lab

Under the supervision of an in-company Project Leader, students will work on a six-week project and deliver their results to their project clients. Students will be asked to write up a final reflective report on the practical experience.

Employability

Graduates from this program will have a practical experience with one of the top four consulting firms in the world working with the Lugano Living Lab, an ecosystem of innovation. While you are a student in this Master's program, not only will you have the chance to work with leading professionals and entrepreneurs, but you will also gain the knowledge, skills and competencies to work in the digital transformation space. You will furthermore have a hands-on working experience in Digital Marketing, Big Data Analysis or Artificial Intelligence.

Emphasis in Leadership for Sustainable Food Systems
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Created in partnership with the Future Food Institute [FFI] and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO], this MSc in International Management in Leadership for Sustainable Food Systems is designed to provide both a practical and theoretical preparation for change-makers, climate shapers and future leaders in the food innovation ecosystem. Through a rigorous curriculum and multicultural experience, the program strives towards preparing leaders for today’s global food environment.

The program is designed as an applied-learning pathway, including live classroom seminars, online course work and a hands-on, dynamic, experiential learning opportunity. It offers a series of masterclasses, a four-week dynamic bootcamp, open conversations, company visits, hackathons and other valuable experiences to provide cutting-edge practice. Students will gain the knowledge necessary for collaborating with multiple stakeholders to ensure sustainable food systems. Main touchpoints are research, trends, patterns and innovation in sustainability, ecosystems and food value chain complexity, while developing entrepreneurial mindset and leveraging opportunities for networking and career development. Experience turning systemic challenges into functional solutions, through practical projects and strategies, applicable to any corporation, global NGO or innovative startup.

Students will actively be engaged in the individual design and execution of the program, through Franklin’s tailor-made and customizable study-path, developing professional skills and international relationships along the way to support future impact and drive the transition toward a greener professional ecosystem and society.

Additionally, students will earn a Certificate Leadership for Sustainable Food Systems from Future Food Institute in conjunction with the Franklin Master of Science degree

Practical Experience

Future Food Institute and Sustainable Food Systems

Students will work with coaches and professors on a self-directed program of study, combining online study with practical field experience in Food Tech startups, global corporations or NGOs, focusing on production and consumption patterns, value chains and specific food system challenges. The learning portfolio includes selected sessions and classes, experiential learning through travel and project-based work, consisting in five modules touching topics such as leadership, ecosystems, and food complexity, with a collection of case studies and success stories. A one-month dynamic boot camp, field trips and company visit are also part of the agenda, enabling students to meet international experts, participate in self-paced masterclasses and mentoring sessions. Further to the standard program curriculum, the Future Food Institute [FFI] offers a selection of international Field Schools during the Summer semester to cultivate firsthand experience on extraordinary best practices, startups, and innovative projects from the global sustainable development system.

Employability

The program is a valuable opportunity to nurture and grow leadership talent and practical experience in the food economy innovation and development worldwide. Students will gain new perspectives and develop systemic thinking to deal with the complexity and unintended consequences of our global food supply chain. Future professional career contexts could range from public and corporate organizations in the food industry to green entrepreneurs and change makers.

Faculty

These skilled learning facilitators are experts and innovators that offer you multiple lenses through which to view and solve problems. Each individual on this list will be an important influence as you construct your path toward new ideas and career opportunities.

Corinne Young
Director of Graduate Studies, Franklin University Switzerland

Carlo Giardinetti
Dean of Executive Education and Global Outreach, Franklin University Switzerland

Barbara Bulc
President and Founder, Global Development

Patrick Coggi
Member of the Executive Board, Banca del Ceresio SA

Leonardo Conte
Teaching & Research Assistant, USI

Marco Dal Lago
CEO, CLARA Swiss Tech SAGL

Hans Donckers
Co-Owner, Beanmachine

Geert Geens
Co-Owner, Beanmachine

Jonas Haertle
Project Leader, United Nations Institute for Training and Research

Michael Hathorn
Partner, Optimis

Guido Jarach
Executive Management Consultant, ICS Maugeri

Florence Labati
Coach Expert in Enterprise Processes Digitalization, Arcs-en-Ciel

Michael Lewrick
Head of Innovation Labs, Deloitte Switzerland

Rakhi Mehra
Founding Partner, mHS CITY LAB

Giulia Miniero
Assistant Professor of Marketing, Franklin University Switzerland

Kim Polman
Co-Founder and Chair, Reboot the Future Foundation

Kate Raworth
Senior Visiting Research Associate, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford

Beat Stettler
Entrepreneurial Catalyst of the Sustainable Business Case

Curriculum

This participative and collaborative curriculum is designed to provide students with an intensive path of study that gives you a strong background in leadership, creates situations that build experience in collaboration and project management, and launches the next phase of your career through internships working on real ongoing projects. Each of the courses and workshops in the program is a facet of a complete perspective that will help you to be an effective agent of innovation.

MSIM Courses

MGT 500 Leadership Development through Action
The Responsible Leadership Development program is the cornerstone of the MS in International Management. This seminar was designed in consultation with experts in leadership development, and executive coaches who work with leaders of Fortune 100 companies. The Leadership Development through Action Learning seminar begins in the fall semester with a one-week leadership seminar entitled “Leadership, Story Telling, and the Golden Rule.” While the world is facing unprecedented challenges with widening inequality, economic uncertainty and climate breakdown, powerful and impactful new leadership stories are emerging in business, governments and civil society. The Leadership Development through Action Learning culminates with the delivery and presentation of the Learning e-portfolio. There will be individual and team leadership experiences throughout the academic year.
MGT 510 International Management
The goal of this course is to familiarize managers with the field of international business, management and operations. In this course, students will review, critically consider, and discuss a variety of contemporary issues within international management, including how today’s managers are challenged to also act as Geopolitical Executive Officers (GEO). During this novel seminar students explore and learn about different managerial practices in different continents around the globe.
MGT 511 Digital Transformation Strategies
The goal of this course is to familiarize students with digital transformation and digitalization in dynamic organizations based on an interdisciplinary mix of models and techniques. How are organizations responding to the innovation and adaptation challenge? During this seminar, students will learn from important global players and expert professors about the different models that organizations are embracing to strategically address the digitalization opportunity. Students make practical use of their knowledge and learning from previous courses including digital marketing, organizational design, and financial management, by working in teams to conceptualize and implement a digital transformation strategy.
MGT 525 Innovation and Project Management
The objective of this course is to give a solid base and strength in managing from simple projects to complex ones. The focus will be on fostering and managing innovation in start-ups, large enterprises, international organizations, governments, or social businesses. This course introduces students to frameworks, cases and articles discussing where ideas come from, how an innovation ecosystem is created, principles of lean-hypothesis for launching new products, services and ventures.
MGT 530 Challenges in the New Global Marketplace
This course focuses on the development and implementation of a marketing strategy for a company. As such, the marketing strategy of a company is grounded on a deep analysis of the business environment in which it operates and a thorough understanding of the consumers and their ways of processing information. The course, provides students with the most relevant aspects of the marketing process giving an outline of the main decisions the company needs to focus on when dealing with the marketing plan preparation.
MGT 531 Global Issues and Responsible Leadership
This course focuses on the responsible leadership of the individual in the context of Corporate Social Responsibility and the United Nations 2030 Agenda. How are global managers preparing their companies to be sustainable for 2030 and beyond? Through examples and guidance from both the business and the NGO world, we will explore what is discussed at strategy tables and how organizations are constantly revisiting their value chains to ensure long term success. Students will be challenged to think critically, strategically, creatively, collaboratively, and compassionately. With this self-knowledge, students will be able to apply the mechanisms by which to successfully engage in social and global issues as individuals and as leaders of organizations.
MGT 535 International Business Economics
This course illustrates how economic analysis can help to guide the successful decision making of managers. In particular, this seminar will challenge some of the most deeply rooted beliefs of the old economy and introduce some of the tenets of the new economy of the 21st century. It will allow students to understand and critically engage with basic principles of mainstream economics, on one hand, and explore new paradigms, on the other hand. In particular, there will be a strong focus on the circular economy.
MGT 545 Managerial Finance
This course examines the principles and practices of integrated frameworks for strategic financial decision-making. Attention is given to managerial financial decisions in a global market setting concerning such questions as how to obtain an adequate supply of capital and credit, and how to evaluate alternative sources of funds and their costs. Topics include the management of assets and liabilities, working capital management, capital budgeting, equity versus debt financing, capital structure, and financial forecasting.
MGT 550 Innovation and Design Thinking
This course emphasizes Design Thinking, an innovation approach that constantly focuses on customer needs and leads to solving problems and developing new ideas. Similar agile approaches are also considered: Lean Start-Up, Prototyping, Value Proposition Design, or the combination of Design Thinking with Data Analytics or System Thinking. In an interdisciplinary team, students learn to recognize the latent needs and expectations of various stakeholders. From these expectations, as many ideas as possible are generated, implemented, tested and refined in order to ultimately arrive at innovative solutions that offer real added value.
MGT 553 The Future of Work
Through this topics course students will explore the major trends that will shape the future of work. Different scenarios will be analyzed and discussed looking at the implications for the global economy, the organizations and the individuals. What new management practices do such implications suggest? How can organizations foster adaptability and resilience to face the changes that the future of work will bring? The course introduces novel tools and practices from the fast emerging movement of agile/self-organized companies and make them practically available for leaders operating in organizations that are more traditional. Topics may be focused on: Talent Management, Project Management, Resiliency Management, Responsible Management and Change Management.
MGT 554 Organization Evolution and Design
This course examines the discipline and the art of organizational design with a focus on designing for purpose, responsiveness and collaboration. Sustainable success of organizations is heavily influenced by the extent to which the organizational structure and culture enable the execution of the chosen strategy. Organization Design & Development (OD) is the art of designing and implementing the right structure, and to develop and foster the appropriate culture. This interactive course is designed to provide students with a carefully selected set of frameworks and tools to align organizational structure and culture with strategy. Through case work, students will practice tools and methods to understand and cope with the wider complexity of organizational design and development.
MGT 600 Career Strategies
Creating an effective personal professional image is essential to approach the business market; without it, even if a student has excellent capabilities and skills, it is almost impossible to be selected for the perfect job opportunity. In the Career Strategies workshop, students reflect upon their competencies, goals, and preferences; clarify their career objectives; and then form a professional image. The course will then provide students with the major tools needed to present themselves effectively to the marketplace: CV, cover letter, online social image (professional social networks & hints for online presence in general), job interview management. Students will also explore the importance of acquiring a lifelong-learning mindset.
MGT 604 Capstone Learning ePortfolio
This course provides students with the opportunity to build the framework for their e-portfolios and to begin the process of being active self-observers and responsible learners. Students will learn to critically assess their academic and professional work, their leadership effectiveness, their emotional and cultural intelligence development, and the skills and knowledge gained during their practical experience. This continuous assessment of learning requires thoughtful and regular reflection by the student on their learning experiences so as to make connections among different courses, academic and professional experiences, and to adjust their learning goals and experiences accordingly. e-Portfolios are effective learning tools because they support the student's own knowledge construction, make otherwise invisible aspects of the learning process visible, and place agency in the hands of students, which fosters the student's motivation.
MGT 605 Capstone Learning ePortfolio Part II
This course provides students with the opportunity to build the framework for their e-portfolios and to begin the process of being active self-observers and responsible learners. Students will learn to critically assess their academic and professional work, their leadership effectiveness, their emotional and cultural intelligence development, and the skills and knowledge gained during their practical experience. This continuous assessment of learning requires thoughtful and regular reflection by the student on their learning experiences so as to make connections among different courses, academic and professional experiences, and to adjust their learning goals and experiences accordingly. e-Portfolios are effective learning tools because they support the student's own knowledge construction, make otherwise invisible aspects of the learning process visible, and place agency in the hands of students, which fosters the student's motivation. Students will present their year- long learning portfolios to a panel of faculty members and outside advisors.

Responsible Management and Climate Action

MGT 563 Responsible Management & Climate Action
Students will work with a faculty advisor on a self-directed course of study that combines online study and classroom seminars. Students will be able to choose a specialization within Climate Action. The academic learning will be linked with experiential learning opportunities, including, international organizations, NGO, company visits practitioner’s workshops, interviews with experts in the field and other opportunities for networking, mentoring and conversations. Students will also visit the UN in Geneva at least once a month to join global conferences, seminars, and workshops and learn under the supervision of a UN coach.
MGT 602 Practical Experience-Climate Action
Working with UN Project Teams: Students will work on an applied project/internship mandated by a team at a UN agency that includes working between Lugano and Geneva for a period of approximately 6 weeks. In addition to an agreed upon deliverable to the UN, students will be required to write up a final report on the field study and practical experience that discusses how the Climate Action course work informs their final project and how the experience functions as a capstone to the entire MSIM experience.

Digital Transformation

MGT 564 Digital Transformation Practices
Students will work with a faculty advisor on a self-directed course of study that combines online study with classroom seminars. Students will be able to choose a specialization within Digital Transformation in either Artificial Intelligence, Digital Marketing, or Big Data. The academic learning will be linked with experiential learning opportunities, including, company visits, practitioner’s workshops, certificate programs, interviews with experts in the field and other opportunities for networking, mentoring and conversations. After completing the course work for MGT 564 students will travel to South Korea for a one week “Digital Boot Camp” to engage with leading companies in Seoul, a global hi-tech hub.
MGT 603 Practical Experience-Digital Transformat
Working with Consulting Teams: Students will be challenged with a real consulting project and work directly with one of the top four global consulting companies and the Lugano Living Lab. In addition to an agreed upon deliverable to the Lugano Living Lab, students will be required to write up a final report on the field study and practical experience that discusses how the Digital Transformation course work informs their final project and how the experience functions as a capstone to the entire MSIM experience.

Leadership for Sustainable Food Systems

Future Food Institute Boot Camp

Practical Experience-Leadership for Sustainable Food Systems

LIFESTYLE

Franklin University Switzerland was founded on the idea that where you learn is as important as what you learn.  It makes a difference to study paths to global solutions in a variety of cultural crossroads such as Franklin campus, where students come from nearly 50 different countries; Switzerland, where multiple languages and cultures find common ground; or the United Nations, where countries work together to resolve issues that go beyond national borders.  Take advantage of these learning environments that are not only a learning opportunity in themselves, but that are also perfectly positioned for expanding your perspectives through European travel.

Living accomodationLiving Accommodations

Graduate students at Franklin are provided quiet, off-campus, apartment-style housing on their own floor at the Alba Residence. With panoramic views of Monte Bre and the historic center of Lugano, this building is a 10-minute walk from campus, and directly across the street from the Lugano Central Train Station. It is close to the main shopping district, and many cultural attractions.

Life in Lugano, Switzerland

Lugano provides an interesting, safe, and diverse setting for graduate students to learn and thrive. Italian in culture, but influenced by Swiss efficiency and quality, Lugano is an important Swiss city for finance, tourism and consumer goods. Switzerland is rated one of the highest in terms of quality of life thanks to its stable political scene, sustainable social system, and strong economy. It is often rated as one of the most innovative nations in the world. With one of the highest GDP per capita, Switzerland also has one of the lowest crime levels anywhere. Moreover the quality of food, as well as goods and services are very high quality, and Switzerland offers a wide range of opportunities for free time, leisure, culture and sport.

Partnership

Our Master of Science in International Management (MSIM) includes several courses developed and facilitated by UN staff. Students enrolled in this Master will work with UN professionals at the Geneva headquarters in Switzerland. UNITAR is known worldwide for training the best professionals in their careers with NGOs, government and business organizations.

The Emphasis in Leadership for Sustainable Food Systems was created in collaboration with the Future Food Institute. The Future Food Institute is an Italian-based non-profit with global horizons that aims to build a more equitable world through enlightening a world-class breed of innovators, boosting entrepreneurial potential and improving agri-food expertise and tradition. MSIM students can gain practical experience at one of their international field school opportunities.

Franklin's partnership with Coursera gives you access to unlimited online certificate education for up to 6 months after graduation to upgrade your skills and improve your hirability.

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