Business Management

Business Systems Management is an interdisciplinary field that connects organizational leadership, understanding business processes, finance, law, information technology, quality, and working with people. It is intended for candidates who want to understand how an organization functions as a whole and how it can improve its operations through analysis, planning, and well-considered decisions.

At Alma Mater Europaea University, we offer a three-year professional higher education study program in business systems management, consisting of six semesters or 180 ECTS credits. The program is delivered part-time and in person in Maribor. After successfully completing all requirements, graduates obtain the professional title Bachelor of Business Operations Management.

What does business systems management include?

Business Systems Management does not view an organization only through an individual department or business function. The focus is on the connections between strategy, finance, legal requirements, information solutions, employees, quality, and everyday business processes.

A manager must understand how a decision in one area affects other parts of the organization. For example, a change in the production process can affect costs, quality, employee workload, delivery times, and customer satisfaction. The business systems management study program therefore develops the ability for systems thinking and recognizing interdependencies within the organization.

The program is also suitable for candidates interested in managing business processes. In addition to work organization, it covers systems analysis, business risks, the development of organizational structures, and decision-making based on available information.

The business systems management study program connects multiple business fields

The curriculum is designed so that students first acquire fundamental business knowledge and then build on it with analytical, legal, and leadership content.

The core areas of the program include:

• management and strategic management, where students learn about planning, organizing, leading, and monitoring business goals;
• business informatics and systems analysis, which enable understanding of information solutions and the analysis of processes and organizational systems;
• corporate finance, economics, and tax burdens, important for assessing costs, financial consequences, and the efficiency of decisions;
• commercial and labor law, which help in understanding the legal framework of business operations, contractual relationships, and employment;
• quality engineering, focused on monitoring, regulating, and improving process quality;
• marketing and business communication, which address relationships with the market, customers, and other stakeholders;
• leadership psychology, intended for understanding behavior, motivation, and relationships in the work environment.
• Business Systems Management thus combines the content a manager needs to understand an organization, regardless of whether they work in a production, service, public, or entrepreneurial environment.

Project work and practical training

An important part of the program consists of project assignments in the first and second year. In these, students connect theoretical knowledge with concrete business issues, analyze a selected problem, and formulate well-founded proposed solutions.

Practical training takes place:

• in the first year, when the student completes 240 hours or six weeks of practical training;
• in the second year, when they complete an additional 240 hours or six weeks of practical training.

The student finds a place for practical training independently. It is important that the selected environment allows the content of the business systems management study program to be connected with actual business processes, work organization, and the concrete challenges of the organization.

The practical part of the study program enables students to get to know the real business environment and develop the ability to collect data, define problems, cooperate with employees, and prepare useful solution proposals.

Elective content and the Family Entrepreneurship module

Students can tailor part of the program to their interests and planned career path. A special option is the Family Entrepreneurship module, which includes entrepreneurship, legal aspects of organizing and taking over a family business, management of personal and family finances, and the culture of family entrepreneurship.

Other elective content includes business communication, career development, business anthropology, personal finance, insurance, online marketing, and e-commerce. Elective courses allow students to deepen their knowledge in areas that complement business systems management and respond to the diverse business interests of students.

Part-time in-person study in Maribor

The business systems management study program is delivered part-time and in person in Maribor. In-person delivery enables cooperation with lecturers, discussion, work on concrete cases, and active participation in exercises and project assignments.

Attendance at lectures is subject to the general rule of Alma Mater Europaea University. Practical classes are mandatory and represent an important part of the study process, as they are intended for the practical application of the covered content, solving business cases, and active student work.

Exams are held in person. A student may also take an exam at other Alma Mater locations, in accordance with the organization and announcement of the individual exam session.

The part-time form of study allows easier coordination of study and other obligations, but when planning their time, the candidate must take into account lectures, mandatory practical classes, project work, practical training, exams, and independent study.

Accredited program and quality assurance system

Business Systems Management is an accredited first-cycle professional higher education program. It comprises 180 ECTS and is placed within the Bologna system, so the level of study is comparable with first-cycle higher education programs in the European Higher Education Area.

Alma Mater Europaea University also uses a quality assurance system in its operations and has obtained the ISO standard. Alma Mater programs or individual areas of operation also hold international accreditations and recognitions that complement the national accreditation system for higher education programs.

What competencies does business systems management develop?

During their studies, students develop the ability to understand business processes and their impact on an organization’s success. They learn to analyze organizational problems, compare possible solutions, and take business, legal, financial, and human resource factors into account when making decisions.

The business systems management study program primarily develops the ability to:

• analyze business and organizational systems;
• understand the financial and legal consequences of business decisions;
• plan and improve business processes;
• participate in the development of organizational structures;
• manage projects, teams, and business activities;
• identify risks and formulate improvement proposals;
• communicate clearly in business contexts and present solutions with sound arguments.

The acquired competencies are applicable in professional, analytical, development, project, and managerial positions.

Job opportunities after completing the study program

Graduates can work in companies, public institutions, municipalities, agencies, educational organizations, and research and development projects. The knowledge is applicable in the fields of business organization, department management, project management, business consulting, marketing, quality, and business process development.

Business Systems Management also provides a suitable foundation for entrepreneurship or participation in the development of a family business. Specific employment opportunities depend on the requirements of the position, prior experience, and the individual’s additional professional knowledge.

Who is the business systems management study program intended for?

The business systems management study program is suitable for candidates interested in business operations, work organization, leadership, finance, law, information technology, and entrepreneurship. It requires analytical thinking, readiness for project work, and the ability to connect information from different business fields.

The program is open to candidates who have completed the general matura or vocational matura, as well as candidates who completed any four-year secondary school program before 1 June 1995. In the event of limited enrollment, performance in the final exam or matura and performance in the third and fourth years of secondary school are taken into account.

Business Systems Management enables a comprehensive understanding of organizations and the processes that direct their operation. By connecting business, legal, financial, information, and leadership content, the program prepares graduates to solve concrete organizational challenges and to participate responsibly in business development.

1. How long does the business systems management study program last, and what title do I obtain?

The undergraduate business systems management study program lasts three years or six semesters and comprises 180 ECTS. After successfully completing all requirements, the graduate obtains the professional title Bachelor of Business Operations Management. After three years of study, it is also possible to use the additional graduate year to complete the remaining study obligations.

2. How much practical training is included in the business systems management study program?

Practical training is included in the first and second year. In each of these years, the student completes 240 hours or six weeks of practical training, which amounts to a total of 480 hours of practical training. The purpose of the internship is to connect knowledge from business systems management with the actual operation of companies and other organizations.

3. Is the internship organized by the university, or does the student have to find it independently?

The student finds the place for practical training independently. The selected organization must enable the performance of tasks that are substantively connected to the study program and allow the practical application of the acquired business, organizational, and leadership knowledge.

4. How is the business systems management study program delivered?

The business systems management study program is delivered part-time and in person in Maribor. Students attend lectures, practical classes, project work, and other study obligations in accordance with the program schedule.

5. Are lectures and practical classes in the business systems management study program mandatory?

Yes. In the business systems management study program, attendance at lectures is mandatory in accordance with the attendance rules applicable at the level of Alma Mater Europaea University. If a student follows a lecture remotely, they must fulfill the prescribed obligations or submit a lecture summary on time in order for attendance to be recognized. Attendance at seminar practical classes is 100% mandatory, as the classes are based on active participation and the practical application of knowledge.

6. How are exams conducted, and can I take them at another Alma Mater location?

Exams in the business systems management study program are held in person. They can also be taken at other Alma Mater Europaea University locations, whereby the student must check the available location and time for each individual exam session.

7. What is the tuition fee for the business systems management study program?

The tuition fee for the business systems management study program is EUR 3,400. Since price lists may change for an individual academic year, it is advisable to check the current Alma Mater Europaea University price list before applying or enrolling.

8. Is the Business Systems Management program accredited?

Yes. Business Systems Management is an accredited first-cycle professional higher education study program. The program comprises 180 ECTS and is placed within the Slovenian higher education system and the Bologna study structure.

9. Is studying at Alma Mater comparable to study programs in Europe?

Yes. The program uses the European ECTS credit system and is placed within the Bologna higher education system. The business systems management study program has 180 ECTS and represents the first cycle of higher education, which enables comparability of the level and scope of study within the European Higher Education Area. Individual courses and content orientations may differ between universities.

10. Does Alma Mater Europaea University have an ISO standard and international accreditations?

Yes. Alma Mater Europaea University uses a quality system according to the ISO standard. In addition to national accreditations, individual university programs or areas of operation also have international accreditations and recognitions. The national program accreditation, international accreditations, and ISO standard should be understood as different elements of quality assurance.

11. Who can enroll in the business systems management study program?

A candidate who has completed the general matura or vocational matura may enroll in the business systems management study program. Enrollment is also possible for a candidate who completed any four-year secondary school program before 1 June 1995. In the event of limited enrollment, performance in the matura or final exam and performance in the third and fourth years of secondary school are taken into account.

12. What competencies do I gain during the study program?

Students develop the ability to analyze business and organizational problems, plan processes, and assess the financial and legal consequences of business decisions. Business Systems Management also develops competencies for project work, business communication, team leadership, risk identification, and preparing proposals for improving business operations.

13. After successfully completing the study program, do I receive a diploma, and does access to study materials remain available?

Yes. After successfully completing all obligations, the student completes the program and receives a diploma, which is awarded at a formal graduation ceremony. After completing the study program, access to Alma Mater study materials is no longer guaranteed, so the student does not have permanent access to content in the study environment.

14. Where can a Bachelor of Business Operations Management find employment?

Graduates can use their knowledge in companies, public institutions, municipalities, agencies, consulting organizations, and research and development projects. Opportunities include the fields of business organization, project management, marketing, quality, business process development, and entrepreneurship. Specific employment depends on prior experience, additional knowledge, and the requirements of the individual position.