In the one-year minor program, MediaBizLab, students will learn the necessary skills to participate in the innovation and business development process of digital media services. This work will be steered by both skilled academics and industry professionals, and thus provide students with multiple approaches to business. During the academic year, students will develop a solid skill set for creating, commercializing and developing media content as services. In the spirit of Aalto University, the study program brings together designers, engineers, and marketers to explore the design, technology and business dimensions of commercial media services. To cater for the academic perspective, the program is organized in cooperation between Aalto University School of Economics Department of Marketing and Media Factory. Moreover, we work tightly together with a prominent industry partner to enhance the learning experience. Furthermore, we collaborate closely with the student-driven Aalto Entrepreneurship Society that encourages entrepreneurial spirit among students.
Goals and focus of the study program
MediaBizLab minor studies program helps participants become stellar professionals in the field of commercializing media with career prospects in various media-related industries. The program’s study modules give insight to cutting-edge academic research and practices of service and business development in the media industry. Student teams create, commercialize and further develop service prototypes with the support and mentoring of industry professionals. Moreover, the course will provide insights on the emerging opportunities within digital media and re-invigorating business models of the established media formats.
First, the iterative development of ideas and service concepts is based on cultural insight into consumer behavior. Second, the continuous market testing of media service prototypes with live audiences provides evidence of consumer interest further justifying investments, development work and the eventual commercial launch. Thirdly, we will be constantly working on commercialization of the service concept to ensure the feasibility and profitability of the resulting concept. In so doing, student teams discover through trial and error how to include the audience into media content development and consumption, how media services entice stickiness and engender advocacy, thus naturally producing cash flow.
Furthermore, Students may, either individually or in teams, continue to work on their projects as thesis work after completing the minor subject program.