IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONALIZATION STRATEGY The internationalization strategy pursued by SSE is driven by the mission and vision of SSE. Mission: STRENGTHEN SWEDEN’S COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH RESEARCH AND SCIENCE-BASED EDUCATION Vision: A WORLD CLASS INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL BASED IN SWEDEN Sweden is not a large country and has a limited domestic market. Therefore, business is already multinational and aims to expand primarily abroad. This entails: The necessity for SSE graduates to possess an understanding of the international context of business and management. The acquisition of cross-cultural experience through learning and working in a multinational environment (learning at SSE alongside Swedish and international students). Gaining experience living and working abroad (for international students – in Sweden, for Swedes - in other countries). The strategic goal is to have 50% international students in bachelor's and master's programs (this goal has already been achieved for master's programs). Among international students, 50% should come from outside Europe. To implement this strategy and achieve the set goals, SSE is working in the following directions: - Provide all SSE programs in English.
- Ensuring high rankings for SSE to attract international students:
- SSE has been ranked as the best business school in the Nordic and Baltic region for 19 consecutive years by the Financial Times (2023).
- In the FT's latest ranking of Executive MBA programs, CCE stands at № 57 in the world and № 1 in the Nordic. It ranks #19 out of 100 Master Programs in International Business and #18 out of 55 Master Programs in Finance
- Ensuring high-guality education.
- SSE's high standards of education are confirmed by EQUIS accreditation.
- SSE is a signatory of the United Nations' "Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME)," contributing to sustainable development.
- In 2019, SSE underwent a review by UKÄ (Swedish authority evaluating the quality of Swedish higher education and research) on SSE's quality assurance processes.
- Active participation in international-exchange programs.
- SSE is involved in programs such as ERASMUS+, CIVICA, GNAM (Global Network for Advanced Management), Wallenberg International Fellows Program.
- SSE is involved in double-degree program with such universities as Bocconi, Sciences Po, The University of Tokyo, University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School, EDHEC.
- SSE Executive MBA program offers the opportunity to earn an MBA degree and three additional certificates through international courses in collaboration with Stanford Center for Professional Development, National University of Singapore, and GNAM.
- Attraction of international faculty with attractive financial conditions.
- Introduction of services for international students regarding housing, internships and career placement in Swedish companies.
Conclusion: I think to use this SSE good practice Ukrainian universities have to set some strategic goals in terms of internationalization (according to Ukraine Euro-integration policy) and develop action plans in directions were mentioned above based on SSE experience. |
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT Quality assurance involves systematic review of educational offerings to maintain and improve quality, equity and efficiency. It include internal reports, external assessments (including peer reviews and rankings), evaluation of teachers, courses, and programs, and assessment of operations (such as grading, admission procedures, careers and placement). SSE has a series of comprehensive quality systems in place to monitor educational (and other) activities throughout the School. These systems work to verify the effectiveness of diverse processes in the context of overall organizational requirements and needs. The Education Office Quality Assurance team (EOQA) is involved in different processes that seek to provide confirmation and verification that SSE quality requirements are being fulfilled. These processes could generally be divided into: - Internal (quality control) - focused on monitoring key operations to ensure that the quality requirements set by the Board and Management Team are being fulfilled.
- External (rankings, accreditations) - focused on verifying the high quality of our operations publicly with external awarding and editorial organizations
QUALITY CONTROL. EOQA is specialized in collecting and analyzing students' feedback. EOQA send out more than 20 000 surveys a year and produce more than 1000 reports based on the collected feedback. EOQA is in continuous dialogue with every student and almost all members of faculty at SSE. The evaluations and grading results analysis impact all members of faculty and are an important component of tenure decisions and faculty career advancement. The reports EOQA produces are used as input for decisions concerning the development of courses and programs. EOQA frequently evaluates other operational aspects such as for example the course and program experience of students at partner universities, the strengths of key competitors, the effect of different admission procedures. The data EOQA produces is used by Careers Services, Marketing and External Relations, Education Office, program directors and heads of departments, course administrators, faculty, students, SSE's management and (rarely) external institutions. FOCUS GROUP survey provided by the Student association at the SSE. It includes program-specific feedback, period-specific feedback, and course-specific feedback, all for first and second year BSc programs. Course-specific feedback covers such issues as evaluations and format, lectures, seminars, pedagogy, assessment. RANKINGS. SSE actively participates in (2023): - Financial Times (FT) ranking: Master in Management Programs (SSE MIB), Master in Finance Programs (SSE MFIN), EMBA (SSE MBA), SSE Executive Education Open and Customized programs
- European Business Schools ranking.
ACCREDITATIONS AND INTERNTIONAL/NATIONAL QUALITY SYSTEMS - EQUIS. EFMD Quality Improvement System – accreditation system for Business Schools. It is a vital tool to assess SSE quality – international focus – ongoing improvement process. About 100 different quality indicators are reviewed.
- PRME. SSE signed up to the United Nations' "Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME)" in 2013. The overarching goal is to contribute to the sustainable development of business and society with a global perspective, by disseminating knowledge and educating future leaders.
- UKÄ – Swedish authority. UKÄ evaluates the quality of Swedish higher education and research. In 2019, SSE was reviewed by UKÄ on quality assurance processes.
Conclusion: I think that SSE holistic and systematic approach to quality assurance and continuous improvement is, on the one hand, the key factor of the SSE competitiveness and high reputation and on the other hand – exciting example and guidance for implementing this practice in Ukrainian universities. |
SSE CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM - A CUSTOMIZED PARTNERSHIP CORPORATE PARTNERS: More than 100 companies are in SSE Corporate Partnership Program. 86% of the biggest Swedish companies have at least one SSE alumni on their Board. SSE is a key actor and hub for the Nordic business society. SSE provides deep collaboration and knowledge exchange. STRATEGIC COLLABORATION has three directions: - employer branding and recruitment
- world-class research
- network and access
EMPLOYER BRANDING AND RECRUITMENT includes: - Job Postings and LinkedIn Promotion (advertise job openings and events on the SSE Career Portal, employer branding ,partners offerings have the additional benefit of being promoted on SSE LinkedIn channels, leading to a broader outreach);
- Host Career Service-Related Events with SSE students (examples of potential opportunities include mock interview session, resume reviews, etc.)
- Invitation to Finance Lunch with Select MSc Finance Students
- Opportunity to participate in live case studies embedded in SSE curriculum
- Priority Access to MSc Finance Fair
- Possibility to Guest Lecture in SSE Courses
- Prominent Brand Visibility (Display company’s logo on SSE's website, across the campus, and in corporate presentations)
- Opportunity to participate in the XTM Program, in SSE mentorship program
WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH includes: - Opportunity to attend academic seminars and events such as Misum Day, HOI Day,ACE Forum
- Opportunity to participate in live case studies embedded in SSE curriculum such as Digital Transformation Course in period 4
NETWORK AND ACCESS includes: - Annual Partner Event
- MBA Corporate Scholarship
- 2023 Masterclasses in Sustainability
- SSE Art Tour (designed to provide visitors with an opportunity to explore and appreciate art within the academic environment).
Conclusion: corporate partnership brings value for both sides – for business and for academic community. To develop this partnership universities should purposefully develop directions and activities for mutually beneficial cooperation with various business entities based on SSE good practice. |
