The Master’s Degree Managing Digital Transformation in the Health Sector (ManagiDiTH) is an international online programme delivered by three higher education institutions:   

• ISCTE - University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal (ISCTE-IUL) [ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa]
• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece (AUTH) [Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης]  
• Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Finland (LAUREA) [Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu]  

This Master’s degree will offer multidisciplinary knowledge on how to plan and support the digitalisation of health and social care services and to promote the implementation of new procedures and services, supported by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).  

Courses will be delivered in English and available online, with learning materials and resources accessible also in Finnish, Greek and Portuguese.  The courses will focus on health sector skills, societal skills and digital skills.  

The teachers in the courses are from European Higher Education institutions, which will provide international content to study units. This will enable a multicultural and interdisciplinary learning environment by providing culturally diverse content and material.  

The ManagiDiTH Master’s programme welcomes students applying from diverse backgrounds and areas of specialisation, including healthcare, management, ICT, and other fields.   

This Master’s programme is designed to be completed while working simultaneously. Online contact sessions primarily take place in the afternoon or evenings. The number of online contact sessions is very limited because most of the work takes place on an individual level, with continuous mentoring, or in the form of group work. This allows students to plan most of their studies according to their own schedule. 

Programme content

The ManagiDiTH Master’s degree includes two specialization branches. One in Data Science and the other in Interoperability. Students may choose the branch they want to specialize in according to their individual needs, interest, background and previous knowledge acquired on specific topics. 

Core competence 30 ECTS

The Master’s programme has 3 main components: 1. Health sector skills; 2. Societal skills; and 3. Digital skills.   

It is composed of 10 curricular units (6 mandatory and 4 optional) of 6 ECTS each (10 Units * 6 ECTS = 60 ECTS), plus the Dissertation/Project/internship unit (30 ECTS). In total, the master’s programme counts for 90 ECTS.  

Core competences consists of the following mandatory study units: 

Complementary competence 30 ECTS

Master’s degree includes complementary competencies where students freely select study units. The study units are suitable for students who particularly want to develop competencies in managing digital transformation in the health sector to gain societal and digital skills.  

• Healthcare resource management (6ECTS) 
• Regulation, legislation and structures in health (6ECTS) 
• Technology and Society (6ECTS) 
• Ethics and Privacy in Health (6ECTS) 
• Management, innovation and entrepreneurship in healthcare (6ECTS) 
• E-Health and Telemedicine (6ECTS) 
• Cybersecurity for Health Systems (6ECTS) 
• Technologies in Interoperability Interoperable ecosystems in Health (6ECTS)  
• Data Analytics and Machine Learning  (6ECTS) 
• Deep Learning and Computer Vision in Health (6ECTS) 
• Sensors for medical instrumentation and signal processing (6ECTS) 

Master’s thesis 30 ECTS

The aim of the master’s thesis is to develop the student’s ability to carry out a demanding research or development project independently. The aim is for the student to further develop his R&D competencies, to allow the student to deepen ability to apply theories into practice, to practice analytical and social skills, and to gain experience in project management. The aim of a master’s thesis is to develop and demonstrate an ability to apply research literature, to use selected methods for collecting and analysing data and solving work-life problems and to carry out demanding specialist tasks independently. 

The thesis is an independent project. To facilitate the process, the student is encouraged to participate in online seminar sessions and to have online meetings with the thesis supervisor. A high-quality thesis process emerges from active participation in online seminars. In these seminars, the student can test independent thinking, ideas, and argumentation with peers, learn through the experience of peers and practice understanding of the research and development process by helping and commenting on the work of peers. During the thesis process, the student will also demonstrate an understanding of the validity and reliability of the data collection and analysis process and of ethical and legal guidelines and regulations. Before the publication of the thesis report, the originality of the thesis will be analysed by using the originality check in accordance with the Laurea UAS quality guidelines. 

The student can: 

• Plan, carry out and evaluate a thesis project within a given timeframe by applying appropriate methods 
• Manage and transform work contexts that are complex, unpredictable and require new strategic approaches 
• Identify and formulate problems and solutions critically, independently, and creatively 
• Use the specialised problem-solving skills required in research and innovation to develop new procedures and knowledge and to integrate knowledge from different fields 
• Take responsibility for contributing to professional practice and knowledge 
• Carry out and manage project tasks, take initiatives, adopt a developmental approach to work and initiate and implement change processes 
• Adapt the necessary abilities for lifelong learning and the continuous development of their own professional competence 
• Guide and coach others and develop good communication and language skills required by work 
• Develop the skills required for international interaction and operation 

Preliminary schedule

The programme will start with orientation days (online) on Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th September 2024 in the afternoon.    

This Master’s programme is designed to be completed while working simultaneously. Online contact sessions primarily take place in the afternoon or evenings. The number of online contact sessions is very limited because most of the work takes place on an individual level, with continuous mentoring, or in the form of group work. This allows students to plan most of their studies according to their own schedule. 

Employment opportunities 

This study programme provides graduate students with diverse employment opportunities in the health and welfare sector, both within public and private organizations. The programme equips students with knowledge and skills necessary for managing the digital transformation of health services. It also emphasizes the importance of data science and information system resources. Additionally, the programme encourages innovative approaches when designing services.  

Graduate students who complete this programme can offer expert advice, effective management, and guidance to healthcare organisations, policymakers, and stakeholders. They learn how to leverage digital technologies and data science to enhance the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of health and welfare services. 

Internationality in studies 

Master's degree programme offers an international experience in several aspects. Online study units are instructed by teachers from three different countries: Finland, Portugal and Greece. Also, students in this master's studies are intentional enabling multicultural and interdisciplinary learning environment. In addition, online courses incorporate culturally diverse content and materials. Consequently, courses are conducted in English. 

Eligibility requirements 

Applicants must have a suitable degree completed at a university or a UAS and at least two years of relevant work experience acquired after graduation. Nationality: Candidates need to be, at the time of their application an EU, EEA, or Swiss national. 

Intake for Laurea University of Applied Sciences: 60 study places. 

More information about applying and requirements can be found here.

* Please be aware that this program has not yet received full accreditation at ISCTE University in Portugal and AUTH University in Greece. Without complete accreditation, the program is not able to run. The consortium anticipates achieving a full accreditation, updates regarding the accreditation will be updated here as soon as it is available