Company collaboration brings real business challenges into Business Analytics studies

Rapidly developing technologies and artificial intelligence are generating ever-increasing amounts of data. Making use of this data requires the skills to analyse it and turn it into insights that support business development and decision-making.

Business Analytics is a two-year international Master’s programme that combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills in data-driven analytics. Key strengths of the programme include its multidisciplinary approach and close collaboration with companies. Students from business, computer science and software engineering backgrounds work in multicultural teams on real-life business analytics challenges provided by collaborating companies.

Company collaboration is embedded in several courses. For example, in Market and Competitor Analysis (MCA) and Customer Behavior Analytics (CBA), students work on practical business cases provided by companies and apply the analytical methods they have learned during their studies.

The collaboration culminates in a six-month Capstone project, where students apply the knowledge, methods and tools gained during their studies in practice and produce analysed information and insights to support real business decisions.

Each year, around 10–20 companies collaborate with the Business Analytics programme through its courses. The case companies range from small digital health start-ups to large companies in traditional retail.

Tunturi LKV used the results to develop its business

One concrete example of the collaboration is Tunturi LKV, which worked with Business Analytics students on both the Customer Behavior Analytics and Capstone courses.

“Our goal at Tunturi LKV was to gain insight into Finnish consumer behaviour in rural real estate markets in Finland and Spain. The research teams on the Customer Behavior Analytics and Capstone courses did a commendable and thorough job in answering our company’s questions,” says Sari Käsmä of Tunturi LKV.

“The research projects produced information that helped us refine our business strategy, marketing strategy and customer interaction. The results have contributed to improving our business.”

Käsmä’s experience of the collaboration was positive, and she encourages other companies to get involved:

“Tunturi LKV recommends collaboration with the Customer Behavior Analytics course to all companies that need a detailed understanding of consumer behaviour to develop their business.”

Collaboration extends from courses to Master’s theses

Over the years, more than 50 companies and organisations from a wide range of industries have collaborated with the Business Analytics Master’s programme. These include organisations from software and IT services, AI and cybersecurity, healthcare and health technology, retail, media, construction, manufacturing, telecommunications, banking and insurance, energy technology, and real estate.

A key form of collaboration is the real-life analytics and business cases provided by companies. In addition, company and organisation representatives have participated as guest lecturers and case owners, hosted company visits, and contributed to other teaching-related collaboration within the programme.

Company collaboration also extends to Master’s theses. Since the launch of the programme in 2021, 30 students have graduated from the Oulu Business School study path, and 23 of them have completed their Master’s thesis as a commissioned project for a company or other organisation.

This broad collaboration gives students opportunities to apply their skills to real business situations and to become familiar with a wide range of industries and organisations already during their studies.

A warm thank you to all the companies and organisations that have collaborated with the Business Analytics Master’s programme! Your contribution is an important part of the programme’s practice-oriented learning and its strong connection with working life.