Leadership and Management Studies (LMS) is one of two specialisations of the MSc in Business, Language and Culture (cand.merc.int.).

LMS prepares students to function as effective leaders and managers of organisations, networks and projects that operate in ever more complex, international environments. The specialisation defines leadership and management as two distinct yet interdependent forces that drive such operations, in effect as two sides of the same coin:

A Relational Approach to Leadership and Management

The practice of effective leadership in any context requires the management of multiple relationships, transactions, and even conflicts with a variety of different parties — including colleagues, customers, suppliers, competitors and local communities. These interactive dynamics mean that leadership is not just for CEOs and company directors. Because leadership takes place at all levels of management practice, the LMS concentration prepares students to serve as leaders in whatever position they find themselves from the day they begin their careers.

Towards the end of the programme there will be two required case-intensive courses to the theory and practice of leadership and management. Another course in project management prepares students to design, execute and evaluate projects, and explores more broadly what it means to lead projects instead of organisations or businesses.

The specialisation is taught in English. Regional studies are carried out in another foreign language, of which German, French, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese are offered at the present.