Green light: CBS launches two new pro­grammes in AI and fin­ance

The ability to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a decisive competitive advantage. As a result, companies are increasingly looking for employees who combine business insight with an understanding of how AI can be used responsibly and strategically.

CBS' new one-year master programme is designed to meet that demand. Minister for Higher Education and Science Christina Egelund has approved the plans for the programme, which will be called Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence for Business.

Students will learn how organisations can use AI to create value while navigating ethical, regulatory and societal challenges. 

The programme does not focus on advanced programming but centres on the strategic and ethical application of AI in a business context.

Also relevant for smaller companies

One of the business representatives who contributed input to the new programme is Bent Dalager, Innovation Lead and Partner at KPMG Denmark.

“Artificial Intelligence for Business addresses a competence need that most companies, including KPMG, are facing,” he says and adds:

“Previously, a deeper technical education was required to gain sufficient AI knowledge to develop solutions. Today, that is no longer necessarily the case. This allows us to educate graduates who combine essential business understanding with AI expertise in one profile, and this combination will also appeal to many smaller companies.”

The one-year full-time programme will be taught in English, and admission requirements include a relevant university bachelor degree, a professional bachelor degree or another qualification at an equivalent level. The programme comprises 75 ECTS credits.

A programme in finance, leadership and strategy

The minister has also approved a second new programme.

The programme, cand.merc. i erhvervsøkonomi – strategisk finansiel styring (Master of Science (MSc) in Economics and Business Administration – Corporate Financial Management), is aimed at professionals who are already employed and want to enhance their competences at the intersection of finance, leadership and strategy while continuing to work.

The programme has been developed in response to the fact that traditional budgeting, accounting and controlling are no longer sufficient on their own. Digitalisation, international competition, the green transition and growing regulatory requirements are making decision-making increasingly complex, and this has created a greater need for professionals who can translate financial data into strategic recommendations. The new programme is thus not intended as a traditional finance programme, but as an offering for those who act as a bridge between finance and management.

Positive response from the financial sector

“The financial sector sees considerable potential in CBS' new part-time master programme, which will give employees an attractive opportunity to pursue further education at an advanced level alongside their professional careers and enable them to take on greater responsibility in the workplace,” says Lars Djernæs, Senior Advisor at Finance Denmark.

“It is also attractive that the programme comprises only 75 ECTS credits, is flexibly structured and does not require tuition fees. It makes it more manageable for employees and companies than, for example, an MBA,” he adds.

 More new programmes on the way

The two new programmes are the first step in CBS' implementation of the master programme reform and the gradual development of the master programme portfolio through to 2032.

They also support the university's strategic goal to be a business university with a significant societal impact.

“Our programmes are generally in high demand, and we wish to maintain that position, so we need to continuously adjust both content and format to ensure that our programmes remain relevant and of high quality in the future,” says Anna Thomasson, Dean of Education, and adds:

“We are currently reviewing our entire programme portfolio, and more new initiatives are on the way.” 

You will be able to read the full programme descriptions for the two new programmes on CBS.dk after 1 October.