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Professional MBA Human Resource Management

Professional MBA HRM, Universität Graz, Executive Programs

If you want to attract and retain the perfect talent for your company, it is important to examine your corporate culture and the ways you work together. By applying sophisticated HR management methods, you can achieve sustainable business excellence.

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Facts at a glance

Language
German with selected courses in English
Duration
3 semesters, part-time
Degree
Master of Business Administration
Location
University of Graz, in person (75 %) & online (25 %)
Workload
90 ECTS
Price
EUR 23.900,–
Professional MBA HRM, Universität Graz, Executive Programs

Shaping the Future

 

Set new standards and come into your own as a professional manager with our Professional MBA program! 
In our core modules, you acquire skills in value-based management fit for a future shaped by digitalization, sustainability and new technologies such as AI. You get the ideal tools to make responsible decisions and develop innovative solutions! You can then combine these general skills with your specialization in “Human Resource Management”!

The Power of Human Resource Management

A company is the sum of its employees. A modern HR department has to react quickly and flexibly to the needs of employees and, at the same time, to the requirements of the company. Managers who understand how to attract, promote and retain talent in the company are in high demand. With the unique specialization in “Human Resource Management”, you learn everything you need to take on current and future challenges in HR management: from effectively designing an HR organization to attracting the best employees and sustainably developing them to controlling, performance management and the fundamentals of labor law.

The Professional MBA Human Resource Management is the key to success for

members of HR teams who want to be prepared to take on more responsibility
HR managers who want to professionalize their workflows
HR executives who want to upgrade their qualifications
business leaders, executives, project managers or managing directors who have a special interest in current HRM best practice
all people interested in state-of-the-art HR management

Core modules General Management (36 ECTS or 40%)

Learn to consider a company in all dimensions ‒ in this module, you develop your executive mindset and strengthen your entrepreneurial thinking and acting. You understand innovation as the engine of corporate transformation and target-oriented strategic thinking as the source of sustainable corporate success. In this way, you can shift the focus from a problem to its solution, from an idea to its implementation and from day-to-day operations to strategic planning and decision-making.

The module includes the following courses, each with a workload of 3 ECTS:

  • Entrepreneurial Thinking and Acting
  • Developing Strategic Thinking

The academic coordination of this module is managed by Assoz. Prof. Dr. Robert Rybnicek, Institute for Business Management and Entrepreneurship, University of Graz.

Key figures determine the success of your company ‒ in this module, you learn to analyze, document and communicate your company’s contribution to sustainable, long-term value creation. You discuss the most important aspects of corporate publicity along with their interaction with corporate strategy and how to use key performance indicators (KPIs) as a basis for investment decisions. Particular attention is paid to topics such as sustainability reporting, digitalization in reporting and issues of corporate governance.

The module includes the following courses, each with a workload of 3 ECTS:

  • Accounting Basics
  • Digitalization and Sustainability in Accounting

The academic coordination of this module is managed by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. Georg Schneider, Institute for Business Accounting and Reporting, University of Graz.

Strategic financial management increases corporate value ‒ in this module, you learn to evaluate the role of corporate finance within the framework of a corporate strategy and to identify its contribution to achieving the value-based management objectives. You understand the connection between risk and return in the context of investment and financing decisions and see financial risk management as an active management tool. In addition, you learn to recognize the potential that the digital transformation of the financial markets has for corporate value creation.

The module includes the following courses, each with a workload of 3 ECTS:

  • Corporate Finance
  • International Financial Management

The academic coordination of this module is managed by Assoz. Prof. Dr. Stefan Palan, Institute for Banking and Finance, University of Graz.

Success on the market with optimal customer experience and strong brands ‒ in this module, you discuss with leading experts from academia and business how to utilize digital transformation and product innovations to create customer and brand value along the entire customer journey. This goal is evaluated from an “executive” (e.g. corporate and global branding), an “entrepreneurial” (e.g. use of new technologies such as AI) and an “ethical” perspective (e.g. sustainability and inclusivity in brand management).

The module includes the following courses, each with a workload of 3 ECTS:

  • Customer Experience and Customer Centricity
  • Brand Management

The academic coordination of this module is managed by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Andreas Strebinger, Institute for Marketing, University of Graz.

Increased profitability through optimization of processes and business procedures ‒ in this module, you develop and deepen your understanding of how corporate strategy and operational management are connected. Against the backdrop of digital transformation, you learn to work with business forecasts, production and capacity planning, delivery and supply chain management or corporate logistics. You then discuss their contributions to the competitiveness and thus value creation of companies. You deal with circular economy strategies and learn to use them as an active management tool.

The module includes the following courses, each with a workload of 3 ECTS:

  • Operations Strategy
  • Managing the Value Chain

The academic coordination of this module is managed by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Marc Reimann, Institute for Operations and Information Systems, University of Graz.

Committed employees as the foundation for company success ‒ in this module, you discover the potential of HR management for running a company. You learn how HR management can be used to best support an organization’s business. You develop methods to recruit and retain a qualified workforce, optimize management performance throughout the company and create a healthy work climate with motivated employees. Finally, you discuss the possibilities of compensating employees for excellent performance and recognize the influence of a compensation system on personnel costs.

The module includes the following courses, each with a workload of 3 ECTS:

  • Improving Enterprise Performance through HR
  • Enabling all Employees to be Successful

The academic coordination of this module is managed by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Armin Kreuzthaler, Center for Entrepreneurship and Applied Business Administration, University of Graz.

Advanced modules Human Resource Management (54 ECTS or 60%)

  • Professional Business Partnership (3 ECTS):
    Working at eye level with the management team:
    • Integrating HRM expertise into business strategy
    • Developing scenarios for personnel deployment and qualification planning
    • Analyzing risks in the HR field
    • Developing and implementing the business partner role within the organization

  • Building an HR Management Organization (3 ECTS):
    Establishing an effective HR management foundation:
    • HRM functions and functional objectives
    • Defining key HRM processes/process variants
    • Measuring HRM success with KPIs

  • Digitalization and AI in HR Management (3 ECTS):
    Successfully planning and implementing digitalization projects in the HR environment:
    • Developing digitalization goals for HRM
    • Tools and processes: Planning depending on specific organizational structures
    • Defining success criteria for digital transformation
    • Exploring AI potentials in HR management
       

  • Employer Branding and Recruiting (3 ECTS):
    Attracting mission-critical talent::
    • Analyzing and planning an employer brand for specific organizations
    • Implementing effective recruitment methods in the current job market / for specific labor market segments
    • Assessing candidates and using successful selection methods
    • Managing the employee lifecycle
    • Diversity and corporate social responsibility
  • Individual and Team Development (3 ECTS):
    Optimizing business performance through skill development:
    • Roadmap for specific employee development concepts
    • Best practices for effective career development
    • Team diagnostics and team development methods
    • Developing generation- and needs-specific learning methods
    • Change and internal transformation consulting
  • Leadership Development (3 ECTS):
    Building a performance culture through successful leadership:
    • Indicators of successful leadership
    • Leadership training and leadership success measurement
    • Identification of leadership potential from the organization's perspective
    • Talent development and succession planning from the organization's perspective
    • Leadership culture diagnosis and design

  • Performance Management (3 ECTS):
    Developing and managing an organization's performance map:
    • The performance agreement process
    • Indicators for performance in various business functions
    • Performance and compensation
    • Processes and tools for performance measurement from an organizational perspective
    • Supporting transformation through HR management
  • HR Controlling (3 ECTS):
    Steering the efficiency of HR activities:
    • Workforce demand and cost planning
    • Proactive HRM controlling through KPIs
    • Approaches to cost minimization in HR
    • Designing efficient working time models
    • ESG reporting
  • Labor and Social Law (3 ECTS):
    HRM work on a legally secure basis:
    • The labor constitution
    • Basics of labor law regulations
    • Organization-specific regulations from a labor and social law perspective

  • Academic Writing (3 ECTS)
  • Research Methods (3 ECTS)

The topic of the master’s thesis must be taken from one of the specialization modules or has to be meaningfully related to one of these subjects. The selection of the topic is carried out in collaboration with the academic directors or the program management.

The master’s examination is taken orally before an examination board and is worth 1 ECTS credit point. Students may only take the master’s examination once they have successfully completed all other study achievements in the program. 

Core content and skills of the specialization

Facts at a glance

Duration
3 semesters, part-time
Degree
Master of Business Administration
Workload
90 ECTS
Language
German with selected courses in English
Location
University of Graz, in person (75 %) & online (25 %)
Price
EUR 23.900,–
Number of participants
20

Application & admission

Admission requirements
– Completion of a relevant bachelor’s degree program worth at least 180 ECTS credit points
– and at least two years of relevant professional experience
Start of studies
Thursday, 18 September 2025

Why this MBA?

25
Experience-oriented classroom sessions

Come to Graz and get to know the other participants and speakers. Our Executive Programs focus on personal exchange and interaction with your peers and experts in your field. Expand your network and take advantage of the opportunity to learn from the experiences of like-minded people.

25 %
Practice-oriented distance learning

Part of the program is conducted via online sessions. As a result, you can significantly save on travelling costs to and from the physical classrooms. Distance learning allows you to flexibly fit courses and sessions into your already busy schedule.

25+
First-rate speakers from academia and business

Leading economists and experienced top managers impart their extensive knowledge, share their experiences and empower you to reach your full potential.

Statements on the MBA

Andreas Trantura

Do you have any questions?
I am happy to help!

Andreas Trantura, BA MA
+43 316 380 - 1280

Downloads

Please note that these documents are available in German only.


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