Higher education field: 3. SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND LEGAL SCIENCES
Professional orientation: 3.7. ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
Educational qualification degree: MASTER
Professional qualification: ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
Study duration: 1 year / 1,5 years / 2 years
ECTS credits: 60 / 90 / 120
Form of education: FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, DISTANCE
Language ENGLISH
I. SPECIALTY PROFILE
The Master’s program “Smart Leadership” was developed within the framework of the professional field 3.7. “Administration and Management”. The program is offered in full-time, part-time and distance learning form for bachelors who have graduated from the Professional Field 3.7. “Administration and Management” – 1 year, for bachelors from other professional fields – 1.5 years, as well as for professional bachelors who have graduated from the MA 3.7. “Administration and Management” – 2 years. The changes in the environment and trends caused by the Fourth Industrial Revolution require the development of a new type of key competencies and skills by managers in organizations. Recent research shows that those companies survive in the market whose managers possess leadership qualities and manage to build corporate visions that, with their sustainability and value, engage not only employees, but also investors, consumers and society. In this regard, there is a need to develop not only theoretically prepared managers in higher education, but also managers who possess specific leadership practical abilities, orientation and attitude.
The international master’s program SMART LEADERSHIP is a master’s program that integrates the German leadership methodology Saynercube with new, modern and creative teaching methods and practical classes in a real business environment into complex, specialized and innovative training. The participation of internationally recognized teachers, researchers and experts from abroad in the training process makes the program relevant to the requirements not only of business in Bulgaria, but also in a global aspect.
The German methodology for building leaders Saynercube links leadership training with the needs of business and society by integrating theoretical and practical applied tools, building on the leadership skills of the trainees, making the training easy, accessible and practically oriented.
The international master’s program SMART LEADERSHIP is aimed at acquiring qualifications, professional competencies and leadership skills. The training emphasizes both personal management and leadership style and its impact on the team and the organization, as well as on the leadership of the organization in a relevant market niche, industry or region. The overall development of smart leaders is based on the development of their competence, analytical skills, creativity, visionary skills, communication and behavioral abilities.
II. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE SPECIALTY
The aim of the training in the International Master’s Program SMART LEADERSHIP is to form managers of a new type and SMART leaders, possessing theoretical preparation, knowledge, skills and competencies through which organizations add value and achieve leadership in their macro environment. The purpose of the training is related to the development of managers who are SMART leaders in an internal organizational plan:
• possessing specific theoretical and practical preparation;
• achieving measurable progress and efficiency;
• forming achievable visions and goals for the organizations in which they work;
• planning the activities of the organizations in which they work, relevant to the requirements and challenges of the environment;
• time-binding the mission, vision, goals, strategy, plans and operational activities.
Possessing these abilities by the leader in the organization leads to the achievement of leadership by it and in its external environment.
During the training in the International Master’s Program SMART LEADERSHIP, students build their abilities to:
• take initiative, through participation in various practical cases and games, as well as through practice in a real business environment;
• obtain information, through solving specific management and practical tasks set during practices and internships in a real business environment;
• present and argue an opinion during the implementation and reporting of tasks, cases and projects set during the training;
• resolve conflicts, through the use of the Saynercube leadership methodology toolkit;
• make decisions, through the tool for generating a tree of alternatives, evaluating alternative options and justifying the choice;
• deal with crisis situations, by building the abilities for adequacy in an environment of risk and uncertainty;
• deal with failure, based on developed analytical skills, the ability to measure risk and justify decisions;
• exercising criticism through the application of the rules of effective communication.
Active learning in the International Master’s Program SMART LEADERSHIP is achieved by establishing:
• symmetrical relationships and rational communication between trainer and trainee, changing the classical function of the trainer;
• individualization of training, because each leader is an infinite universe with a strictly expressed personal and value presence, qualitative characteristics and problem areas;
• constructivism, through which the trainee is accepted as an active self-organizing individual;
• learning through action (doing), interaction, multimedia, virtual and interactive platforms, through which students independently reach knowledge and apply it in specific practical cases or during internships and practices in a real environment.
Objectives:
1. Acquisition of modern knowledge, skills and competencies that are relevant to new trends in the field of smart leadership;
2. Creating appropriate conditions for an educational environment that motivates students to generate modern, up-to-date and reliable information about processes and business practices in smart leadership;
3. Stimulating the creative potential and abilities of students to solve cases and management situations from business practice, requiring innovative ideas and adequate behavior in a specific (practical) environment;
4. Promoting communication and open dialogue, a prerequisite for students’ research activity in the educational process, their scientific and artistic and creative activities;
5. Conditions for personal expression, ignoring differences and discrimination of students in the educational process, an equal start, regardless of their gender, physiology, age, ethnicity, etc.;
6. Inter-university and international mobility of students, allowing them to make a comparison with systems and good practices in the field of education and science – improving acquired knowledge, skills and professional experience;
7. Access of students to information resources and halls with modern equipment, which allow for an educational process combining theoretical knowledge and work in practical conditions;
8. Domestic, administrative and career support for students on the UTP campus, provision of scholarships, awards, certificates, etc.
The international master’s program SMART LEADERSHIP is a qualitatively new educational paradigm that integrates into a single and comprehensive system:
• globally recognizable leadership models such as the Saynercube model, patented in Germany;
• innovative interactive models of teaching and learning such as Internet platforms, innovative educational technologies “group dynamics”, “learning by experience”, “learning by one’s own conviction”;
• connection of leadership training with the needs of business and society;
• transdisciplinarity and internationalization of the curriculum;
• using difference and diversity as a resource that should be integrated into the team and lead to synergistic results correlating with organizational mission and vision;
• upgrading students’ theoretical knowledge with real practical skills;
• working in a business environment close to the real one;
• internships and practices in Bulgarian and foreign business organizations – leaders in the relevant industries or regional markets.
III. QUALIFICATION STANDARD
III.1. Structure and organization of the educational process
Teaching in the specialty “Smart Leadership” for the Master’s degree meets the European requirements for modern education, combined with tradition and practice of our and international experience. The specialty is distinguished by the specificity characteristic of smart leadership, qualified teachers with experience in the relevant scientific field are involved in the educational process.
The training of students for the acquisition of the educational and qualification degree “Master of Administration and Management” is carried out in accordance with the curriculum of the specialty SMART LEADERSHIP by studying the following groups of academic disciplines:
FUNDAMENTAL: Investment Project Management, Innovation and Creativity, Business Analysis, Communication and Negotiation Process.
SPECIALIZING: Leadership Management Styles, Business Leadership, Leadership Strategies, Project Management, Leadership and Competitiveness, Market Leadership and Brand.
SUPPORTING IMPLEMENTATION IN THE PROFESSIONAL SPHERE: Human Resources and Team Building, Quality Management Systems, Intellectual Property, Change Management, Leadership Psychology, Leadership and Power in Business Organizations, Team Interaction.
PRACTICALLY ORIENTED: Leadership Management – practice in the training process, conducted in organizations from the real public, business and non-governmental sectors abroad.
The methodology of teaching, training and assessment is in line with the European forms and directives for quality of education and lifelong learning. The specialty applies cutting-edge and effective forms of training, combining theory and practice of leading companies in the country and abroad. The emphasis is on modern, non-traditional, innovative and creative teaching methods, implemented through forms of business and role-playing games, theoretical and practical cases, seminar discussions, development of abstracts and essays, coursework and projects in a real environment.
The practical training of students in the International Master’s Program SMART LEADERSHIP includes:
• solving practical cases;
• exchange of experience between participants;
• training in a real business environment;
• annual practice in business organizations abroad.
Based on the studied curriculum, general theoretical and specialized training is formed, practical skills and competencies for applying innovative and creative leadership behavior, decision-making in conditions of crisis and global instability, cases and tasks related to effective leadership in the organization and the organization in its dynamic macro environment are developed.
The training process is accompanied by lectures and demonstrations, individual and group tasks, subsequent solutions, practical examples and visits to organizations. To stimulate student activity in the practices, emphasis is placed on observation, information and knowledge, creativity, public speaking skills and presentation techniques, challenges for independent work and work with others, abilities for personal, interpersonal assessment, etc.
The assessment of acquired knowledge, skills and habits is carried out within the discipline (module, project, assignment) through a written exam (test or open questions) or based on the forms listed above – coursework, essays, case studies, presentations, practices.
III.2. Acquired knowledge, skills and competences
The training in the specialty “Smart Leadership” covers theoretical training and practice, oriented towards leaders, acquiring knowledge, skills and competencies in the field of intangible production. Their framework is consistent with national legislation, European directives and requirements for acquiring higher education. This creates an opportunity for students to be adequate to the new trends in occupying professions and positions on a national and international scale, to integrate into the requirements of the EU and to respond to the challenges in a constantly globalizing market and digital economy.
According to the National Qualification Framework, students acquire the following knowledge, skills and competencies:
Successful graduates of the program must possess in-depth knowledge of:
• the essence of leadership and its role in the globalizing world;
• the mechanisms for forming the main leadership policies and decision-making processes;
• modern tools for interaction between organizations from the business sector in the globalizing world.
Skills acquired after completing the master’s degree are:
• application of theoretical knowledge in researching and evaluating real facts and phenomena from economic and business practice;
• goal-setting of business strategies and flexible and innovative management in order to achieve leadership in a dynamic, competitive and globalized market;
• integration of the acquired creative abilities for expert analysis and assessment of complex business problems and situations in the development of alternative options for management solutions;
• use of purposeful and adequate acquired communication skills (including for negotiations, teamwork, etc.).
Competencies acquired as a result of the master’s degree are:
• management of teams;
• management of innovations and SMART technologies;
• implementation of strategies for achieving leadership by organizations;
• management of projects leading to leadership of organizations;
• building a corporate culture and image of the organization.
IV. MAIN RESULTS OF THE STUDIES
The training in the specialty “Smart Leadership” is carried out in accordance with the requirements for holding an educational and qualification degree “Master” in accordance with the European Directives for the training of students and holding positions according to the unified classification of positions in the Republic of Bulgaria.
Those who have received the EQD “Master” can successfully implement themselves in the administration and management of organizations and institutions, on a national and international scale, in EU institutions, in consulting and research units.
V. STANDARD ADMISSION CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS. RULES FOR PREVIOUS STUDIES RECOGNITION
During the course of study (after successfully passing exams), students of the specialty may transfer to another higher education institution or be accepted by one in the country and abroad, as the disciplines in which they were trained:
– are equated as mandatory (or are similar), according to the curriculum;
– are recognized as elective, if they correspond to the professional field;
– are accepted as optional, if they correspond to those set out in the curriculum.
The conditions and requirements for admission and the procedure for recognizing previous education are regulated on the basis of national regulatory bases and European directives, internal regulatory acts of the UTP, Regulations on the organization and activities of UTP, Regulation on educational activities at UTP.
VI. REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
The entire course of study ends with the defense of a Master thesis. Students who complete the full course of study in the specialty “Smart Leadership” receive an educational and qualification degree “Master” in professional field 3.7. “Administration and Management”, professional qualification “Administration and Management” in accordance with the National Classifier of Higher Education Fields and Professional Fields, and in accordance with the state requirements for acquiring higher education in the Republic of Bulgaria.
VII. OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL REALIZATION
Graduates of the Master’s program can find professional realization:
• in EU institutions and other European and international business organizations – as managers and experts;
• in state and territorial administration, public service organizations, etc.;
• in business sector – in companies whose business operates within the EU single market;
• in consulting and research units that directly support the absorption of EU funds;
• in the non-governmental sector – in organizations that protect interests in a European environment.
The Master in SMART LEADERSHIP has the necessary theoretical and practical preparation for continuing education in the educational and scientific degree “doctor”. Training in the Master’s educational and qualification degree creates prerequisites for research and scientific and applied work, as well as for presenting research results in the form of scientific publications for participation in specialized scientific and applied and business forums.
Head of Department “Management in Communications”:
/Assoc. prof. Vihra Dimitrova, PhD/
Dean of “Faculty of Telecommunications and Management”:
/Prof. Eng. Plamen Pavlov, PhD/
Approved by the DC of Department “MC”: Protocol № 22 / 29.05.2025.
Approved by the FC of the FTM of UTP: Protocol № …../ …….2025
Approved by the AC of UTP: Protocol № ……. / ……..2025