DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
SEK 207,000 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU / EEA citizens | exchange students are not required to pay fees
Key Summary
Introduction
This programme provides you with relevant analytical skills and innovative tools for supply chain management to deal with complex issues caused by an unsustainable fashion and textile industry. You will gain advanced knowledge of textile value chain processes and specialise in the management of different parts of the supply chain. In this way, you will learn how to design and manage systems to work towards more sustainable fashion and textiles. The main emphasis on sustainability is also an important area of research throughout the Swedish School of Textiles.
Our programme in short
Our programme offers a good mix of theoretical and practical courses, where scientific foundations of textile management are applied within the courses for addressing complex research and business challenges in a more profession-oriented way. Textile management is a multidisciplinary area with a foundation in social science research fields such as business administration, industrial economy, fashion studies, and related areas that address phenomena important for the textile and fashion industry. Within textile management, phenomena related to different parts of the textile value chain are studied. Sustainability is a common theme throughout all the courses in the programme. These include the development of alternative business models, sustainable trade, and distribution with safe and effective systems for textile value chains and product flows.
Programme structure
This two-year Master’s programme comprises four terms of full-time studies. The courses offered are strongly rooted in current issues in the textile and fashion industry as well as current research in textile management with a focus on sustainability and digital transformation.
During the first year, the programme provides in-depth knowledge of theory development, issues, methods, and current research in textile management. The year ends with the course Field Study in Textile Management, which gives the opportunity to pursue internships, create a foundation for your upcoming business, or to be a research assistant in one of the research groups in textile management.
During the second year, the knowledge and skills obtained during the first year are deepened with focus on the management of textile value chains. In this regard, theoretical approaches introduced in the courses on supply chain management within the first year are transferred into more applied contexts Areas in focus are e.g., risk management, traceability, demand forecasts, and how the innovative management of textile value chains and product development can contribute to competitive advantages and the reduction of negative sustainability impacts.
The programme concludes with a degree project yielding 30 ECTS credits in which students further specialise in a topic of their choice related to textile value chain management.
Career Opportunities
This programme prepares students for advanced positions in the industry as well as academia. Previous students have found employment as, for example, sustainability manager, CSR manager, assistant buyer, product development, sourcing manager, quality assurance coordinator, strategic procurement manager, business developer, managing director, design coordinator, as well as establishing their own business. You can also continue your studies and pursue a doctorate.
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarship options are available, please visit the university website for more information.
Curriculum
Term One establishes the study method that characterizes the educational program and the student should when the term has concluded, have a good knowledge of information retrieval and source criticism. This is achieved through varying the work approaches in the four courses of the term so that the student works, both individually and in different group constellations, to search for and present (in writing and orally) current research on the issues being dealt with. The teaching consists of both traditional lectures that introduce different themes and seminars in which students are assigned roles as speakers, discussion leaders, or discussants.
The courses during the first term aim to broaden and deepen the students’ knowledge gained from their earlier Bachelor's education. As the program has a broadened admission from several different disciplines, a significant focus is on providing good basic knowledge of theories in supply chain management and fashion studies, textile materials and production knowledge, as well as business models and strategic management. In addition, students take a course in methods that build on the knowledge they students bring from their bachelor's level educations. The teaching is based on methodological questions and scientific theoretical considerations in published research, which is linked to the texts from methodological literature. Through this method, students acquire in-depth knowledge of the design and implementation of research in textile management and are expected to be able to independently orient themselves in the different research areas within textile management.
During the first term, students take the following courses (some changes in the order of courses may occur):
- Business and management in the textile fashion industry
- Sustainability-oriented business models in apparel and textile industry
- Theoretical Foundations of Supply Chain Management and Fashion Studies
- On Methodology and the Philosophy of Science in Textile Management
- Business Strategy and Strategic Management
This course can be replaced with an elective course at the university. However, this is subject to availability and must be approved by the Program Coordinator.
Term Two, the students take two parallel courses with a focus on providing a deepened perspective on textile management which simultaneously form the basis of the two specializations in the subject, i.e. fashion management and marketing as well as the governance of textile value chains. During the last period of the second term, the student carries out either independent research work in collaboration with companies in the region and/or one of the University of Borås’s research programs or an internship, all within the framework of the course Field Study in Textile Management. The course is intended to give the students deepened knowledge and application of textile management based on the knowledge they have gained during the first year.
During the second term, students take the following courses (some changes in the order of courses may occur):
- Fashion Retail Marketing and Communication
- This course can be replaced with an elective course at the university. However, this is subject to availability and must be approved by the Program Coordinator.
- This course can be replaced with an elective course at the university. However, this is subject to availability and must be approved by the Program Coordinator.
- Sustainable supply chain management in apparel and textile
- Field Study in Textile Management
- An intermediate exit point after half of the study period is allowed provided that the student has passed the courses in terms one and two as well as replaced the course Field Study in Textile Management (15 credits) with Independent Work for the Master's Degree in Textile Management
Term Three consists of four courses, all of which provide an in-depth study in the main field of textile management with a special focus on input flow in the textile value chain. During the third term, students take the following courses (some changes in the order of courses may occur):
- Demand Forecasting (7.5. ECTS credits), main area: Textile Management (A1F)
- Textile applications of textile value chain management (7.5 ECTS credits), main area: Textile Management (A1F)
- Risk and Resilience in Textile Supply Chains (7.5 ECTS credits), main area: Textile Management (A1F), Industrial Economics (A1F)
- Traceability in the textile value chain (7.5 ECTS credits), main area: Textile Management (A1F)
Term Four, the student conducts an independent research project that results in a Master's thesis of 30 ECTS credits (main area Textile Management A2E).
The Master&rsquo's thesis should be highly relevant for the development of knowledge in textile management and for its practice. The student is expected to demonstrate a critical approach and a high awareness of social science methodology and its application. If the student has completed a Master's degree of 15 ECTS credits, this will be replaced by the course Field Study in Textile Management of 15 ECTS credits.
Program Outcome
This programme serves to supplement an existing education with competences related to textile value chain management. The career paths thus dependent on the background of the student in terms of undergraduate study. Previous students have found employment as for example CSR manager, sustainability strategist, assistant buyer, product development assistant, quality assurance coordinator, strategic procurement manager, supply chain and production team leader, business developer, material development manager, business controller, as well as established their own business.