AI for Digital Business

Program Overview

The AI for Digital Business MSc program at the University of Liverpool Management School equips students with advanced knowledge and skills in AI, emerging technologies, and digital business strategies. Through coursework, simulations, and software applications, graduates are prepared for high-demand roles in industries leveraging AI and digital technologies to drive innovation and enhance competitiveness.

Program Outline

The program aims to equip students with the latest AI and digital technology knowledge and skills, making them highly sought after by businesses and the public sector. The program focuses on:

• Strategic understanding of AI and emerging technologies: Students will gain a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges presented by AI and other emerging technologies, such as robotics, enterprise resource planning, the Internet of Things (IoT), data science, 3D printing, machine learning, intelligent agents, and blockchain.
• Benefitting globally-connected organizations: Students will learn how to leverage AI and digital technologies to create new market opportunities, automate processes, harness the potential of data, and transform relationships with customers and suppliers.
• Developing a profound understanding of AI: The program provides a thorough exploration of the opportunities, challenges, and latest thinking in AI, including hands-on experience with software such as ChatGPT Pro, RStudio, Tableau, Qlik, SAP, and Witness.

Outline:

The 12-month full-time program consists of five compulsory modules and three optional modules, followed by a final project over the summer period.

Semester One:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Digital Business Technology and Management (EBUS603):
This module provides a critical awareness of the management approaches and technologies used in the development and delivery of digital business and AI solutions. It covers topics such as types of digital businesses, their innovation, management approaches, data-related technologies, and emerging AI and machine learning technologies for digital businesses.
• AI Applications and Innovations (EBUS637): This module examines the processes associated with identifying, implementing, and managing innovative AI applications within organizations.
Students will learn how to align these initiatives with overarching business objectives and strategies, explore the fundamentals of generative AI and its applications, and gain a well-rounded perspective on the dynamic landscape of artificial intelligence through hands-on projects and case studies.
• Optional Modules:
• OPERATIONS MODELLING AND SIMULATION (EBUS504): This module provides students with an understanding of the role of modelling and simulation in the development and improvement of business processes in a commercial environment.
It covers analytical techniques of systems, statistical aspects of modelling, and system dynamics, using commercially available modelling and simulation tools such as Matlab and Witness. It provides students with the necessary tools, techniques, and analytical skills required to strategically manage new and existing projects within the current uncertain business environment.

Semester Two:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Digital Strategy (EBUS605):
This module provides a comprehensive understanding of the processes involved in developing a digital business strategy, leveraging the transformative capabilities of AI technologies. It covers topics such as strategy formulation, emergent digital business models, business process re-design for digital business, digital business applications and technologies, and managing and planning for digital business with a particular emphasis on harnessing AI technologies to optimize operational efficiency and drive strategic agility. It provides students with knowledge of enterprise system architecture and technologies in general, and roles and functions of enterprise systems and business information management for digital business and supply chain management in particular.
• Optional Modules:
It familiarizes students with existing platforms and software tools used for big data analytics and develops core skills and expertise needed by data scientists for processing and visualising big data.

Final Project:

• Compulsory Modules:
Students will conduct independent theoretical and practical research to address set questions in areas related to operations, technology, supply chain, and project management within an academic framework.
• MSC PROJECT (EBUS621): This module comprises two elements: research methods and the dissertation.
The research methods element introduces students to the principles and practices of researching and writing dissertations, resulting in an agreed outline plan of work for the dissertation and a completed literature review. The dissertation itself will be undertaken over the summer period and will involve the implementation of the research work plan and the completion of a 15,000-word dissertation.

Assessment:

Assessment methods vary across modules and may include:

• Coursework
• Essays
• Group work
• Presentations
• Case studies
• Negotiation exercises
• Reports
• Examinations
The weighting of individual components will vary from one module to another.

Teaching:

Modules are taught using a variety of active learning techniques, including:

• Business simulations
• Real-world case studies
• AI software (e.g., Hugging Face, ChatGPT Pro)
• Coding in higher-level programming languages (e.g., RStudio)
• Business analytics software (e.g., Tableau, Qlik, SAP)
• Simulation modelling software (e.g., Witness)
• Interactive participation software
• Lecture capture
• Tutorials
• Project work
The principal forms of teaching are lectures and seminars or computer labs, with most sessions normally supported by additional resources such as hand-outs and online materials accessible via the virtual learning environment (Canvas).

Careers:

Effective technology management is essential to competitive performance, so AI and digital technology knowledge and skills are highly sought after by employers. Graduates from this program will be prepared for a wide range of opportunities in industries/sectors such as:

• Healthcare
• Manufacturing
• Retail and e-commerce
• Financial services
• Logistics and transportation
• IT
• Food
• Travel
• Government and the public sector

Other:

• The program is delivered by the triple-accredited University of Liverpool Management School.
• The School has a thriving international master’s community with a comprehensive, interdisciplinary program of social and extra-curricular events and dedicated careers and employability support.
• International students could be eligible to receive a discount of up to £5,000 off their tuition fees with the University of Liverpool Postgraduate Global Advancement Scholarship.

• UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)
Full-time place, per year £13,750 Part-time place, per year £6,875
• International fees
Full-time place, per year £28,000 Part-time place, per year £14,000 Fees stated are for the 2024-25 academic year. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support. You can pay your tuition fees in installments. All or part of your tuition fees can be funded by external sponsorship. International applicants who accept an offer of a place will need to pay a tuition fee deposit.