Digital Leadership at the mdh

The visit: the Samurai Museum Berlin at the mdh

On 13 July 2026, Alexander Jöchel, Director of the Samurai Museum Berlin, was a guest at the mdh. The museum was recently nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award 2026 — one of only 34 museums from 17 countries across Europe.

What the students worked on:

How can a modern museum make its revenue strategy less dependent on visitor numbers alone? 
Students from Prof. Dr. Mario Lucas's Digital Leadership Master's presented digital business strategies in response. In parallel, media-design students from Prof. Carsten Giese showed tangible product prototypes for the museum shop — to touch, try out and evaluate on the spot.

Between pitches, prototypes and direct feedback, one thing quickly became clear: strategy work only works when you test it against real products and real challenges.

The takeaway

A practice partner like the Samurai Museum gives students the chance to test theory against reality while they are still studying — from strategy to shelf. It's why the mdh keeps its teaching close to practice and continues to build these industry partnerships step by step.

What does the Master's in Digital Leadership entail?

The Master's in Digital Leadership (M.A.) at the mdh in Berlin combines strategic management, digital strategy and creative-industry expertise into a single, integrated skill set. Rather than discussing frameworks only in the lecture hall, students work on real challenges from real partner companies — from tech innovation and digital change management to artificial intelligence. The programme is taught entirely in English on the mdh's Berlin campus, making it open to students from Germany and abroad.

At a glance:

• Degree: Master of Arts (90 ECTS)
• Duration: 3–5 semesters — full-time or part-time alongside work
• Start: 1 October 2026 (winter semester) or 1 April 2027 (summer semester)
• Language: English
• Campus: Berlin, Germany (on-site)
• Hands-on share: 30% real-world projects with partner companies

Want to apply for the Master's in Digital Leadership? → Request info material now