Media & Communication

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation

The Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation (EMMLI) is an MBA-style programme designed to improve media viability by strengthening leadership and promoting innovative solutions to the media's current and future challenges. The programme develops media leaders who can think broadly about their organisation's future and find innovative and sustainable solutions. Participants develop leadership skills to advance vision and strategy, and foster innovation and entrepreneurial skills.

The curriculum covers media leadership, innovation management, entrepreneurial skills, digital media strategy, financial management, and organisational transformation. Students engage with real-world media challenges, developing practical solutions for media organisations. The programme is designed for mid-career media professionals seeking leadership qualifications.

The media industry in Kenya and East Africa is undergoing significant transformation due to digital disruption, changing audience behaviours, and evolving business models. Media organisations require leaders who can navigate these changes, innovate business models, and ensure sustainability. The programme addresses the demand for executive-level media leadership training.

The programme is delivered in a blended format, combining online learning through Moodle with face-to-face sessions on Fridays and Saturdays. This format accommodates working professionals. Teaching methods include case studies, project-based learning, leadership simulations, and peer learning. The programme emphasises practical application of leadership and innovation concepts to real media challenges.

Graduates find employment as media executives, content directors, digital media managers, media entrepreneurs, or communication consultants in media houses, digital media companies, corporate communication departments, and media development organisations. The executive master's degree supports careers in media leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

This programme is ideal for mid-career media professionals with at least five years of experience seeking executive leadership qualifications. The programme provides advanced skills for media leadership, innovation, and organisational transformation.

Duration: 2 years
Private, up to: Ksh 450,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Blended (Online and Face-to-face)
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Master

What you study

8 subjects

Media Leadership
Innovation Management
Digital Media Strategy
Entrepreneurship
Financial Management
Organisational Transformation
Media Business Models
Strategic Communication

Modules

5 in the programme

Media Leadership and Vision
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Leadership theories and practices applied to media organisations, including vision development and strategic leadership.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Media
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Innovation management and entrepreneurial skills for creating new media ventures and transforming existing organisations.
Digital Media Strategy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Digital transformation strategies for media organisations, including platform strategies, audience engagement, and monetisation.
Financial Management for Media Organisations
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Financial management principles applied to media organisations, including revenue models, cost management, and sustainability.
Capstone Project in Media Innovation
Year 2Semester 16 creditsCore
A practical capstone project addressing a real media leadership or innovation challenge, demonstrating application of programme learning.

Specialisations

Media Business Management
Focus on financial management, business models, and organisational leadership in media organisations.
Digital Media Innovation
Focus on digital transformation, platform strategies, and technological innovation in media.
Media Entrepreneurship
Focus on creating and scaling new media ventures and entrepreneurial approaches to media challenges.

A day as a student

A typical day combines online learning with face-to-face sessions. Students engage with case studies on media leadership, participate in strategy discussions, develop innovation proposals, and work on real-world media challenges. Face-to-face sessions on Fridays and Saturdays provide intensive interaction with faculty and peers. Online components include readings, discussions, and project work through Moodle. The programme emphasises practical leadership application and peer learning among media professionals.

The trade offs

In its favour

Unique executive programme specifically designed for media leadership and innovation in East Africa.
Blended learning format accommodates working professionals with face-to-face sessions on weekends.
Offered by AKU's Graduate School of Media and Communications, a specialised media school with industry connections.

Against it

Offered at only one institution, limiting accessibility.
Private university fees are relatively high compared to public institutions.
Requires minimum five years of professional experience, limiting eligibility for early-career professionals.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 106 media & communication courses

Private450k to 450k

450k at Aga Khan University450k at Aga Khan University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

AKU EMMLI KES 225K/sem=450K/yr (victormatara.com). AKU-specific; no public provider found.

AKU may offer scholarships or financial aid for eligible students. Aga Khan Foundation scholarships may be available for media professionals.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

Alternative entry: Four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited university with minimum CGPA of 3.00 and at least five years of professional experience in a related field. Candidates with CGPA of 2.50 may be considered with at least seven years of proven media experience.

How you are assessed

3 components

Coursework and Case Studies
Written examination40% of the mark
Coursework assessments, case study analyses, and strategy proposals evaluating leadership and innovation understanding.
Class Participation and Peer Learning
Practical20% of the mark
Active participation in face-to-face sessions, online discussions, and peer learning activities.
Capstone Project
Project40% of the mark
A practical capstone project addressing a real media leadership or innovation challenge, presented to a panel.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) through Aga Khan University, a chartered private university.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by CUE through Aga Khan University, a chartered private university.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Media Executive
Moderate demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 800,000
Leads media organisations as CEO, managing director, or senior executive, driving strategy and innovation.
Digital Media Manager
High demand
Manages digital media operations, developing online strategies and leading digital transformation in media organisations.
Media Entrepreneur
Moderate demand
Founded and runs innovative media ventures, applying entrepreneurial skills to create sustainable media businesses.
Communication Consultant
Moderate demand
Provides consultancy on media strategy, content innovation, and organisational transformation for media and corporate clients.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates find employment as media executives, content directors, digital media managers, media entrepreneurs, and communication consultants in media houses, digital media companies, corporate communication departments, and media development organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Industry links

Common misconceptions

EMMLI is a traditional journalism degree.
EMMLI is an executive MBA-style programme focused on media leadership, innovation, and business management, not journalism skills.
Only journalists should apply to EMMLI.
The programme is designed for all media professionals including managers, entrepreneurs, and communication specialists with relevant experience.
Executive master's degrees are not as rigorous as traditional master's programmes.
EMMLI maintains academic rigour while focusing on practical leadership and innovation challenges faced by media organisations.
Media leadership training is not relevant in Kenya.
Kenya's media industry is undergoing significant transformation, creating demand for trained media leaders who can navigate digital disruption.