MA in Technology Governance and Sustainability

Complete 120 ECTS credits to fulfill the academic requirements

• General studies- cover topics of entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology governance and how the growing focus on sustainability changes our understanding and core principles of these processes
• Core studies- provide an overview of different approaches to economic development and innovation, and show the interrelationships between the main elements of the economy - finance, production capital (technology), socio-political framework (institutions) - and their role in promoting innovation and sustainable development
• Special studies- deepen the knowledge on (a) innovation, technological developments, and the supportive socio-institutional environment; (b) governance of these aspects with a focus on leading and managing sustainability transitions, technological change, and innovation
• Free choice module- allows students to choose subjects according to their needs and preferences
• Consulting Lab- during the internship, students apply the knowledge acquired from the program on specific challenges and projects of the internship organization (public, private, or international) and develop a report helping these organizations to improve and modernize their managerial and governing practices
• Graduation thesis - students carry out academic research on a specific technology governance and sustainability topic, and demonstrate capabilities of a systemic approach to the use of data, appropriate and sound analysis, and critical assessment of findings

Aims and Objectives

• To give an overview and systemic knowledge of different practical and theoretical approaches to economic development, technology, innovation, governance, and their interrelationships, while covering also the increasing role and significance of de-growth, green growth, digital transformation, and other practices for sustainable development and technology governance.
• To provide students with an understanding of the role of different societal stakeholders in contributing to competitiveness, technological development, social cohesion, and sustainable development and in creating the required knowledge base.
• To explain the nature of innovation and technology in the light of different disciplines, including diverse streams of economics, governance, technology studies, political science, and history.
• To develop interdisciplinary skills and prepare: (a) public servants and policy-makers who are able to analyse the most up-to-date issues of technological and socio-economic development, solve wicked issues and contradictions of socio-economic development, and to develop knowledge-based policies to be able to address these challenges, and to run public sector organizations dynamically and in an innovation-supporting way; (b) private and third sector staff capable of analysing the most up-to-date issues of technological and socio-economic development, green transition and sustainable development, and understanding the societal changes, contradictions and opportunities created by technological and economic developments; (c) middle and top level managers in the private and the third sector who collaborate with the public sector to understand the peculiarities of the public sector, and thus cooperate with the state in the areas of technological development, innovation, and sustainable development.
• To develop students' ability to carry out independent research and prepare them for doctoral studies.

Learning Outcomes

• Knows the basic concepts and developments in the fields of economics, sustainability studies, technology and innovation studies, and governance, and explains the interrelationships between these areas
• Understands the role of innovation, digital and other technology-led transformations in society, public sector, and in the broader context of sustainable transitions
• Outlines the most important factors for ensuring sustainable socio-economic transitions, increasing the welfare of a society, and enhancing the country’s competitiveness
• Presents theoretical positions and criticism of the field-related scientific disciplines
• Identifies the relationships between the theoretical positions and practice, and demonstrates critical-analytical capacities in conducting various analyses
• Independently formulates specialisation-specific real-life problems and research questions, and solves them under the given conditions with adequate methods. He/she is able to critically evaluate his/her approach to solving research problems
• Identifies and knows how to develop capabilities required for managing transforming and innovation-supporting organizations and demonstrates the ability to adapt to complex, high-risk situations by being aware of the ethical aspects, opportunities, constraints and the social role of his/her activities
• Demonstrates the ability to initiate, organize and plan, and has acquired teamwork skills and willingness to work in the field of research or development and broader analytics (consultancy, research and innovation teams), and is able to convey knowledge through teaching, consulting and supervising.

The Program is Designed for Those Who Want to Know

• The dynamics of techno- and social innovation and the role of different actors (entrepreneurs, large companies, governments, and most of all, humans) in these dynamics and in steering innovation towards a more sustainable future
• The heterodox perspectives of economic development and innovation processes, i.e. systems of innovation, evolutionary, post-Keynesian, commons-based, or non-Western
• The role and nature of technology, including its critique, and, in particular, the meaning and management of digital transformation, and its impact on the economy, society, government, and people.

The program is a unique Master’s degree. It prepares globally desired experts in understanding, leading, and managing sustainability transitions, technological changes, and innovations. Our graduates will be able to find future careers in sustainability and innovation-centered public and international bodies as well as private firms and community-based organizations, either as sustainability and innovation experts, managers, or analysts. The program also provides excellent competitive competencies for continuing your academic career as a researcher in academic institutions or pursuing Ph.D. studies, as our impressive track record shows. Many of our own researchers and professors - Prof. Dr. Vasileios Kostakis, Dr. Christos Giotitsas, Dr. Egert Juuse, and others - have grown out of this unique MA program.

Career Paths of Our Alumni

JP Morgan Stanley, Parthenon-EY, EY Innovalue Management Partner GmbH, OECD, Government Office of the Republic of Estonia, E-Estonia Showroom, Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Competence Center of Food and Fermentation Technologies, Tallinn City Enterprise Department, Office of the State Minister of Georgia, Czechinvest, Ministry of Finance of Republic of Latvia, Cevea (think- tank), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro etc.

Other Potential Employers

• International organizations (UN, EU)
• Governmental institutions (central banks, ministries dealing with development and digitalization affairs)
• Non-governmental organizations (science and technology parks, development agencies, think tanks, etc.)
• Technology-intensive private companies.