ObjectivesThe programme aims to prepare students for positions in policy and management areas dealing with science, technology and innovation, primarily in public sector agencies, consultancies, professional and industry associations, trade unions and similar organisations. The programme covers theoretical and thematic grounding in sociological, economic and related treatments of science and technology. It also covers generic policy and management issues in science, technology and innovation and approaches to them.
Academic titleMSc Science and Technology Policy and Management
Course descriptionIt introduces appropriate disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, gives students opportunities to share and reflect on their experiences in practice, and to deal with issues relevant to the organisations and contexts they work in. Two specialist routes are offered: information and communication technologies; and life sciences and biotechnology.
Learning Outcomes
Students who follow this programme will be able to: * demonstrate substantive knowledge and understanding of a selection of important policy and management issues in science, technology and innovation; * identify and characterise key theoretical approaches to understanding issues in science, technology and innovation, understand and evaluate policy and management processes and interventions in those areas; * critically evaluate contributions to the academic and public debates on these issues, and decisions on them; * apply these understandings and skills and deploy these approaches, concepts and techniques in analysing a new problem in policy or management in science, technology and innovation.
How You Will Be Taught
Learning is based a combination of lectures, seminars, directed and self-directed reading, and supervised work on a project which may include some original research. Coursework is mainly assessed through essays and shorter written exercises. The project leads to a 15,000-word dissertation.