Master's Programme in Sociotechnical Systems and Sustainability Transitions
Climate change and the green transition bring new challenges to technological, economic, political, and social relations and circumstances.
There is a growing need to solve complex problems of the future and the sustainability crisis at the interface between people and technology. Society and people depend on the functioning of energy, water, and food systems. Making these sociotechnical systems more sustainable, just and equitable for people and nature globally and locally is at the heart of this master’s programme.
As a social scientist with a strong multidisciplinary background, you will gain knowledge and a wide range of skills to analyse social, economic, political, and technological aspects of energy, water, and food-related systems and develop these systems towards resource sustainability.
You can work in a variety of managerial and expert roles. Job titles may include public relations manager, business unit manager, consultant, sustainability expert or data analyst.
The programme also invites you to engage with entrepreneurs and associations, enabling you to build networks and learn from real-life cases.
What will you learn in the programme?
By graduation, you will have gained expertise in the functioning of energy, food, and water systems critical to society, the economy, and our well-being. You will be able to analyse and address the sustainability challenges of these systems at the global and local levels. You will also have acquired knowledge to plan and develop the governance and cooperation of different public and private actors and organisations. A deep understanding of ethics and a just energy, water and food transition will be your strengths in the working world.
You will:
- acquire knowledge concerning energy, food and water systems and their role in sustainability transitions;
- understand the governance of sociotechnical systems;
- obtain skills to analyse environmental, social, and economic impacts of the energy, food and water system transition at the global and local levels;
- apply innovative thinking and problem-solving to energy, food and water systems.
Degree structure and studies
The Master's Programme in Sociotechnical Systems and Sustainability Transitions is a two-year programme. It leads to the degree of Master of Social Sciences, M.Soc.Sc., which is 120 ECTS credits.
The programme includes core, advanced specialisation, language and multidisciplinary studies on critical systems of society as well as a master’s thesis. Read more in the curriculum.
Career prospects
As a graduate of this programme, you will be able to understand the requirements of the sustainability transition and the governance of various sociotechnical systems in transition processes. The programme includes solution-oriented approaches and focuses on decision-making at global, national and local levels.
Possible jobs after graduation include data analyst, director of social responsibility, head of a business unit, officer in sustainability administration, project manager, sustainability specialist or sustainability consultant.
You will also have a firm basis for doctoral studies in the field of social sciences.
