Innovation and Sustainability for International Development (2013 entry)

MSc, 1 year full time/2 years part time

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Subject overview

SPRU – Science and Technology Policy Research was ranked 2nd science and policy think tank in the UK and 11th in the world (University of Pennsylvania: Global Go-To Think-Tanks Report 2012).

SPRU has a student community of more than 90 doctoral and 100 Masters students, supported by about 50 research and teaching faculty.

Students come to SPRU with strong first degrees in the sciences and engineering, as well as in the social sciences. We provide systematic education and training for students interested in analysing and guiding policy, assessing the impact of policy, and managing scientific change and technological innovation within public-sector organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and companies.

SPRU is recognised internationally as being at the forefront of research in the field of science and technology policy and innovation management.

SPRU’s multidisciplinary and international orientation provides a unique perspective on policy and management issues in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, in North America and Japan, and also in the industrialising countries of Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Our MSc and research degrees have extensive links with business and policy-making organisations, and emphasis is given to strengthening students’ skills and competencies for employment.

Programme outline

Technological innovation lies at the heart of strategies to achieve sustainable growth and well-being in developing countries. However, the impact of new technologies on individuals and their environment is highly dependent on the choices made by policy-makers, scientists and companies at different levels. International development agencies are increasingly recognising that science and technology policy choices for sustainable growth and well-being in developing countries need expertise more grounded in innovation theory.

This degree provides you with a systematic knowledge of the processes of technical change, scientific advances and innovation activities in public and private organisations – at the local and global level – that can (or cannot) foster economic development and lead countries out of poverty.

The degree will enable you to critically address the key issues and controversies in the academic and political circles related to the impact of science, technology and innovation in the context of industrial, economic and sustainable development policies. You will be able to understand and critically address the issues above by using a range of interdisciplinary perspectives and methodologies, including understanding of theoretical frameworks, empirical analysis, use of bodies of evidence and case studies. You will also be able to develop a range of research, presentation, problem-solving and negotiation skills that will prepare you for careers in academia, government agencies, international development agencies, business and consultancy and NGOs.

In the spring term, you can specialise in a Sustainability pathway focusing on environmental and societal sustainability at large, or on a Technology and economic growth pathway, focusing on technology policy and capabilities building for economic growth in developing countries. The MSc will integrate ideas from economics, innovation studies, policy studies, environment and development but it assumes no previous training in these areas.

This MSc is uniquely positioned at the interface of SPRU’s three core pillars of expertise:

  • science and technology
  • innovation
  • sustainability.

You will greatly benefit from the vibrant research community at SPRU, world-leading in the areas of science technology and innovation analysis and policy, and interact with researchers who publish extensively in these areas with a high degree of national and international policy impact.

We continue to develop and update our modules for 2013 entry to ensure you have the best student experience. In addition to the course structure below, you may find it helpful to refer to the 2012 modules tab.

Autumn term: Science, Technology and Innovation for Economic Development • Sustainability: an Introduction for International Development. 

Spring term: Building Innovation Systems for Development • Introduction to Statistical and Research Methods • Perspectives, Methods and Skills • Technology and Human Development. You also choose one option from Energy and Development • Innovation for Sustainability • Information and Communication Technology Policy Strategy • Managing Knowledge • Statistical Methods for Science, Technology and Innovation Studies. 

Summer term: supervised dissertation. 

Assessment 

Modules are assessed by a combination of analysis assignments, project presentations, extended essays and a dissertation. 

Back to module list

Building Innovation Systems for Development

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

Information and Communication Technology Policy and Strategy

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The course provides you with an overview of the strategic management and policy issues raised by the production and use of advanced information and communication technologies and services. Perspectives are drawn from economics, management and organisation theory, as well as political science and sociology. The focus is on the evolution of a complex technical system in the wider contexts of emerging user requirements in the public and private sectors. Much of the course is centred around the implications of the internet, particularly in terms of media conversion, regulation, productivity and employment, intellectual property rights and electronic commerce.

Innovation for Sustainability

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This course explores the role innovation can play in sustainable development in industrialised and developing countries, including (but not limited to) its importance in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Key ideas include past and current theory on sustainability, growth and competitiveness (with specific reference to the role of technology), understanding and influencing directions of innovation, and the governance of socio-technical transitions. You will explore specific topics within each key idea, such as social and technical innovations in energy and resource use efficiency; economic and other policy instruments to promote such innovations; barriers to the diffusion of sustainable innovations; the role of innovative green niches in systems transformations; and the challenges of international co-ordination. These will be illustrated with reference to real world cases in the manufacturing, housing, agriculture and energy sectors.

Introduction to Statistical Research Methods

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

The course aims to provide you with a basic understanding of descriptive statistics and statistical inference as they are used in the social sciences, and to develop your skill in the use of a leading statistical software package (SPSS) so that you are able to perform statistical analysis relevant for reaching social science research conclusions. This is done through extensive hands-on practice. The descriptive statistics you will cover includes methods that can also be used for exploratory qualitative analysis.

Managing Knowledge

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This course outlines the key institutional and organisational forms underpinning the emerging knowledge economy, looking closely at the pivotal role that knowledge workers play in the creation, application and diffusion of knowledge within and between firms.

You will consider new approaches to managing learning processes in the firm, including recent developments such as knowledge management and novel organisational structures. You will explore the role of labour mobility through different types of knowledge worker communities and networks. You will also consider the role of open-source innovation and knowledge transfer within and across epistemic communities, the role of new human resource management approaches, and network mapping techniques. You will go on to consider how certain skills are coming to play a critical role in the knowledge economy, such as knowledge brokering and gate-keeping. Finally, you will explore how labour market institutions that impact on careers shape different approaches to knowledge generation, and be introduced to key concepts associated with knowledge transfer, including social capital, knowledge exploration and exploitation, and the role of key actors in knowledge transfer.

Statistical Methods for Science, Technology and Innovation Studies

0 credits
Summer teaching, year 1

This course provides training and guidance in applied statistics for postgraduate students of various backgrounds who already have some acquaintance with elementary statistics. The course has two main components. The first provides you with basic training in the use and application of methods in your own research. This will cover multivariate analysis, including analysis of variance, factor analysis, discriminant analysis, principal components, and cluster analysis. The second is designed to strengthen your ability to interpret and assess statistical work undertaken by others in applications reported in the academic publications likely to be encountered while undertaking a SPRU course.

Perspectives, Methods and Skills for Science, Technology and Innovation Studies

15 credits
Spring teaching, year 1

This course initially provides an overview of the intellectual terrain covered by science and technology policy studies, with illustrations of some of the methodologies utilised in SPRU's work. The course then provides an introduction to, and basic training in, a range of some of those methods of inquiry and analysis, both qualitative and quantitative, which should enable you not just to recognise others' use of those methods, but also your own use to understand how and when those methods can be applied.

Science, Technology and Innovations for Economic Development

30 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

Sustainability: Introduction and Economic Perspectives

30 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

This course aims to provide an understanding of the science-technology-governance systems perspective on sustainable development in a way that complements what is learnt from other courses during the autumn term on innovation, science policy and governance. Competing conceptions of sustainable development, and means of achieving measures of the relative sustainability of policy options, will be introduced. This will be followed by a series of contemporary case studies to examine the systems that contribute towards addressing major challenges in sustainable development and the interactions between them. The course also aims to introduce you to the major orthodox economic perspectives on sustainability, with a particular emphasis on the economic analysis of environmental issues. It will give you a grounding in these perspectives, give you the rudiments of critiques of them from within the economics tradition and enable you to situate economic perspectives within the range of other disciplinary approaches to the subject.

Sustainability: an Introduction for International Development

30 credits
Autumn teaching, year 1

Back to module list

Entry requirements

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in either social or natural sciences. Applicants with relevant professional experience will also be considered.

Overseas entrance requirements

Please refer to column A on the Overseas qualifications.

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications table, contact the University.
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Visas and immigration

Find out more about Visas and immigration.

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0, with not less than 6.5 in each section. Internet TOEFL with 95 overall, with at least 22 in Listening, 23 in Reading, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.

For more information, refer to English language requirements.

For more information about the admissions process at Sussex

For pre-application enquiries:

Student Recruitment Services
T +44 (0)1273 876787
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

For post-application enquiries:

Postgraduate Admissions,
University of Sussex,
Sussex House, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877773
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk 

Fees and funding

Fees

Home UK/EU students: £6,9501
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £6,9502
Overseas students: £14,1003

1 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.

To find out about your fee status, living expenses and other costs, visit further financial information.

Funding

The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.

To find out more about funding and part-time work, visit further financial information.

Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust for Postgraduate Study (2013)

Region: UK
Level: PG (taught), PG (research)
Application deadline: 1 October 2013

The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust are offering bursaries to Postgraduate students following any postgraduate degree courses in any subject.

Sussex Graduate Scholarship (2013)

Region: UK, Europe (Non UK), International (Non UK/EU)
Level: PG (taught)
Application deadline: 16 August 2013

Open to final year Sussex students who graduate with a 1st or 2:1 degree and who are offered a F/T place on an eligible Masters course in 2013.

Faculty interests

The research interests of selected SPRU faculty are briefly described below below and on the right. For more detailed information, visit SPRU – Science and Technology Policy Research: People and contacts.

Dr Allam Ahmed Technology management, technology transfer, sustainable development, international business. 

Dr Rob Byrne Socio-technical change in developing countries that promotes equitable and sustainable development. 

Dr Alex Coad Firm growth, industrial dynamics, small business sector, happiness economics, quantile regression, vector autoregressions. 

Professor Frank Geels Socio-technical transitions and system innovations, sustainable development. 

Dr Rumy Hasan Economist focusing on international strategic alliances, transitional economies, east Asia. 

Dr Michael Hopkins Firm strategy and industrial competitiveness in biotechnology, genetic testing services in NHS/industry, DNA patenting. 

Dr Florian Kern Policies for and politics of socio-technical transitions, low-carbon innovation policy, energy and climate policy. 

Professor Gordon MacKerron Energy policy of carbon emission reductions and security of supply, nuclear power economics and policy. 

Professor Mariana Mazzucato The relationship between innovation and economic growth at a firm and sectoral level. 

Dr Caitriona McLeish Harvard Sussex Program on Chemical and Biological Warfare (CBW) Armament and Arms Limitation. 

Dr Fiona Marshall Science and international development, food safety policy and livelihoods in the developing world. 

Professor Ben Martin Technology foresight, comparisons of national scientific performance, university-industry links. 

Mari Martiskainen Consumer behaviour and energy demand, the governance of nuclear power and local stakeholder engagement. 

Professor Erik Millstone Public and environmental health protection policies, agriculture and development. 

Dr Jordi Molas-Gallart Defence industrial policy, evaluation and impact assessment of public policies in support of science and technology. 

Dr Piera Morlacchi Innovation of medical technologies, entrepreneurship and technology strategy in biomedical fields. 

Dr Paul Nightingale Chemist, Complex Product Systems Innovation Centre; genetics technologies in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. 

Pari Patel National systems of innovation and uneven development, technological strategies of the world’s largest firms. 

Dr Ismael Rafols Emergence of hybrid scientific fields such as bionanotechnology and systems biology. 

Dr Matias Ramirez Relationship between labour mobility, networks of knowledge workers, communities of practice, and knowledge flows. 

Dr Carlos Sato Interplay of management, innovation and projects. Interdisciplinary approach to project management. 

Dr Maria Savona Economics of innovation and technological change in services and low-tech sectors, technical change in developing countries. 

Dr Josh Siepel Venture capital and entrepreneurial finance, strategic management of high growth ventures, firm growth. 

Dr Adrian Smith Civil society and technology, environmental policy process. 

Dr Steve Sorrell Energy and climate policy, emissions trading, energy efficiency, economics, transport modelling and policy. 

Professor Ed Steinmueller Economics of information, networks, and knowledge; science and technology policy. 

Professor Andy Stirling Management of technological risk, science and precaution in the governance of innovation, technological diversity. 

Dr Puay Tang International relations, socio-economic analysis of electronic service innovations, ICTs, IP rights in a digital environment. 

Professor Joe Tidd Innovation strategy and firm organisation, measurement of innovation and market performance. 

Professor Jim Watson Development and deployment of cleaner energy technologies, energy and environment in developing countries. 

Professor James Wilsdon UK and international science policy, the politics of expert advice, governance of new technologies. 

Careers and profiles

This MSc will equip you for careers in a range of areas including government ministries, industry and technology policy ministries, international organisations such as the UN, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), multinational corporations (MNCs), non-profit firms, and third-sector firms. The degree may also lead you to pursue doctoral studies and academic research.

For more information, visit Careers and alumni.

School and contacts

School of Business, Management and Economics

The School of School of Business, Management and Economics is a unique, research-focused business school, which takes a strong policy-directed view on business practices while also developing the underlying core disciplines.

School of Business, Management and Economics,
SPRU – Science and Technology Policy Research,
Jubilee Building,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9SL, UK
T +44 (0)1273 872717
E pgbmec@sussex.ac.uk
SPRU – Science and Technology Policy Research

Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions

You’re welcome to attend one of our Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions. These are held in the spring and summer terms and enable you to find out more about postgraduate study and the opportunities Sussex has to offer.

Visit Discover Postgraduate study to book your place.

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