Master's Information and Communication Technologies for Development (double degree)

The Double Degree (DD) Information & Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) aims at international students (especially non-EU students) with a strong interest in the role of ICTs in development processes. Students explore social transformation processes from a communication science and science-technology and society (STS) perspective, by examining how social, political, and cultural values affect innovation processes, and how these in turn affect society, politics, and culture. Special attention is paid to how responsive innovation processes serve the needs of social actors. The focus is on how and why people, views, and values become included or excluded in social and technical change, and on strategies for the democratisation of science, technology, and communication (especially ICTs) for development.

Double degree programme

The Double Degree programme offers a track on ICT4D which cooperates with the specialisation Inclusive Innovation, Communication and Development of the MSc International Development Studies (MID). The Double Degree associates with the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) funded Master in Digital Communication Leadership. (DCLead), which offers two other degrees, a MA in digital communication leadership (Track POLINN: Digital Communication, Policy and Innovation in Europe) and a MSc in digital communication leadership (Track TECMAN: Digital Technology & Management). The DD adds a Track ICT4D: Information Communication Technologies for Development to the DCLead program through a joint cooperation between Paris-Lodron-Universität Salzburg, Wageningen University & Research and Digital Communication Leadership Consortium.

Study programme

The Double Degree is made of 120 ECTS and is shared as follows:

MSc: 120 ECTS Fall semester Spring semester
Year 1 30 ECTS (period 1, 2, 3) 30 ECTS (period 4, 5, 6)
Registration Salzburg Salzburg/WUR
Year 2 30 ECTS (period 1, 2, 3) 30 ECTS (period 4, 5, 6)
Registration Salzburg/WUR Salzburg/WUR

In the first semester (the fall semester) of the first year of the program all students will be enrolled in Salzburg to follow courses that are part of the ICT4D program in Salzburg. In the spring semester of the first year the students will come to Wageningen and follow 30 ECTS of courses in the MID programme. After successful completion of year 1, students will follow another 30 ECTS of courses from the MID program in the first semester of the second year. The Double Degree programme will be completed with the MSc-thesis, which is co-supervised by Salzburg and WU.

Please continue to this page for more information of the structure of the programme.

Application and admission

Interested in taking part in the programme of Information & Communication Technologies for Development? Find out more about the specific Admission requirements and the application procedures.

Learning outcomes

Graduates of the Double Degree programme are expected to be able to:

  • analyse social transformation processes related to livelihoods, agro-food networks, and the environment within a dynamic international context, at different levels and in a comparative perspective, with special attention to inclusion and exclusion processes, equity and unequal access to resources;
  • appreciate the relevance of theories and research approaches stemming from different disciplinary traditions within international development studies;
  • assess and apply theoretical and methodological perspectives from one of the specializations (Sociology of Development, Economics of Development, Inclusive Innovation, Communication and Development, or Politics and Governance of Development) to analyse themes and problems within the domain of international development studies;
  • assess the changing relationships and (potential) conflicts between different stakeholders in various settings;
  • design and assess research in the domain of international development studies, including formulating a problem statement and operationalising objectives and research questions within a coherent research plan;
  • select and apply appropriate methods and techniques to collect and analyse data from literature and empirical research in the domain of international development studies;
  • critically reflect upon the functioning of policies and intervention strategies within the domain of international development studies, including the interaction with research and taking into account different stakeholder positions;
  • critically reflect upon the different roles of the specialist in international development studies, including the ethical and value-driven aspects of research and intervention strategies;
  • communicate convincingly (verbally and in writing) about (own) research and project results, and their rational underpinning, with a diverse audience including stakeholders involved, policy makers and scientists;
  • co-operate as a specialist in multidisciplinary teams and diverse organisational settings within an international working environment, taking into consideration the complex contexts of the domain of international development studies;
  • design and plan their own learning path based on continuous reflection (both individually and in discussions with others) upon personal knowledge, skills, attitudes and functioning.