Master in Digital Transformation & Innovation: Governance and Economics of Cities

Is this the programme you're looking for?

Digital technology has disrupted urban development and profoundly reshaped the way cities operate. This master's track focuses on how digital innovation and transformation impact urban socio-economic development and governance.

The study programme in a nutshell

Digital technology has disrupted urban development and profoundly reshaped the way cities operate. From using big data to managing traffic flows to the Internet of Things (IoT) applications used to manage energy consumption in public places, urban spaces are becoming increasingly digitized. Such digital transformations and innovation drive socio-economic change and impact how we govern the city. In this programme, you will learn about the economics and governance of urban digital transformations and innovation.

Why this programme

Urban Digital Transformation & Innovation

Digital technology has disrupted urban development and profoundly reshaped the way cities operate. From using big data to managing traffic flows to the Internet of Things (IoT) applications used to manage energy consumption in public places, urban spaces are becoming increasingly digitized. Such digital transformations and innovation drive socio-economic change and impact how we govern the city. In this programme, you will learn about the economics and governance of urban digital transformations and innovation. Among others, students will discuss the ways digital tools can be used to govern cities better; the implications of digitization for contemporary governance; the (dis)advantages of cities and innovation clusters; and the impact transformations and innovation have on the economy (e.g., labour market changes).

What are some of the special features of this track?

Apart from earning your MSc diploma from Erasmus University Rotterdam, an institution that is consistently ranked among the top 3% of the world’s best universities, studying the Urban Digital Transformation & Innovation track also means that you will get to:
Learn from high-profile academic staff

The instructors of this course are highly experienced international academics with experience in real-life research and advisory projects that give a great networking opportunity for students as well.

Choose to specialise even further based on personal interest

Students will have the opportunity to specialize further, either in economic development or algorithmic governance and link their thesis to the chosen topic.

Get up to speed with the latest scientific insights

There is a reciprocal evolution between technology and society in cities. This course focuses on the long-term effects of using technology to change the city and helps students develop a critical approach to governing urban digital innovation and transformation.

Get introduced to skills that are highly sought after by urban professionals

The master track will introduce students to key methods and techniques such as machine learning, big data analytics, network analysis, etc.

Why study at IHS, Erasmus University Rotterdam?

Earn your MSc degree from a top 100 university

Known for its academic rigours and high quality of education, Erasmus University Rotterdam is consistently ranked in the top 3% of the world’s best universities.

Our teaching methods are unique

Alongside IHS teaching and research activities, our faculty members work in the field on real-life cases around the world. Challenges, learnings, and questions from these different contexts are brought back to the classroom and woven into our curriculum.

You apply everything you learn

Students learn through a blend of lectures, real-life case studies, discussions, debates, simulation environments, written assignments, and group work. Field visits and projects in Rotterdam and other Dutch cities provide first-hand exposure to local urban problems. Students have the option to complete their thesis fieldwork abroad and immerse themselves in a relevant urban context to collect data.

We offer a truly international and diverse environment

The IHS classroom comprises mid-level professionals and fresh graduates with rich and varied experiences from more than 45 countries. Typical backgrounds include architecture, engineering, planning, economics, social science, environmental science, and housing.

Study in Rotterdam - a hub of sustainable urban innovation

Iconic architecture, pioneering urban planning, and a celebrated multicultural population have thrust Rotterdam to the forefront of innovation and cultivation within the urban world.

Enjoy guest lecturers from UN-Habitat and other key stakeholders in the urban field

IHS works with global leaders in the field of urban development, including UN-Habitat, Cities Alliance and ICLEI, and with leading universities in the Netherlands and around the world to ensure additional academic resources for our students.