- Nordine Es-Sadki
- Lili Wang
- Praachi Kumar
Introductory
- Bank transfer
Event organizer(s)
Description
This course provides public sector and ICT professionals with a practical introduction to how innovation takes shape in the digital economy and what it means for policy and strategy. Participants will explore how innovation emerges, the drivers and enablers behind it, and its impact on the evolution of digital sectors.
The course looks at different approaches to understanding innovation, the main sources and processes through which it develops, and the relationship between market structure and innovation. It also addresses the trade-offs decision-makers often face, including balancing innovation with public interest and social welfare.
Each session includes concrete cases and examples drawn from digital transformation across industries and government, with space for participants to share and discuss their own experiences.
This course is an introductory course for students with a limited background in the innovation studies tradition. It uses macroeconomic models as well as empirical and historical evidence on the evolution of industries. The case studies cover examples of adoption of innovations related to communication technologies, and assignments are tailored to the ITU audience.
The courses offered by UNU-MERIT are university level training courses. We require participants to have a completed MSc (or equivalent) in Social Sciences or related discipline (e.g. Engineering).
We are open to accept participants with BA degree (or equivalent) with work experience on the topic, and well developed analytical thinking (university level). In those cases, we require an entrance check based on CV including educational attainment and work experience.
Language: Fluency in English is required.
Disclaimer: Please note that the delivery of this training is contingent upon reaching a minimum of registered participants. If the required number of participants is not met by 5th November 2024, we reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the training. Thank you for your understanding.
Upon completion of this course, participants will:
- Acquire the basic jargon necessary to discuss innovation issues in a consistent and rigorous way;
- Outline the role that innovation and technical change play in shaping competitiveness and industrial change;
- Recognize sector-level specificities in the sources of innovation, and compare their consequences for practice and policy;
- Examine the systemic nature of the innovative process.
The course is divided into three units. The units have been carefully chosen in order to provide an overview of the most important aspects in innovation, economic and social development.
- Unit 1: Emergence of new technologies
- Unit 2: Innovation diffusion and technology transfer
- Unit 3: The dark side of innovation and responsible innovation
The course is offered online, with a 2 week course content offering. The course content includes:
- Three synchronous interactive online lectures with Q&A
- Weekly required (and optional) readings and materials
- Individual unit exams
- Individual final assignment
- Optional weekly Q&A discussion boards (asynchronous)
- Available deepening materials/policy applications and examples (asynchronous)
Readings: For each unit, a selection of compulsory readings is identified, complemented with a list of additional readings for the interested reader.
Assignments: Each unit contains an assignment, which participants have to complete for the course.
All materials can be accessed through the online student platform.
Participants are required to submit one multiple-choice exam at the end of each module. Each assignment is graded individually on a 1-10 scale.
Upon completion of the course, participants need to submit an individual assignment. Upon completion of all unit exams and submission of the assignment, participants will receive their final grade.
The final grade for this module is the simple weighed average of all assignment grades
- Unit 1 Exam - 10%
- Unit 2 Exam - 10%
- Unit 3 Exam - 10%
- Individual final assignment - 60%
You will pass the course if the average grade is 5.5 or higher (on a 10-point scale, with 1 being lowest and 10 being highest) and if the grade for at least two out of the three unit exams 5.5 or higher.
For each Unit exam there is one resit option. In case you take this option (which is open to all, irrespective the grade of exam one) the grade for the resit option will replace the initial grade (also in case the initial grade was higher). This resit option is available immediately after the completion of the exam. For the individual assignment, there is no resit opportunity.
A total score of 70% or higher is required to pass the course and obtain the ITU certificate.
- Module 0
- Registration week
- Key learning outcomes:
- Introduce the participants to the digital environment of the course
- Welcome to the course and the introduction to the platform
- Participant will receive a hands-on introduction to the platform
- Welcome Session: 24 November Monday 13:30 CET
- Module 1
- The emergence of new technologies - technology evolution, firm strategy, and market opportunity
- Key learning outcomes:
- Describe the mechanisms of innovation
- Outline the impact of emerging technologies on the economy and society
- Identify the opportunities and threats associated with emerging technologies
- Explain the role of policy as a development tool in the context of emerging technologies
- Identify the set of policies that are relevant to encourage the appropriate development of new technologies
- Unit 1 Lecture: 24 November, Monday 14:00 CET
- Module 2
- Innovation and technology transfer - case studies
- Key learning outcomes:
- Recognize the different forms of knowledge or technology transfer
- List factors that influence knowledge or technology transfer
- Analyze the role universities and research institutes play in the diffusion of knowledge and the challenges they face
- Critically evaluate research on this field and implications for policy
- Unit 2 Lecture: 27 November, Thursday 14:00 CET
- Module 3
- The dark side of innovation - risks and responsible innovation
- Key learning outcomes:
- Distinguish the “unintended” negative effects of new technologies
- Identify the potential negative consequences to society and to individuals of emerging technologies and identify appropriate policy responses to mitigate these consequences
- Discuss dark innovations in various sectors
- Compare policy tools for sustainability transition
- Unit 3 Lecture: 01 December, Monday 14:00 CET
- Assignment
- Individual Assignment Deadline: 04 December, Thursday 23:59 CET
- Final grades: 11 December, Thursday
- Policy reflection memo (individual final written assignment) resit deadline: Tuesday 16/12/2025, 14:00 CET
- Final grades: Monday 22/12/2025
*Lecture timelines are tentative and subject to change.
Tutors
Registration information
Unless specified otherwise, all ITU Academy training courses are open to all interested professionals, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, economic status and other diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage registrations from female participants, and participants from developing countries. This includes least developed countries, small island developing states and landlocked developing countries.
