Program Structure

    The full MSc program comprises 90 ECTS and consists of twenty-two (22) compulsory courses, twelve (12) elective courses, and a compulsory Master’s Thesis or Field Study Project.

    To be awarded the degree, students must successfully complete all compulsory courses and either a Master’s Thesis or a Field Study Project; in addition, they are required to select and successfully complete six (6) elective courses. The full programme of taught and examined courses is presented in detail below.

    1st Semester

    COURSE CREDITS POINTS
    Innovation & Entrepreneurship I: Idea Validation

    This course introduces students to evidence-based approaches to innovation and entrepreneurship, with a particular emphasis on the systematic validation of early- stage ideas under conditions of uncertainty. Drawing on lean startup methodologies, customer development theory, and experimental innovation frameworks, the course guides students through structured processes of problem identification, user research, rapid prototyping, and iterative market testing. Through applied project work, students learn to assess the feasibility, desirability, and viability of entrepreneurial opportunities prior to scaling.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Media and Art History

    This course offers a critical and historical examination of the evolution of artistic practices and media technologies from early visual culture to contemporary digital environments. It investigates how technological, social, and economic transformations have shaped artistic production, communication systems, and cultural meaning across historical periods. By situating contemporary creative practices within broader historical trajectories, students develop analytical tools for interpreting media artifacts and understanding the cultural dimensions of technological change.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Leadership, People & Culture

    This course examines leadership practices and organizational dynamics within innovation-driven, creative, and technologically mediated environments. It explores how leadership styles, organizational culture, and human behavior influence performance, collaboration, and innovation outcomes. Through theoretical study and applied case analysis, students develop the capacity to lead interdisciplinary teams, manage organizational change, and cultivate inclusive, high-performance cultures within entrepreneurial and creative contexts.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Computational Creativity

    This course explores the theoretical foundations and practical applications of computational systems in creative processes. It examines how algorithms, artificial intelligence, and generative models can support, augment, or autonomously produce artistic and design outputs. Through critical inquiry and applied experimentation, students investigate human–machine collaboration, creative coding practices, and the cultural implications of algorithmic creativity.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Design Theory and Ideation

    This course provides a theoretical and methodological foundation for design-driven innovation, examining how design functions as a cognitive, cultural, and strategic process within creative, technological, and entrepreneurial contexts. It explores major design theories, philosophies, and creative problem-solving frameworks that inform contemporary design practice across products, services, systems, and experiences. Students engage with structured ideation methods, visual thinking techniques, and iterative concept development processes to translate complex challenges into meaningful design solutions. The course emphasizes the relationship between research, creativity, and strategic intent, positioning design as a central driver of innovation, user value, and organizational transformation.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Marketing & Behavioral Science

    This course examines the integration of behavioral science principles into marketing strategy and consumer engagement within digital, cultural, and innovation-driven contexts. Drawing on research from psychology, behavioral economics, neuroscience, and decision science, the course explores how individuals perceive information, form preferences, and make choices under conditions of uncertainty and cognitive limitation. It critically analyzes how behavioral insights can be ethically applied to influence consumer behavior, shape brand perception, and optimize product adoption. Students investigate evidence-based frameworks for designing marketing interventions, communication strategies, and user experiences informed by human behavior. The course emphasizes experimental design, data-driven testing, and continuous optimization of marketing actions across digital platforms. Through applied projects and empirical analysis, students develop the capacity to design, evaluate, and refine behaviorally informed marketing strategies while considering ethical implications.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Contemporary Curatorial Practices

    This course examines contemporary theories, methodologies, and professional practices of curatorship within physical, digital, and immersive cultural environments. It explores the evolving role of the curator as cultural mediator, storyteller, producer, and critical agent shaping artistic discourse and public engagement. The course situates curatorial practice within broader institutional, social, and technological transformations affecting museums, galleries, festivals, digital platforms, and participatory cultural spaces. Students analyze exhibition-making as a complex process involving conceptual framing, narrative construction, spatial design, audience interpretation, ethical responsibility, and organizational strategy. Particular attention is given to digital curation, immersive exhibitions, community-based practices, and interdisciplinary curatorial models. Through applied projects and critical reflection, students develop curatorial concepts responsive to contemporary cultural challenges and technological possibilities.

    		 Elective Course: 3 ECTS
    Digital Media & Content Development

    This course examines the strategic, creative, and technological dimensions of digital content production within contemporary media ecosystems. It explores how narratives are conceptualized, produced, distributed, and optimized across digital platforms, including social media, streaming environments, interactive websites, and emerging digital formats. Integrating theories of digital communication, media studies, audience engagement, and content strategy, the course analyzes how digital media functions as a driver of cultural expression, brand value, and entrepreneurial growth. Students develop practical competencies in multimedia storytelling, content planning, and performance evaluation while critically engaging with platform dynamics, algorithmic visibility, and ethical communication practices. Emphasis is placed on aligning creative production with strategic objectives, audience behavior, and data- informed optimization.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Programming for Non-Programmers

    This course introduces foundational computational thinking and practical programming skills for students without prior technical training. It examines how software systems are structured, how algorithms process information, and how digital tools enable automation, data manipulation, and interactive applications across creative and entrepreneurial domains. Rather than focusing solely on syntax, the course emphasizes problem-solving logic, abstraction, and systems reasoning, enabling students to conceptualize digital solutions and collaborate effectively with technical professionals. Through hands-on exercises and project-based learning, students develop functional prototypes that support innovation, creative production, and business experimentation.

    		 Elective Course: 3 ECTS
    Systems Thinking & Managing Complexity

    This course introduces systems thinking as a conceptual and analytical framework for understanding complex, interconnected social, technological, economic, and organizational environments. It draws on systems theory, complexity science, and organizational studies to examine how dynamic interactions, feedback loops, non-linearity, and emergence shape outcomes in innovation ecosystems and creative industries. Students develop the capacity to move beyond linear problem-solving approaches by mapping systemic relationships, identifying leverage points, and designing interventions that account for uncertainty and adaptive behavior. The course emphasizes practical application through system modeling, scenario planning, and strategic foresight exercises relevant to entrepreneurial, cultural, and policy contexts.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Idea Generation Workshop

    This workshop introduces students to the process of generating, exploring, and selecting ideas based on real societal and market needs, with particular emphasis on sectors related to culture. Through a combination of methods such as design thinking and creative problem-solving, participants learn to identify opportunities and translate them into concrete value propositions. The workshop emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, and includes experiential exercises, brainstorming sessions, the use of tools for venture ideation and development, and the creation of initial concepts. By the end of the workshop, students present well-substantiated ideas that respond to contemporary social, technological, or cultural challenges, serving as a first step toward impact-driven innovation

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS

    2nd Semester

    COURSE CREDITS POINTS
    Innovation & Entrepreneurship II: Go-To-Market Strategies & Experimental Design

    This course builds upon early-stage validation by focusing on market entry strategies, customer acquisition models, and evidence-based scaling approaches. Students examine how ventures transition from problem–solution fit to sustainable growth through structured experimentation, pricing strategies, channel development, and performance metrics. Emphasis is placed on hypothesis-driven growth and adaptive strategic execution.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    User-Experience & Human-Centered Innovation

    This course examines the principles, methods, and strategic value of human-centered design in the development of products, services, and experiences across technological, creative, and entrepreneurial contexts. It integrates theories from design research, cognitive psychology, anthropology, and service innovation to understand how human needs, behaviors, emotions, and social contexts shape effective solutions. Students engage in systematic user research, co-design practices, prototyping, and usability evaluation to translate human insights into meaningful innovations. The course emphasizes iterative design processes, inclusive and accessible design principles, and evidence-based decision-making. Through applied projects and critical reflection, students develop the capacity to design solutions that generate user value while aligning with organizational and societal objectives.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    AI-Enabled Tech Development

    This course examines how artificial intelligence technologies are increasingly used to facilitate, accelerate, and transform the application development lifecycle across digital products, creative technologies, and innovation-driven ventures. It focuses on the integration of AI-assisted development tools, intelligent automation, generative systems, and data-driven decision frameworks that enhance speed, scalability, and quality in software and product development processes. Rather than treating AI solely as an end product, the course positions AI as an enabling infrastructure for rapid prototyping, code generation, testing automation, user experience personalization, and continuous product optimization. Students explore how machine learning models, generative AI, low-code and no-code platforms, and intelligent development environments reshape traditional engineering workflows. The course also addresses system architecture, deployment strategies, and responsible innovation considerations associated with AI-accelerated development. Through applied projects and real-world case studies, students develop functional AI- enabled applications while critically assessing productivity gains, limitations, and ethical implications.

    		 Elective Course: 3 ECTS
    Environment & Design

    This course focuses on exploring the relationship between environmental challenges, design, and innovation, while simultaneously introducing students to systems thinking as a fundamental approach for understanding complex ecological, social, technological, and cultural interdependencies. The core pillars of the course are the concepts of biodesign, which examines design involving living systems, biological processes, and bio-based materials, and geodesign, which approaches design with an emphasis on place, spatial analysis, and the use of environmental data. Through theoretical frameworks, case studies, and applied exercises, students examine principles of sustainability, circular economy, regenerative design, and climate-change resilience. Particular emphasis is placed on the ethical, social, and cultural dimensions of environmental design, such as environmental justice, the importance of local knowledge, and the critical evaluation of techno-centric solutions. The course concludes with the development of an applied design project, through which students formulate well-documented proposals for sustainable and regenerative innovation.

    		 Elective Course: 3 ECTS
    Art & Creative Technology Acceleration Workshop – Phase 1 (Advanced tools, Creativity & Artistic Thinking)

    This intensive workshop introduces participants to the acceleration of creative and technology-driven projects, guiding them from the initial idea stage to proof-of- concept development in the form of a prototype. Students experiment with emerging technologies—such as extended reality (XR), artificial intelligence (AI), and interactive media—within collaborative teams, applying ideation methodologies and rapid prototyping practices. The workshop emphasizes impact-driven entrepreneurship, encouraging participants to align artistic and cultural innovation with sustainable business models. Students from artistic, technological, or business backgrounds develop hybrid creative– entrepreneurial mindsets, while simultaneously acquiring practical skills related to early-stage venture formation, production, and distribution of creative and culture– technology projects and services.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Idea Acceleration Workshop

    The Idea Acceleration Workshop is an experiential and intensive course designed to guide students in transforming early-stage ideas into mature, testable concepts, with a strong emphasis on innovation. By integrating methods from entrepreneurship, design thinking, and creative problem-solving, the lab focuses on the development and validation of ideas through structured processes of venture ideation, prototyping, and strategic storytelling. Participants learn to identify and refine ideas with cultural, social, or technological relevance; apply rapid mapping and validation tools; and develop early versions of products, services, or experiences using appropriate prototyping methods. In parallel, students build the ability to communicate value propositions and benefits to stakeholders, customers, and the market through the development of storytelling and visualization skills. The course culminates in the presentation of a fully developed venture concept, supported by foundational user research, prototyping evidence, and an implementation plan. Through hands-on workshops, collaborative exercises, and continuous feedback, students cultivate the capacity to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams, integrate creative and entrepreneurial thinking, and design realistic strategies for the continuation or scaling of their venture ideas. The workshop serves as a core preparatory stage for students developing theses, venture concepts, or collaborative projects with an innovative and socially meaningful focus.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Innovation & Entrepreneurship III: Business Modelling & Strategic Planning

    This course focuses on the strategic design, evaluation, and transformation of business models within innovation-driven and creative ventures. It examines how organizations create, deliver, and capture value in dynamic technological, cultural, and market environments. Integrating theories of strategic management, entrepreneurship, and business model innovation, the course enables students to analyze competitive positioning, revenue architectures, cost structures, and ecosystem dynamics that shape long-term venture sustainability. Students explore strategic planning processes under conditions of uncertainty, including scenario analysis, resource allocation, growth strategy formulation, and adaptive strategy frameworks. Particular emphasis is placed on the interaction between business model design and broader innovation ecosystems, platform dynamics, and regulatory environments. Through applied modeling exercises and strategic case analysis, students develop robust strategic plans aligned with evolving market opportunities.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Strategic Brand Management

    This course examines branding as a strategic organizational capability that shapes value creation, competitive advantage, and long-term stakeholder relationships. It explores how brands function as systems of meaning, trust, and differentiation across consumer markets, cultural industries, digital platforms, and innovation-driven ventures. The course integrates theories from marketing strategy, consumer psychology, cultural studies, and communication to analyze how brand identities are constructed, managed, and evolved over time. Students investigate brand positioning, equity development, brand architecture, narrative coherence, and reputation management in dynamic technological and cultural environments. Particular attention is given to branding within creative industries and entrepreneurial contexts, where symbolic value, community engagement, and digital interaction play central roles. Through applied case analysis and strategic brand planning exercises, students develop the ability to design, implement, and evaluate brand strategies aligned with organizational objectives and market realities.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Production Management and Distribution

    This course examines the organizational, operational, and strategic processes involved in the production and distribution of creative and cultural goods and experiences across sectors such as film, digital media, performing arts, exhibitions, music, gaming, and immersive content. It integrates project management theory, creative labor organization, supply chain coordination, and market distribution strategies to understand how creative projects move from concept to audience. Students explore the specific characteristics of creative production, including project- based workflows, interdisciplinary collaboration, high uncertainty, intellectual property management, and time-sensitive delivery. The course also analyzes traditional and digital distribution channels, platform-based dissemination, audience development strategies, and global market access. Through applied case studies and production simulations, students develop competencies in planning, budgeting, scheduling, and strategic distribution for creative ventures.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Immersive Experience Design in the Creative and Cultural Sectors

    This course examines the conceptual, technological, and experiential dimensions of designing immersive environments within creative and cultural contexts, including museums, exhibitions, performance spaces, heritage sites, entertainment venues, and digital cultural platforms. It integrates theories from experience design, human perception, narrative studies, spatial design, and interactive media to explore how immersive technologies and multisensory environments can enhance meaning- making, engagement, and emotional impact. Students investigate the use of virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, projection mapping, spatial audio, interactive installations, and location-based media as tools for cultural storytelling and audience participation. Emphasis is placed on user-centered experiential design, dramaturgy of space, accessibility, and ethical considerations related to representation, authenticity, and data use. Through applied design studios and critical analysis, students develop immersive experience concepts responsive to cultural, educational, and artistic objectives. .

    		 Elective Course: 3 ECTS
    Physical Computing - IoT, Networked Objects, Location-Based Experiences

    This course examines the design and implementation of interactive systems that integrate digital computation with physical environments through embedded technologies, connected objects, and spatially situated media. Drawing on principles from physical computing, human–computer interaction, ubiquitous computing, and experience design, the course explores how sensor networks, microcontrollers, and location-aware technologies enable responsive, adaptive, and participatory environments. Students investigate how networked objects and spatial computing infrastructures create new forms of creative expression, cultural engagement, and technological innovation across public spaces, exhibitions, smart environments, and urban contexts. Emphasis is placed on the conceptualization, prototyping, and evaluation of location-based experiences and interactive installations that respond to human presence, movement, and environmental data. The course integrates technical development with experiential design while critically addressing usability, privacy, sustainability, and ethical considerations.

    		 Elective Course: 3 ECTS
    Innovative Business Models for the Creative & Cultural Economy

    This course examines the design, evaluation, and transformation of business models within the creative and cultural economy. It explores how value is created, delivered, and captured in sectors characterized by symbolic goods, intellectual property, platform intermediation, project-based production, and hybrid public–private funding structures. The course integrates theories of business model innovation, cultural economics, and digital platform strategy to analyze emerging monetization mechanisms across creative industries, including media, performing arts, design, gaming, digital content, immersive experiences, and cultural institutions. Particular attention is given to the structural specificities of cultural markets—such as demand uncertainty, high upfront creative costs, network effects, reputation systems, and the role of public policy and subsidies. Students critically assess how digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and platformization are reshaping traditional cultural value chains. Through applied case analysis and venture modeling exercises, students develop innovative business model architectures tailored to creative and cultural ventures.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS

    3rd Semester

    COURSE CREDITS POINTS
    IP Management & Licensing

    This course examines intellectual property as both a legal framework and a strategic asset within innovation and creative industries. It analyzes copyright, patent, trademark, and design protection regimes, as well as licensing models and technology transfer mechanisms. Students evaluate how intellectual property strategies influence commercialization, competitive positioning, and cross-border expansion, particularly in digital and platform-based markets.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Storytelling for Impact and Influence - Pitching Workshop

    This course examines storytelling as a strategic tool for shaping perception, mobilizing audiences, and influencing decision-making across entrepreneurial, cultural, policy, and technological contexts. Drawing on narrative theory, communication studies, psychology, and branding research, the course explores how stories construct meaning, evoke emotion, build trust, and drive action. Students analyze narrative structures used in business pitching, cultural production, advocacy campaigns, and digital media, learning how storytelling operates across multiple formats including spoken presentations, visual narratives, immersive experiences, and data-driven communication. Emphasis is placed on ethical persuasion, authenticity, and audience-centered narrative design. Through applied storytelling projects, students develop the capacity to craft compelling narratives that communicate value propositions, social impact, and strategic vision effectively.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Art & Creative Technology Acceleration Workshop – Phase 2 (Advanced tools, Creativity & Artistic Thinking)

    As a continuation of Workshop I, this advanced module focuses on refining prototypes into functional products or services with clearly articulated value propositions and market strategies. Students develop business models, conduct user testing, strengthen branding and identity, and prepare to present their projects to investors, cultural institutions, or distribution partners. The module enhances students’ ability to develop innovation projects with social and commercial impact by cultivating financial, entrepreneurial, and creative thinking. In parallel, it emphasizes skills related to production planning, distribution strategy, and sustainable growth. The course culminates in a public presentation (Demo Day), where students engage directly with professionals from the broader innovation and creative-tech ecosystem.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Emerging Media Production

    This course examines the conceptual, technical, and organizational dimensions of producing content for emerging media environments, including virtual and augmented reality, interactive film, real-time engines, generative systems, hybrid installations, and cross-platform immersive experiences. It situates production within both creative and industrial contexts, addressing workflow integration, interdisciplinary collaboration, and technological constraints. Students engage in project-based production processes that require the coordination of narrative design, technical implementation, user interaction, and distribution strategy. Particular attention is given to the evolving aesthetics and grammar of immersive and interactive storytelling, as well as to professional standards in project management and media delivery.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Data, Business Analytics & Visualization

    This course develops advanced data literacy and analytical capabilities for innovation-driven and creative organizations. It introduces quantitative reasoning, performance measurement systems, and data visualization methodologies that support evidence-based strategic decision-making. Students learn to interpret and contextualize business, user, and operational data, translating analytical outputs into actionable insights. Emphasis is placed on critical interpretation, avoiding misrepresentation, and integrating analytics into entrepreneurial, cultural, and technological strategies.

    		 Elective Course: 3 ECTS
    Product Design Studio (XR/AR/VR)

    This workshop focuses on Extended, Virtual, and Mixed Reality and trains students to design immersive experiences that transform product development, storytelling, and user interaction. From early-stage ideas to functional prototypes, the module combines creative experimentation with technical production. Emphasis is placed on connecting creative practice with entrepreneurship and social impact, through the use of tools such as three-dimensional (3D) modeling and animation, two-dimensional (2D) graphics, real-time development platforms or game engines, and extended reality (XR) applications. Participants cultivate interdisciplinary thinking—artistic, technological, and entrepreneurial—while developing technical skills alongside knowledge of production management, distribution, and the commercial exploitation of XR innovations.

    		 Elective Course: 3 ECTS
    Accounting and Financial Management (for early-stage ventures)

    This course provides a rigorous introduction to financial management principles tailored to entrepreneurial and creative enterprises operating under resource constraints and high uncertainty. It examines financial reporting structures, cost management, capital allocation, and performance evaluation tools relevant to early- stage ventures. Students develop financial modeling capabilities and learn to interpret financial data in relation to strategic growth decisions, sustainability, and investor expectations.

    		 Compulsory Course: 3 ECTS
    Financing, Equity Investment & Cultural Economy

    This course examines capital formation and investment dynamics within entrepreneurial and cultural ecosystems. It provides analytical frameworks for understanding equity financing, venture capital structures, alternative funding mechanisms, and hybrid financial instruments. Students evaluate funding strategies in relation to growth trajectories, ownership dilution, governance implications, and long-term strategic control. The course also situates investment practices within the broader cultural economy and public funding environments.

    		 Elective Course: 3 ECTS
    Ethics, Art and Technology

    This course critically examines normative, philosophical, and socio-political questions arising from the intersection of art, emerging technologies, and innovation systems. It addresses ethical challenges related to algorithmic bias, surveillance capitalism, automation, sustainability, authorship, and digital labor. Students engage with ethical theory and applied case studies to develop structured reasoning frameworks applicable to innovation governance and creative practice. The course also provides a comprehensive examination of data governance frameworks, regulatory compliance, and lifecycle management in digital innovation environments (GDPR). It addresses the ethical and legal obligations associated with data collection, processing, storage, sharing, and deletion. Particular attention is given to European data protection regulation and its implications for product design, platform governance, and organizational accountability.

    		 Elective Course: 3 ECTS
    Cultural Policy & the Creative Economy

    This course critically examines the role of public policy in shaping the structure, performance, and transformation of the creative and cultural economy. It explores how governments, institutions, and public agencies design regulatory frameworks, funding mechanisms, and strategic interventions to support cultural production, innovation, inclusion, and economic development. The course situates cultural policy within broader debates on creative industries, urban development, digital transformation, and social value creation. Students analyze policy instruments such as subsidies, tax incentives, public procurement, and innovation programs, assessing their impact on creative markets, entrepreneurial activity, and cultural participation. Particular attention is given to the interaction between public policy and digital platforms, globalization of cultural markets, and emerging creative technologies. Through comparative case studies and applied policy analysis, students develop the capacity to evaluate cultural policy effectiveness and design evidence-informed policy recommendations.

    		 Elective Course: 3 ECTS
    Theory & Practice of Impact Assessment

    This course provides a comprehensive examination of theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, and applied tools for assessing social, cultural, environmental, and economic impact within innovation-driven, creative, and policy- oriented contexts. It explores how impact is conceptualized, measured, and communicated across public sector programs, social enterprises, cultural institutions, startups, and investment ecosystems. Students engage with both qualitative and quantitative evaluation methodologies, including theory of change models, logic frameworks, key performance indicators, counterfactual analysis, and mixed-methods approaches. Particular attention is given to impact assessment in complex systems where outcomes are non-linear, long-term, and influenced by multiple stakeholders. The course emphasizes evidence-based decision-making, accountability, and learning, enabling students to design robust impact measurement frameworks aligned with strategic objectives and policy requirements.

    		 Elective Course: 3 ECTS

    Master’s Thesis / Field Study Project

    		 Compulsory Course: 6 ECTS