Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Public Sector Innovation and eGovernance (PIONEER)

Deadline: March 01, 2025

Scholarships

Master

Location(s)

  • Belgium
  • Estonia
  • Germany
Leuven, Tallinn, Münster

Overview

The Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Public Sector InnOvation and EGovERnance (PIONEER) is a 120 ECTS joint master programme organized by the KU Leuven, the University of Münster and Tallinn University of Technology, and co-financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme. The Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Public Sector Innovation and eGovernance is a new and unique programme delivering experts who combine knowledge in public administration and public management on the one hand, and information systems and eGovernance on the other hand.

Details

The general idea behind this master programme is that the public sector needs interdisciplinary expertise in order to be able to fully benefit from the potential of ICT and technological innovations. Within a context wherein ICT becomes increasingly important for the modernisation and innovation of the public sector, the sector itself needs experts (1) who are able to translate technological expertise into efficiency, effectiveness, performance and user needs, and (2) who are able to take into account the organisational, cultural, social and structural peculiarities of the public sector when implementing new technologies. As a result, interdisciplinary education has become a necessity. This is what PIONEER is about.

PIONEER aims at providing students with specialised competencies about public sector innovation and the role of ICT and technological evolutions in the innovation process. It is a interdisciplinary and international programme that combines academic expertise with insight into professional cases and national experience. The programme is built on three major principles: on-site expertise where students have the ability to learn and benefit from the local context, as students will learn at 3 to 4 different locations; a balance within the curriculum between academic knowledge and professional expertise; interdisciplinarity as students have the opportunity to integrate different theoretical frameworks, competencies and skills into a set of competencies that are necessary for the public sector of the future.

PROGRAMME

General principles

Over the course of two academic years, PIONEER offers its international student group a rich and interdisciplinary learning experience founded on its excellent research agenda and accomplishments. In offering high-quality education, we purposefully connect academic knowledge to the practical challenges of professionals in policy, administrative, and consultative functions. Through case studies, you acquire insight into how the use of (technological) innovations can solve new problems in public administration and public policy. Hence, our focus is on the future of the public sector from the combined perspectives of Public Administration, Public Management, Information Systems, and eGovernance.

PIONEER follows a semestral structure to convey expertise from these different research fields, focusing on a specific subdiscipline each time. That way, the programme allows you to study in at least three different countries:

  1. During your first semester, you will receive the basics of public administration at KU Leuven in Belgium.
  2. During your second semester, you move to the University of Münster in Germany to be educated in information systems and technologies in governance.
  3. During your third semester, the Tallinn University of Technology in Estonia awaits. There, you learn in-depth about the multifaceted relationships between governance, technological change and society.
  4. In the fourth and final semester, you devote yourself to writing your Master’s thesis. In this manuscript, the insights you gained over the past three semesters crystallise while your acquired research skills materialise. While you are free to decide where to write this thesis, the choice is generally informed by your desired field of specialisation.

Learning objectives

Across semesters, PIONEER envisions a clear set of learning objectives as it offers you …

  • … an advanced understanding of the disciplinary knowledge specific to public management, public administration, information systems and eGovernance.
  • … specialised knowledge in public administration and the necessary skills to dissect organisational processes to their basic units to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
  • … solid academic skills to build rapid proof of concepts, reflect on approaches, question assumptions and assess ideas.
  • … the necessary competencies to define and implement new methods and techniques for the benefit of the public sector. With profound knowledge of the public sector, you can implement new techniques successfully.
  • … a higher level of comprehension of how ICT and information sciences can be used to innovate the public sector in a changing society proactively.
  • … a profound level of methodological and scientific research skills needed to start a PhD in one of these domains.
  • … excellent communication and project management skills to work in diverse groups and different cultural environments within different parts of the public sector.

WHY PIONEER?

  • Do you want to specialize and advance your knowledge in public sector innovation?
  • Are you interested in the actual and future challenges of the public sector?
  • Do you want to be an expert in eGovernance and the digitalization of the public sector?
  • Would you like to gain insight and competencies contributing to innovations to tackle the challenges public administrations are facing?
  • Do you want to study at different established European Universities?

If your answers to the above questions are YES, then the Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Public Sector Innovation and eGovernance (PIONEER) is the right type of programme for you!

WHAT THE PIONEER PROGRAMME HAS TO OFFER YOU:

  1. An advanced understanding of and insights into the disciplinary knowledge, specific to public management, public administration, information systems and eGovernance.
  2. Specialised knowledge in public administration processes, and the necessary skills to dissect organisational processes to its basic units in order to improve organisational efficiency and effectiveness.
  3. The necessary academic skills to build rapid proof of concepts, to reflect on approaches, to question assumptions and to assess ideas.
  4. The necessary competencies to define and implement new methods and techniques for the benefit of the public sector. With profound knowledge of the public sector you are able to implement new techniques successfully.
  5. A higher level comprehension of how ICT and information sciences can be used in order to innovate proactively the public sector in a changing society.
  6. A profound level of methodological and scientific research skills in order to start a PhD in one of these domains.
  7. Excellent communication and project management skills to work in different cultural environments within different parts of the public sector.

Opportunity is About


Eligibility

Candidates should be from:


Description of Ideal Candidate

FOR STUDENTS WITH A DEGREE OBTAINED OUTSIDE THE FLEMISH COMMUNITY

A. Academic requirements

Any Bachelor’s degree in the field of social sciences, political sciences, public administration, information systems, information science, informatics, engineering, business, law or an equivalent degree mentioned in the areas.

Other applications may be taken into consideration if professional experience in the field of study is demonstrated.

B. Document requirements

  • Diploma(s) and transcript(s) of records: all applicants must upload scans of his/her original transcript(s) and diploma(s). If the applicant has not graduated yet, a proof of provisional graduation issued by the university and the intermediate official transcript(s) of records should be uploaded.
  • Translation of diploma(s) and transcript(s) of records: if the documents are not in English, French, Dutch or German, these documents are to be translated by a registered translator. These documents must also be certified by the educational institution that issued them or by a national authority.
  • A research writing sample: this can be a student paper written during your previous degree, or any other evidence of prior research experience in an academic or professional setting.
  • English Proficiency Certificate (or test registration; see ‘English language requirements’)
  • Letter of motivation: a one-page letter motivating your interest in the programme
  • CV
  • Proof of nationality: a scan of your passport/ID-card
  • Copy of proof of payment of the application fee (made either via bank transfer or via credit card)

! Applications have to be submitted online through the website of the KU Leuven Admissions Office. All applicants are obliged to pay a non-refundable application fee of 75 EUR.

C. English language requirements

All applicants are to submit an English proficiency test. The language requirements are stipulated as follows: at least a score of 100 on the TOEFL internet based test (with a minimum of 22 on the four different components), at least a score of  7.0 on the IELTS-test (with a minimum of 6 on the four different components) or at least C1 on the CAE-test (CAE Advanced (A, B, C) or CAE Proficiency are both accepted). Please note that no other English proficiency test is accepted.

Test-results of the language proficiency test can be provided maximum one month later, but a test registration should already be uploaded onto the application form before the official application deadline.

Students who obtained their secondary school diploma or academic degree in a country belonging to the Inner Circle only (Australia, English speaking Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States of America) can be exempted from this requirement.


Dates

Deadline: March 01, 2025


Cost/funding for participants

The scholarship is worth 1,400 EUR monthly and will be paid from September (first year of study) to August (second year of study). It will contribute to the costs incurred by the beneficiary students and covers tuition fee, travel, visa, installation and subsistence expenses.

Under no circumstances will payments be made before the student arrives in Leuven and the academic year officially starts, even though candidates and admitted students will incur multiple expenses during the preparation of their studies. Please bear this in mind.

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