European Studies on Society, Science and Technology
The emergence of new technology - such as smart phones and social networking, nanotechnology, robotics, sustainable energy, and (dis)ability and technology - opens up both opportunities and threats to modern societies and economies. Citizens, governments, businesses and universities face great challenges when trying to take advantage of the seemingly infinite opportunities of scientific and technological innovations, not least because of the unintended consequences that may accompany them. Convinced that 'innovation' cannot be captured by economics alone and that a purely technical approach is not enough in understanding today’s knowledge society, ESST focuses on the governance, sustainability and cultures of innovation from a multi-disciplinary approach.
The ESST programme explores the interrelated worlds of the scientist, engineer, politician, and citizen by examining the values, language, history, politics, and economics of our modern cultures of innovation. Furthermore, the global, multicultural, and environmentally conscious perspective of the program develops ethical awareness and public responsibility.
Therefore the analytical focus of ESST is on:
- The political and cultural analysis of the modern knowledge society
- The social and economic analysis of different cultures of innovation
- Ethical reflection on scientific and technological development
Since 1992 ESST provides the knowledge and skills necessary for understanding and managing the complex issues of modern innovation. The programme approaches these problems from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, political studies, cultural studies, innovation studies, social studies.
Important information for all 2012/2013 applicants:
As of September 2012, all master’s programmes in the field of the humanities at Dutch universities are subject to so-called “broad master’s labels”. The background of this operation is that at this point in time, there are over 250 master’s programmes in the humanities field offered throughout the Netherlands. To make the range of master’s programmes in the humanities more structured and less confusing to prospective students, all Dutch universities have agreed to file their master’s under overarching labels.
The implementation of the broad master labels will not have any influence on the content of the programmes. It is, however, important to know which label applies to the master’s programme of your choice since this is the name that will appear in Studielink and My UM when you apply. Moreover, the implementation of the labels will affect the diploma you receive upon graduation. Both the label and the programme name will appear on your diploma.
The master’s programme European Studies on Society, Science and Technology is filed under the label European Studies (CROHO code 60284, track 1601).
More information on how to apply: please click on "admissions" in the menu on the left-hand side.
If you have any questions about the broad master labels, please contact master-fasos@maastrichtuniversity.nl .
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