The degree is offered through the LINK Centre at the Faculty of Humanities, School of Literature, Language and Media. It is designed to meet the needs of policymakers, regulators, operators, communications managers in large and small organisations, user and consumer groups, NGOs, and others involved in or affected by ICT sector policy and regulation.
The degree provides participants with an opportunity to improve their professional skills and/or refocus their expertise through:
- expanding and updating their knowledge of policy and regulation for the digital economy
- investigating research problems and exploring new ideas and experiences
- interacting and networking with leading academics and practitioners
- reflecting on their personal goals, values and career paths
Who should attend?
This degree is designed for middle- to senior-level managers and practitioners working in the broad electronic communications and ICT sector across the African continent. The sector includes telecommunications and electronic communications operators; the IT industry; the broadcasting and digital audio-visual content services sector; trade unions; national electronic communications regulators and regional regulatory associations; government policy departments, including communications, trade and industry, science and technology; science councils; university teaching departments; consumer advocates, and development sector entities.
Upon completion of the degree, the successful student will be able to:
- demonstrate an advanced understanding of a comparative range of policy and regulatory frameworks for the digital economy
- apply high-level conceptual and analytical tools to the digital policy and regulatory environment in African and developing-country contexts
- critically analyse, assess and evaluate the complex and rapidly changing organisational, regulatory and policy environment for the digital economy
- undertake and present critical comparison of the African ICT environment with international models and best practice benchmarks
- undertake advanced independent research into issues pertaining to the digital economy in Africa, and formulate and present appropriate results and conclusions
This is a research-intensive degree, comprising 50% coursework and a 50% research report. An intensive and interactive teaching methodology is used on the coursework component, comprised of several learning methods including lectures, syndicate group work, case studies, structured online learning activities, and presentations from local and international experts in the field. Intensive reading preparation is required for the coursework modules, with assessment conducted via grading of group work presentations, of individual assignments, and written exam-equivalent assignments (or examinations). In this way, participants develop a strong practical focus, directly applicable to their own organisations, that prepares them to engage with policy and regulatory matters in the electronic communications and ICT sectors, as well as in other domains of digital transformation.
All lectures are offered on a hybrid, interactive basis.
Registrations to attend individual MA ICTPR courses, for non-degree purposes, are also accepted.
