Master's Programme in Public Administration and Management Programme description

The target group of the programme consists of those who wish to achieve research competence in sustainability studies, within the areas of design, arts, computer science, cultural and social studies, social sciences, urban and regional planning, and others, in order to be qualified for business, public sector, research, teaching and other positions that place high demands on professional competence.

The requirements for the PhD degree are established in the Provision for the Degree of Philosophiae doctor a (PhD) at OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University

To be admitted to the PhD programme, you must have completed a relevant bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) + master (120 ECTS) or equivalent education in the fields of human centred technology, art, design, social sciences, the humanities, and/or other fields relevant to the specializations in the PhD programme. The application must document the applicant's educational background and completed research work.

The average grade awarded for the master's degree must not be lower than a B.

A minimum grade of B must be awarded to the master's thesis.

Applications for admission must also contain a plan for the applicant’s doctoral project. This includes:

- project description

- plan for the training component

- progress plan

- funding plan

- proposal for academic supervisor(s)

The project description shall describe the topic, research question, theoretical basis, and choice of method. In addition, the applicants shall provide information about their needs for infrastructure and the language in which they wish to write their doctoral thesis and may be asked to provide information pertaining to possible problems in accordance with rights to intellectual property. In the case of comprehensive data collection, financing for this must be clarified.

Admission is based on a total assessment of the application, including the relevance and quality of the project description and on funding. The quality of the applicant's master's degree thesis/thesis and other written work can also be taken into consideration. Decisions on admission are made by the Doctoral Committee at the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, supported by a representative from SVA. Upon admission to the programme, the Doctoral Committee will assign the candidate a minimum of two supervisors. If the main supervisor is not employed at TKD or SVA or otherwise formally associated with the programme, normally a co-supervisor who is employed at TKD or SVA will be assigned the candidate. The admission is formalized through a contract between the doctoral candidate, the supervisor, and the university, and if relevant also with other professional groups and institutions. The contract regulates the parties' mutual rights and obligations for the contract' s period in accordance with paragraph 3 in the Regulations relating to the PhD Degree at OsloMet and is based on the outline developed by the University and College Board (UHR). Admission is granted subject to funding being approved.

The PhD program is an organized research education, and candidates shall participate in research groups. Externally funded candidates participate in research groups at their own workplace or in one of the faculty's research groups.

Rejections of applications for admission can be appealed pursuant to the Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at Oslo Metropolitan University (https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/f orskrift/2012-08-28-841).

After completing the PhD programme, the candidates are expected to have gained the following knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge The candidate

• is at the cutting edge of knowledge within his/her field of specialization and can relate relevant sustainability issues to philosophy of science
• can evaluate the expediency and application of different methodological approaches and/or artistic research to the development of innovation for sustainability
• can critically reflect on implications in practice of various epistemological perspectives to contribute to the development and production of new knowledge, theory, and methods for innovation in sustainability

Skills

The candidate

• can function as an independent researcher planning and carrying out research in his/her field of sustainability, including formulating problems and research questions and assessing the appropriateness of various theories and methods for innovation
• can carry out research for innovation in sustainability at a high international standard and in an interdisciplinary context
• can deal with complex academic questions in advanced collaborative sustainability projects that challenge existing knowledge and practice in the specific field of sustainability and to innovation in the professional field

General competence The candidate

• can identify and reflect on ethical issues in his/her own and others’ research and carry out his/ her research with scholarly integrity to contribute to responsible research and innovation (RRI)
• can undertake or contribute to complex interdisciplinary assignments and projects
• can disseminate research through recognized national and international scholarly and/or professional publication channels, and to the professional field(s) and the general public in popular science form
• can participate in debates in the field in international forums and present research at national and international research conferences in the field of sustainable innovation
• can assess the need for, initiate and practice innovation for sustainability in a policy relevant context

References

Correct use of source references and verifiability are required in all research.

• candidates must comply with the guidelines for correct referencing and use of quotations in both their training component and research component. Inadequate references can be deemed to constitute plagiarism and cheating and can constitute a breach of research ethics guidelines, cf. the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Sections § 4-13.

The PhD programme consists of a training component (30 ECTS credits) and a research component (150 ECTS credits).

The training component is intended to underpin and strengthen the PhD candidate' s research. The training component comprises a mixture of mandatory courses and elective courses. The elective courses are chosen in collaboration with the supervisors. The training component must be completed and approved before the doctoral thesis is submitted, cf. Regulations Relating to the Degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

Mandatory courses

The mandatory and common requirements at the programme level is in total 15 ECTS credits. Candidates must take these courses unless an exemption is granted from the TKD Faculty’s Doc toral Committee (DGU). The examination for each of the courses will consist of a paper that will be evaluated pass/fail.

The course Philosophy of Science in Sustainability (5 ECTS credits) will give the PhD candidates an epistemological basis for sustainability studies. It will give them a deeper understanding of foundational philosophical and ethical issues in knowledge production in the field and enable them to problematize and analyse the underlying premises and assumptions of their own and others’ research projects.

The course Research Methodology and Research Design for Sustainability (5 ECTS credits) is closely related to the course on the philosophy of science. The course will provide the candidates with knowledge on and skills in inter-, multi and transdisciplinary research. It will enable the candidates to understand and make use of mixed methods for a multitude of approaches especially suited to illuminate complex phenomena, and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

The course Sustainable Innovation: Interdisciplinary Research in practice (5 ECTS credits) builds on the two previous courses. The course will give insight into methods that will enable innovation, entrepreneurship, and transition management. It will provide the candidates with a solid theoretical basis and practical ability to manage, design and carry out research projects within various fields of sustainability. It will enable them to relate to the UN Sustainability goals in a theoretic al and operational way.

The goal of the mandatory courses is to provide candidates with an understanding of the foundational theories, concepts, and approaches within the field of study, including how these relate to methodological choices. The courses will also socialize the candidates into the research environment at TKD and SVA and facilitate connections with doctoral candidates at OsloMet and other institutions.

Elective courses

The following are brief descriptions of the elective, specialized courses. Candidates must take these courses at OsloMet unless an exemption is granted from TKD’s Doctoral Committee (DGU). Unless otherwise noted, the examination f or each of the courses will consist of a paper that will be evaluated pass/fail.

The course Site-specific Governance and Co-creation (5 E CTS credits) will address sustainability in a site-specific, regional, and urban context. The focus will be on governance and co-creation in cities, rural areas, and regions. It will enable the PhD candidates to understand and take part in co-creative processes with citizens and stakeholders to find concrete solutions for accessibility and meaningfulness for all.

The course Societal Perspectives on Sustainability (5 E CTS credits) will address sustainability from a societal perspective. The course will provide the candidates with perspectives for critically analysing the role these societal frames have in inhibiting and enabling social transition towards sustainability, and for engaging in constructive discussions on how sustainable practices can be facilitated at a societal level. Cases will be used to stimulate interdisciplinary investigation of these issues.

The course Well-being and Sustainability (5 ECTS credits) will address sustainability from an individual perspective. It will explore the interrelation between technologies, materials, human actions, and the environment from a broad perspective of health such as public health, quality of life and daily functioning from a critical perspective. The course will introduce innovative approaches for developing products and services to enhance critical reflection about well-being, to make them accessible to all people regardless of age, gender, or ability.

The course Aesthetics in Innovation (5 ECTS credits) will look specifically on the sensory side of sustainability, seeking to create awareness among designers, researchers, tech developers and other stakeholders of the many possible ethical and interactional consequences and possibilities of aesthetic

choices. The course will enable the PhD candidates to the sensory shaping and material tailoring of our technologic al and digital environments to get aware of and solve societal challenges.

The course Educational Perspectives on Sustainability (5 E CTS credits) addresses sustainability through theoretical perspectives on education. Education has the potential to change current practices and contribute to the transformation of ideas, attitudes, habits, and values in societies. This course discusses the effect of education and invites reflection on changes within and across cultures and societies. The focus will be on critical reflection and literacy. The candidates are invited to identify future-oriented research needs and enable them to make practical use of these theories and approaches.

The research component (doctoral thesis)

The doctoral thesis is the main component of the PhD degree, comprising 150 ECTS credits.

The doctoral thesis consists of independent research work carried out in active cooperation with a supervisor (or supervisors) and other researchers. The doctoral thesis can be submitted in the form of a monograph or a collection of several shorter scientific works (articles). A monograph is a comprehensive text that describes a topic in detail. A thesis written as a monograph is structured in chapters and with an introduction and conclusion, and the candidate is the sole author of the whole work.

A doctoral thesis based on articles usually must consist of a minimum of three articles. In an article- based thesis, the PhD candidate's independent contribution must be identified and documented, there must be a thematic connection between the works, and the connection must be accounted for in an introduction ('supplementary introductory chapter) preceding the articles (as stipulated in the Regulations relating to the PhD Degree at OsloMet). Chapters in peer-reviewed book s are considered as an article, but chapters should not constitute more than half of the total number of articles. The candidate may be the sole author or co-author of the articles included in the dissertation.

The courses are primarily reserved for candidates admitted to the PhD programme, but all courses will be open for application for other candidates who have completed a master's degree (120 credits) or the equivalent.

Teaching and learning methods will vary, but most PhD courses will comprise lectures, workshops, discussions, oral presentations, and written assignment(s) with individual feedback. The seminar form also supports the candidates’ training in presenting their own research, both to fellow PhD candidates in their own programme and to ex ternal participants. A seminar form with a dynamic structure and with PhD candidates from different programmes requires active engagement. This combination of teaching and learning forms enables candidates to engage themselves in multiple ways and thus enhance their learning outcomes. A unique feature of the programme is a practice-oriented and innovative approach, where research is tied to innovation, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and problem-based methodologies. The mandatory course in innovation and some of the elective courses will thus involve collaboration with relevant societal stakeholders in defining and executing research, and presentations outside the university. Syllabus in these courses will include policy documents and guidelines on sustainable developments in the candidates’ different fields of research.

The work on the PhD thesis consists of active research under supervision. The duties of the supervisors are regulated by the Regulations relating to the PhD Degree at OsloMet Section 3. The main supervisor should normally come from the programme' s department or research centre. If not, a co-supervisor from the department will be appointed upon admission. The total time the supervisors spends on the candidate is estimated to be 210 hours, including contact with the candidate, preparations, reading, follow-up work, etc. The standard distribution between the main supervisor and a co-supervisor is 140 and 70 hours respectively. If there are more co -supervisors, a different distribution will apply. The candidate is entitled to a total of 70 hours of direct supervision during the programme. Upon admission to PhD education at OsloMet, a written PhD agreement is formalized regarding their duties and rights during the admission period, cf. the PhD Regulations at OsloMet, § 2-6. A progress schedule is drawn up at the first supervision meeting. The candidate and the supervisor shall submit progress reports annually, cf. the PhD Regulations at OsloMet, § 3-3.

Midway assessments are arranged for each candidate. Here the candidate presents her/his dissertation project and receives comments from an opponent. The opponent should not be employed in the department/ workplace of the candidate or the principal supervisor' s department. Supervisors and researchers in the study's research communities are invited to participate. The mid-term seminar is a central arena for the presentation of the candidate’s progression and professional development and represents an important milestone for the candidate.

The programme will host an information seminar about submission and dissertation at least once a year. Seminar meetings can be held on ‘suplementary introductory chapter’ writing, which can complement corresponding seminars at OsloMet. Regular research seminars will be organized at the departmental/ research unit/ research group levels, where candidates may also participate and present their own research

Undervisningen i de fleste emnene er en kombinasjon av ulike undervisningsformer, som forelesninger, seminarer, oppgaveskriving individuelt eller i grupper og presentasjoner. I arbeidet med masteroppgaven inngår både seminarer og individuell veiledning. Det må påregnes betydelig grad av selvstudium og egeninnsats i alle emner.

Undervisningen i flere av emnene foregår i samlinger med to eller flere dagers varighet. Mellom samlingene arbeider studentene med oppgaveskriving og forberedelse til muntlige presentasjoner.

Undervisningsformene vil bidra til innsikt i ulike faglige perspektiver på studiet av offentlig administrasjon og styring, og forståelse for utfordringene sektoren står overfor. Gjennom forelesninger vil studentene bli introdusert til ulike faglige perspektiver og teorier. I seminarer og diskusjoner får studentene trening i å kommunisere og diskutere faglige problemstillinger. Oppgaveskriving og presentasjoner gir trening i å reflektere rundt og anvende faglige perspektiver på konkrete problemer, formidle resultater av eget arbeid, og å samarbeide med andre om faglige problemstillinger. Veiledning gir studentene trening i å gjennomføre selvstendig faglig arbeid. Gjennom arbeidet med masteroppgaven skal studentene på en selvstendig måte arbeide vitenskapelig og metodisk med konkrete utfordringer for offentlig administrasjon og styring. Individuell veiledning i forbindelse med masteroppgaven vil bidra til at studentene kan gjennomføre et selvstendig og avgrenset forskningsprosjekt i tråd med gjeldende forskningsetiske normer. Masteroppgaveseminar vil bidra til evne til å kritisk vurdere og drøfte eget og andre studenters arbeid og gjennom konstruktive tilbakemeldinger stimulere hverandre til videre utvikling av oppgaven.

Studentene gis mulighet til å dra på utenlandsopphold i 3. semester. Emnene som tas ved den utenlandske institusjonen må forhåndsgodkjennes av instituttet. Studentene kan få godkjent og innpasset inntil 30 studiepoeng fra utenlandsoppholdet i mastergraden.

Det er lagt til rette for å kunne ta imot utenlandske studenter fra våre samarbeidsinstitusjoner i utlandet, ved at to av våre masteremner undervises på engelsk og at det legges til rette for at emnet Forskningspraksis kan tas av innvekslingstudenter.

Masterstudiet i administrasjon og styring skal for øvrig bidra til å øke studentenes kompetanse i å forstå internasjonale forhold og perspektiver på de temaene som studiet omfatter. Deler av pensum er på engelsk, med modeller og eksempler fra ulike land. Det blir også trukket inn utenlandske gjesteforelesere i undervisningen.

The Master's programme targets individuals who wish to qualify as specialists in universal design of ICT solutions. It is relevant for those with competences in human-computer interaction, as well as interaction designers, software engineers, related professionals in public sectors, non-profit organizations and private sectors, and those who are interested in further studies at doctoral level.

In order to be qualified for this Master's programme, applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology or other equivalent qualifications, which include at least 80 ECTS within the field of computer science.

Please note that proof of English proficiency is also required. You are required to upload your own copy of your test results. Please refer to specific information below. (http://www.hioa.no/eng/Studies/International-Master-s-Degree-Programmes/Admission-to-international-Master-s-Degree-programmes).

When applying, applicants will be ranked in accordance with the regulations relating to admission to Master's Degree Programmes at OsloMet (http://www.hioa.no/Studier/Lov-og-regelverk/Regulations-Relating-to-Admission-to-Master-s-Degree-Programmes-at-HiOA). Applicants with 1-9 ECTS in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) will get 1 additional point in the application process, ref. § 6 (3) in the admission regulations. Applicants with at least 10 ECTS in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) will get an additional 2 points in the application process, ref. § 6 (3) in the admission regulations.

Students who get at least one additional point will also be exempt from one of the coursework requirements in MAUU4200 / MAUUD4200, due to their pre-required knowledge. 

Admission to single courses from the program has the same academic requirement as general acceptance to the program, ref. § 3 in the admission regulations.