6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4023735ENR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Communication Sciences
Educational team
Pieter De Leenheer
Mehdi Montakhabi (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
20 contact hours Lecture
6 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
124 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

The first unicorn company in Belgium started only a few years ago as a VUB-spin-off. It is a prominent example of a new type of digital, data-driven startups that can grow very fast and operate on a global level.

Examples like these show that understanding and being successful in digital media and internet services requires new skills of entrepreneurship and innovation management. The course is based on academic literature as well as on current, real-life case studies and inspiring testimonials of successful ventures and innovations in Europe, the US and Asia. You will gain in-depth knowledge of what is happening in digital markets today, and what is driving digital inventions and innovations.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Slides, lecture notes and online reader
Additional info

Not applicable.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

  • Students demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of the innovation processes for digital innovations, how these affect the digital economy and which factors influence their success.
  • Students demonstrate the ability to critically contextualise and evaluate current national and international developments and discussions, and are able to independently deepen insights related to complex problems on the basis of an original framework of analysis, thereby expanding the theoretical basis related to media, internet and globalisation.
  • Students show an open and constructive attitude whilst having respect for other views and beliefs. 
  • Students are open to scientific doubt and societal pluralism. They demonstrate courage, ambition and perseverance in questioning both established insights and alternative points of view.
  • Students demonstrate the skill to discuss and debate current societal and scientific topics and theoretical developments related to media, internet and globalisation. The students discuss issues on the basis of critical and substantiated reflections and research findings, open-mindedly and willing to acknowledge other arguments.
  • Students are able to communicate their point of view in a clear and scientific-grounded argumentation to various target groups.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Practical Exercise + Oral Def with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: Practical exercise with oral defence

Additional info regarding evaluation

Peer assessment will be used to establish the individual grading on the group work (mandatory). In this, students are required to assess themselves and fellow group members on a number of criteria. The result of this is an individual adjustment factor. The adjustment factor will be used to individualize the group point (= the inherent value of the group work). This is done by multiplying the group point by the adjustment factor. The group work is graded xx/20, and has a weight of 100% in the grading of the entire course unit. If a student does not complete a peer assessment by the specified deadline, the instructor may decide to use the maximum deduction of points. The instructor always has the final say and may decide to strengthen the adjustment factor, weaken it, or even disregard it altogether, if the scores obtained do not prove reliable. This decision will in principle only be made in exceptional cases, but will always be based on clear arguments, analyses, and/or additional observations/interviews.

Students who fail the first exam period, have to submit a new individual case study in the retake period.

Guidelines regarding the use of Generative AI will be communicated through Canvas. 

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Communication Studies: Media, Strategy and Marketing (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Communication Studies: Media and Society (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Communication Studies: Digital Media in Europe