Why choose this course?

This Master’s programme offers a specialized pathway focused on the governance of digital, ecological, and social transitions. Classified under the LM-90 degree class (European Studies), the programme recognizes the European Union as a crucial legal and institutional reference for these policy areas. It provides a multidisciplinary education in economics, law, political science, and sociology, with a strong emphasis on the European dimension of these social and institutional transformations.

The programme addresses the threefold challenge facing European societies—three deeply interconnected dimensions. First, it supports the broad and pervasive transition toward an ecologically sustainable economy and society, essential for coping with the risks of climate change. Second, it focuses on assisting territories and actors most vulnerable to the measures required for achieving net-zero emissions, ensuring a just and sustainable social transition. Third, it tackles the governance of digital technologies, which, while offering extraordinary opportunities, also pose significant risks to societal cohesion and require careful management to align with ecological and social goals.

The interdependence of these challenges demands the design, implementation, and evaluation of integrated policies that simultaneously address digital, ecological, and social dimensions. Professionals in this field must therefore possess multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral expertise, enabling them to apply theoretical and methodological tools from various disciplines and operate across diverse regulatory and policy domains—from local to supranational levels of government and territorial scales. The European Union serves as an essential framework for these policy areas, given the profound influence of EU integration and long-term strategies on public policies and private initiatives related to digital, ecological, and social transitions.

Graduates will acquire advanced knowledge and skills for analyzing, managing, and evaluating European policies, programmes, and projects, along with specialized expertise in their chosen fields. This preparation will enable them to effectively utilize the instruments provided by the European Union to design and implement interventions that integrate environmental sustainability, digital governance, and social cohesion.

Overview of learning outcomes

Beyond the general learning outcomes of the degree class, the Master’s programme specifically aims to:

• Provide a solid multidisciplinary education on the European Union, its institutions, legal framework, and policies, with advanced study of regulatory and policy aspects related to ecological and social transitions;
• Develop the ability to interact with European institutions in national and transnational contexts, operating effectively within the EU’s multi-level governance system;
• Equip students with the interdisciplinary knowledge needed to participate in the planning and delivery of complex, high-responsibility operational strategies within public and private bodies operating at the different levels of the EU institutions, policies and programmes;
• Foster mastery of analytical tools—including empirical and quantitative methods—and comparative legal and institutional concepts related to digital, ecological, and social transitions;
• Ensure advanced proficiency in English, as the medium of instruction, complemented by operational competence in an additional European language chosen by the student.

Programme Rationale

The establishment of this programme aligns with the university’s and department’s strategic goal to internationalise the educational offer, particularly at the Master’s level. The thematic focus responds to strong demand from social partners for professionals capable of operating in both public and private sectors, addressing European policy, programming, and project design across different governance levels. This demand is especially relevant in light of the EU’s long-term priorities, such as the “Fit for 55” regulatory package for a just and socially equitable green transition by 2030, and the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030. The programme’s orientation also reflects student preferences, as indicated by a survey conducted during the initial design phase, which highlighted international studies as the preferred area for development. Furthermore, an analysis of regional and national educational provision shows that the focus on the governance of digital, ecological, and social transitions is currently underrepresented in LM-90 degree programmes.

Career Prospects

Graduates will be prepared to act as “Specialists in European Policies for Digital, Ecological, and Social Transitions,” with three main professional pathways:

• European policy officer: Working within public administrations at central, regional, or local levels, graduates will be responsible for preparatory activities, drafting acts and documents, and conducting analysis and research related to European policy. They will also develop project proposals for European funding calls and manage applications and financial reporting.
• Project manager for European projects: In a variety of public and private organizations (e.g. local authorities, enterprises, third-sector bodies, territorial development or internationalisation agencies, industrial districts, etc.), graduates will identify relevant funding calls, prepare and submit project proposals, and manage EU-funded projects, including administrative and financial aspects.
• Consultant in European programmes and projects: As freelancers or employees, graduates will support public and private organizations in the programming and management of European projects, providing technical assistance and expertise.

Educational Approach

The programme is characterized by:

• A strongly multidisciplinary perspective, integrating social sciences and humanities to address the complexity of real-world problems;
• A specialized professional orientation, with applied teaching units and laboratories designed to provide practical tools for professional contexts;
• An international outlook, with English as the medium of instruction, aimed at both ensuring proficiency for Italian-speaking students and attracting international students, including in specialized terminology.

Initial overview of admission requirements

Sufficient knowledge of English (at least B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference) is required and will be assessed during the admissions process. While the programme does not have restricted entry, candidates must demonstrate English language competence and relevant academic background and proficiency.

Educational objectives

Knowledge and Understanding

Area: “European policies, programmes and projects”

In this area, graduates will gain:

• Comprehensive knowledge of European regulation, policies, and the historical evolution of the EU’s political-institutional context;
• Thorough understanding of the influence of contemporary decision-making in advanced democracies and of continental political thought on EU institutions;
• Theoretical and operational expertise in the design, management, monitoring, and evaluation of European policies, programmes, and projects at different governance levels.

Collectively, this knowledge will enable graduates to grasp the implications of the EU’s institutional and regulatory framework for public policies across all levels of governance, as well as the historical and political drivers behind evolving arrangements. Furthermore, understanding policy and project cycles will equip students to navigate the procedures and priorities for allocating European resources at various governmental levels. They will also master the methods and tools required to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate European policies, programmes, and projects.

Area: “Governance of the digital, ecological and social transitions”

In this learning area, the programme fosters multidisciplinary expertise in legal, sociological, and statistical approaches to environmental sustainability, innovation, social cohesion, and digital governance. It also covers the EU policy framework and instruments relevant to these priority domains. Students will gain insights into participatory design and implementation of policies, projects, and interventions, focusing on stakeholder engagement techniques and the regulatory environment for public-private partnerships in service delivery and policy implementation. This social sciences and humanities (SSH) foundation is further enriched by introductory courses in ecology and computer science, equipping students with the essential knowledge to address the design, regulatory, and policy challenges central to the Master’s programme.

As a result, graduates will be able to:

• Identify and analyze the key issues related to digital, ecological, and social transitions;
• Understand and apply the main regulatory and policy instruments relevant to these three domains at both European and comparative levels;
• Design and implement projects and policies in these priority areas, with a focus on participatory approaches and public-private partnerships;
• Leverage the practical potential of information and digital technologies, particularly in analyzing open data and big data to advance sustainability and social cohesion.

 

Ability to Apply Knowledge and Understanding

Area: “European policies, programmes and projects”

In line with the programme’s expected professional outcomes, graduates will be able to:

• Apply their knowledge to European project design, management, and evaluation, across the entire project cycle;
• Work with and within managing authorities and related structures to define and manage of European programmes, preparing the administrative acts necessary to allocate and manage European resources, and overseeing case handling and implementation.

These learning outcomes will be achieved through a combination of core and elective modules, as well as related activities. To bridge theory and practice, the programme also offers professional laboratories as part of the ‘Further Competences’ component. These labs focus on practical training in standard software for project management, business planning, and financial reporting of European projects.

 

Area: “Governance of the digital, ecological and social transitions”

Graduates will be able to:

• Apply their expertise on EU institutions and projects to the analysis, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of policies and interventions across the digital, ecological, and social sectors.
• Use digital resources such as big data and open data to analyze, design, implement, monitor, and evaluate policies and interventions related to digital, ecological, and social transitions;
• Participate in professional laboratories focused on project management, business planning, and financial reporting for European projects.

In keeping with the multidisciplinary knowledge required to understand and manage interventions in these complex areas, the expected outcomes will be pursued primarily through integrated courses, each consisting of two modules from different disciplinary fields. These courses are offered as alternatives, allowing for greater personalization of the study pathway.

Teaching activities will include both core and elective modules. As in the previous area, professional laboratories will also be offered under “Further Competences,” focusing on specific EU operational programmes and financial instruments—for instance, the European Regional Development Fund.

Career Prospects

Employment and professional opportunities for graduates

European Policy Officer

Public administrations at all levels (local, regional, national, supranational); managing authorities and technical secretariats of European programmes; intermediate bodies involved in fund programming and management (e.g., industrial districts, territorial development agencies, agencies promoting and supporting the internationalisation of economic actors, science parks).

 

Project Manager for European Projects

Public administrations at all levels (local, regional, national, supranational); industrial districts; territorial development agencies; agencies supporting the internationalisation of economic actors; science parks; third-sector organisations (cooperatives, voluntary associations, foundations); companies; and representative associations.

 

Consultant in European Programmes and Projects

Consultancy firms or freelance practice.

 

Competences Associated with Each Role

European policy officer

The Programme provides the following knowledge and skills:

• Legal and political science knowledge relating to EU policy-making processes, specifically including:
  • Preparation and drafting of administrative acts for multiannual Operational Programming and calls for proposals;
  • Definition of criteria and evaluation processes for funding applications submitted under Operational Programming;
  • Compliance review of administrative and procedural correctness of acts adopted for implementing funded interventions, with regard to potential ex post controls;
• Legal, linguistic, and sociological knowledge to facilitate stakeholder engagement in building partnerships and in the participatory definition of policies and interventions developed within, or in support of, multiannual European programme planning
• Economic and statistical knowledge for monitoring, controlling, and managing information data relating to programme progress and impact;
• In-depth multidisciplinary knowledge in political-sociological, economic-statistical, and legal fields, complemented by foundational knowledge in ecology and information science, enabling the production of studies and analyses on digital technologies, ecological transition, and social transition to support the drafting of programming or administrative acts relating to relevant funds and programmes.

 

Project manager for European projects

The Programme provides the following knowledge and skills:

• In-depth multidisciplinary knowledge in political-sociological, economic-statistical, and legal fields, complemented by foundational knowledge in ecology and information science, enabling the production of studies and analyses on digital technologies, ecological transition, and social transition to identify the most effective and efficient project interventions aligned with organizational objectives;
• Economic-statistical, legal, political science, and sociological knowledge necessary to prepare project proposals under various multiannual European programmes, both centralized and decentralized;
• Legal, linguistic, and sociological knowledge to facilitate stakeholder engagement in constructing project partnerships and in the design and implementation of European projects, including at international level;
• Economic-statistical knowledge of project management for coordinating activities, objectives, and expected results of European projects, as well as for their process and impact monitoring and evaluation.

 

Consultant in European programmes and projects

The Programme provides the following knowledge and skills:

A) Programme management:

• Legal and political science knowledge of EU policy-making processes to provide consultancy support for the preparation and drafting of administrative acts relating to multiannual Operational Programming and calls for proposals; the definition of selection criteria and evaluation processes for funding applications; and the compliance review of administrative and procedural correctness of acts adopted for implementing funded interventions, with regard to potential ex post controls
• Legal, linguistic, and sociological knowledge to assist in developing and implementing stakeholder engagement strategies and initiatives for the multiannual programming of European funds
• Economic and statistical knowledge to support the design of monitoring, control, and information management systems for tracking programming progress and impact
• In-depth multidisciplinary knowledge in political-sociological, economic-statistical, and legal fields, complemented by foundational knowledge in ecology and information science, enabling the production of studies and analyses on digital technologies, ecological transition, and social transition to support the drafting of programming or administrative acts relating to relevant funds and programmes.

B) Project management

• In-depth multidisciplinary knowledge in political-sociological, economic-statistical, and legal fields, complemented by foundational knowledge in ecology and information science, enabling the production of studies and analyses on the Programme's themes to identify the most effective and efficient project interventions aligned with client organizational objectives
• Economic-statistical, legal, political science, and sociological knowledge to support—including in coordinating roles—the preparation of project proposals under various multiannual European programmes, both centralized and decentralized
• Legal, linguistic, and sociological knowledge to support—including in coordinating roles—stakeholder engagement in constructing international project partnerships and in the design, implementation, and dissemination of European projects and their results
• Economic and statistical project management knowledge for coordinating activities, objectives, and expected results, as well as for conducting process and impact monitoring and evaluation.

 

Role in the Workplace

European policy officer

Graduates will be able to undertake activities, including in positions of high responsibility, in the administration of European Union programmes and related financial resources available to public administrations at various territorial levels. They may be involved in defining investment priorities and drafting operational programmes, contributing thematic expertise in the Programme's subject areas, and collaborating with competent authorities (regional, national, and European) to determine programme objectives, priority axes, State aid considerations, and funding management arrangements. They may also participate, including in coordinating roles, in monitoring and evaluating the results achieved through programmes and their funded projects.

Core tasks and functions include:

• Preparation and drafting of administrative acts relating to multiannual Operational Programming and calls for proposals;
• Definition of selection criteria and evaluation processes for funding applications submitted under Operational Programming;
• Application of monitoring, control, and information management techniques for tracking programming progress and performance data;
• Implementation of project evaluation activities as provided for in regulations and evaluation plans;
• Compliance review of the administrative and procedural correctness of acts adopted for implementing funded interventions, with regard to potential ex post controls;
• Preparation of studies and thematic analyses on digital technologies, ecological transition, and social transition to support the drafting of programming or administrative acts relating to relevant funds and projects.

 

Project Manager for European Projects

Graduates will be able to serve as project managers for European projects in public administrations, public and private enterprises, non-governmental and third-sector organizations, and representative associations. They will possess comprehensive knowledge of the principal EU funding programmes—both directly and indirectly managed—and their legal-institutional context. They will be able to identify calls for proposals relevant to their organization's objectives, with particular reference to the Programme's themes, and assess their suitability for application. They will be equipped to manage a European project throughout its entire life cycle, from needs analysis to final evaluation.

Core tasks and functions include:

• Preparation of studies and thematic analyses on digital technologies, ecological transition, and social transition to identify the most effective and efficient project interventions aligned with organizational objectives;
• Drafting of project proposals for submission under relevant European funding programmes;
• Engagement of relevant stakeholders to build project partnerships, including at international level;
• Project management and coordination of activities, objectives, and expected results;
• Leadership, communication, and relationship management with partners and stakeholders;
• Process and impact monitoring and evaluation.

 

Consultant in European Programmes and Projects

Graduates will be able to apply their knowledge and skills in European programme and project management to support public and private organizations—either as independent consultants or as employees of consultancy firms—in the activities described for the two profiles above (i.e., technical assistance).

Core tasks and functions include:

A) Programme management

• Support for the preparation and drafting of documents for multiannual Operational Programming and calls for proposals;
• Support for defining selection criteria and evaluation processes for funding applications submitted under Operational Programming;
• Support for designing monitoring, control, and information management systems to track programming progress and funded interventions;
• Compliance review of the administrative and procedural correctness of acts adopted for implementing funded interventions, with regard to potential ex post controls;
• Preparation of studies and analyses on the Programme's themes to support the drafting of programming or administrative acts relating to relevant funds and projects.

B) Project management

• Preparation of studies and analyses on the Programme's themes to identify the most effective and efficient project interventions aligned with client organizational objectives;
• Support for drafting project proposals, including in coordinating roles;
• Support for building project partnerships at national and international levels, including in coordinating roles;
• Support for project management activities, including in leadership and coordinating roles;
• Support for managing relationships with partners and stakeholders and for project communication activities, including in coordinating roles;
• Support for monitoring and evaluation activities, including in coordinating roles.

Final examination and degree

Characteristics of the final examination

The final examination consists of the preparation and public defense of a thesis on a topic covered during the Master’s programme, as specified in the programme’s teaching regulations.