Programme of Coursework

The objectives of the courses are :

• To familiarize the student with the main theoretical perspectives on the role of technological change in economic development.
  
  
• To introduce the student to a wide variety of hypotheses and puzzles in industrial dynamics and innovation trajectories;
  
  
• To provide the student with skills and experience in critical evaluation of the assumptions, modelling, empirical evidence and the validity of the policy and other recommendations derived from existing theories and models.
  
  
• To get the student started on doing original research in the field of innovation studies by solving existing puzzles and paradoxes, critiquing and modifying existing models, identifying ways to obtain more relevant empirical evidence, developing new models and deriving new policy implications.

The courses for the first stage of study are based on intensive two-week modules over a 34-week programme beginning on 4 September 2006 . Students are expected to devote eight to ten hours per day (including class time) to their studies and weekend work will often be necessary. The course modules outlined below should be viewed as intensive workshops in which students will be expected to cover an extensive reading list and to interact intensively with classmates, faculty members and invited lecturers. Throughout the course work, UNU-MERIT will organize research seminars, on a weekly base. Invited speakers will include distinguished academics in the area of innovation studies and policy analysts from international organisations.

The first period of sixteen weeks, includes compulsory modules, which will be followed by all students participating in the programme. It consists of a basic tools (mathematics and statistics techniques) four week course and four basic modules of three weeks each. After the basic modules, students will follow sixr extension modules of eighteen weeks and one reading research seminar. Since none of these "extension courses" overlap, students will have the possibility to follow all of them. In the spring, a workshop on proposal writing will be offered to help students prepare their Phd proposal.

The emphasis of the coursework is conceptual and theoretical although, whenever possible, empirical evidence is provided as well. The emphasis will be on a synthesis between innovation studies and challenges for economic development in the global economy. Specifically, the courses will bring together theoretical and empirical contributions from the fields of innovation studies, economic development, structural change and industrial dynamics as applied to development trajectories in the world economy.

Outline of courses

I.	FIRST SEMESTER: Basic modules
I.1	Economic Development and Innovation Studies Professor Bart Verspagen syllabus
I.2	Innovation Dynamics and Industrial Change Professor Anthony Bartzokas syllabus
I.3	The Social Construction of Technology in Development Professor Wiebe Bijker syllabus
I.4	Knowledge for Development Dr. Paul Engel syllabus
I.5	Basic Research Skills Dr. Boris Lokshin & Dr. Micheline Goedhuys syllabus

II.	SECOND SEMESTER: Extension Modules
II.1	Environment and Sustainable Development Dr. Rene Kemp syllabus
II.2	Empirical Analysis of Innovation and Industrial Development Professor Eddy Sirmai syllabus
II.3	Financial Systems, Investment and Technology Professor Enrico Perotti syllabus
II.4	Sectoral Innovation in Developing Countries Dr. Kaushalesh Lall syllabus
II.5	Globalisation, Innovation and Technology Policy  Professor Luc Soete
II.6	Corporate Innovation Strategies in the World Economy Professor Geert Duysters syllabus

III. Reading Research Seminar: (presentation of essays on selected research topics and critical assessment of recently approved PhD dissertations )

IV Thesis Proposal Writing Up