Brief Description
Global Risks and Analytics is an innovative Masters’ Degree aiming to cultivate an interdisciplinary approach in comprehending the rapid developments and elaborate interactions around the world; domestically and internationally. For this purpose, the program collates three vibrant fields of academic study and research, each of which has a profound impact in the shaping of today’s world: Politics & International Relations, Risk Management and Analytics
The language of instruction, currently is in Greek. The option of offering the program in English is under consideration. International Exchange / Erasmus students are welcome to take modules from the program. Erasmus students are expected to demonstrate their ability to (a) carry out independent study, and (b) to complete a term assignment, both under the guidance of the teacher(s) responsible for the module. All teaching staff in the program is proficient in English and have seasoned international academic and professional experience.
Successful completion of the program leads to a Masters degree in “Global Risks and Analytics” awarded by the department / university.
The program was established in 2015 [Government Gazette, Vol. B, Issue 1100, 11 June 2015] and received its first students in the 2015-2016 academic year.
Intake and successful applicants
The program’s maximum annual intake is thirty (30) students. Applications may submitted at any time and are evaluated on a monthly basis until the annual intake limit is reached. Applicants that are successful subsequently are offered a position for the following academic year.
Eligible applicants must hold an accredited first degree (bachelor level) and have very good command of oral and written English (C1 or higher). Two or more academic or professional references are required.
Applicants are evaluated in terms of their first degree performance (70% or higher is expected), and their overall academic and professional profile. Applications are accepted throughout the year with a deadline at the end of August for study in the academic year starting immediately after. Some applicants may be called in for an interview with the academic director or board.
During their study, students are encouraged to, and are expected to take initiative and to explore further the contents of the course on their own and to venture in the interdisciplinary aspects of the course, based on their interests, of course.
Successful graduates typically have a strong academic background or professional experience (often both) in: politics, international relations, law, engineering, mathematics, economics, computing or security training like in the case of policemen, firemen and military personnel.
Outline
The program is intensive with a 12-month duration and is equivalent to 75 ECTS. It comprises two periods of taught study followed by a period of independent study leading to a Master’s Thesis.
Each teaching period is 12 weeks long followed by a 3-week exams period. During the winter teaching period students are expected to complete three core taught modules in
- International Politics
- Introduction to Analytics Methods and Systems
- Risk Management Standards
During the spring teaching period students are expected to complete two core taught modules in:
- Advanced Analytics Methods and Systems
- Threat management
and two optional taught modules, selected from the following:
- Analytics methods seminar (introduced in 2017-2018)
- Economic diplomacy and security
- Energy and Security
- European-focused Policy Analytics (introduced in 2016-2017). (Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Module).
- European Governance. (Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Chair).
- European Union and West Balkans. (Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence).
- Foreign relations of the EU.
- World financial system
In addition there is a year-long module in Social Science Research Methods which is delivered in three seminars throughout the academic year, respectively at the start of each study period. The module focuses mostly on research design, thesis writing and related skills.
In addition to theoretical aspects, all core modules emphasize development of applicable skills and student assessment tends to be throughout the teaching period. Most of the core modules include a capstone project and all modules include a limited number of distance/e-learning activities during the teaching period.
The Master’s Thesis period has a typical duration of three calendar months and commences at the end of the second teaching period.
The Master’s Thesis is selected from a list of topics or is devised by the student in collaboration with the program director and the prospective supervisor. In context, the program’s Masters’ Thesis are directed to focus either on interdisciplinary empirical studies combining one or more aspects of risk management, analytics and politics/International relations, or focus on illustrative applications/implementations of risk management and/or analytics techniques in an enterprise/organizational setting. The thesis may be written in Greek or in English.
Once submitted the thesis is formally assessed on its quality by three independent assessors. Provided it satisfies a threshold quality level, subsequently the thesis must also be orally defended in front of a three-person committee. The defense is also assessed by the assessors and is open to the university community.
Duration of studies: 12 months
More information is available in Greek in the MA website.