The study plan of the degree course
For the first year, the study plan consists of eight compulsory courses, aimed at:
- understand who the entrepreneur is (including his typical psychological traits) and how the process of creating a new business takes place, from generating an innovative idea to drafting a comprehensive business plan;
- understand how to effectively design and manage the customer experience through digital media, learning how to use the main tools of digital marketing;
- know the basic principles of corporate finance, identifying the capital needs of entrepreneurial activities, learning about the different means by which this need can be covered, the criteria with which to correctly decide on investments and ensure the financial balance of the company;
- know the actors and dynamics of the digital economy and the main public economic policies for innovation;
- know the principles and rules of law on the use of the Internet and the protection of innovation;
- know and appreciate the different forms of financing (equity and debt) available to innovative startups and the ways in which formal and informal investors decide whether and how to provide them with capital, in the different stages of the company's evolution;
- acquire the basic statistical methodologies and skills to manage company databases;
- learn the basic elements of the programming languages used in the web environment and the design criteria and possible areas of use of large databases
In the first semester of the second year, on the other hand, through three common and compulsory courses, students will learn to:
- use the typical tools and techniques of project management and organizational design to manage innovation projects in companies;
- understand the rules of corporate law and the most suitable legal solutions to choose the appropriate legal form to give to an innovative startup, design an effective governance suitable for the entry of investor shareholders in the various sides of the company's life cycle, regulate relations between shareholders in order to ensure the continuity of the company and avoid possible conflict situations;
- understand the effects of the diffusion and use of digital media on social behaviour, both relational and consumer, and to use social media correctly and effectively.
In addition, also in the first semester, students will be able to characterize their study plan by choosing two other courses in a basket of six, some with a more social/humanistic content, others more technical.
The second semester of the second year, on the other hand, is mainly dedicated to the internship (compulsory) and to the drafting of the thesis, which can also be in the form of a startup or innovation project.
Parallel to the courses, during both years of the Master's degree there are other supplementary teaching activities in the form of laboratories and lessons carried out with the active participation of consulting firms, IT companies and partner companies. These activities are aimed at developing students' mindset, soft skills and cultural background necessary to foster creative and flexible thinking, interacting in teams and with business organizations.
The limited number of students enrolled for this new degree is a function of a highly participatory teaching, which will privilege classroom interaction between teachers and students and the systematic use of group work, individual assignments , participation in projects and direct experiences (on campus and in the company), also aimed at encouraging "learning by doing" processes of students, supported by company mentors and coordinated by academic tutors.