E-Government (MSc) University of Koblenz

The E-Government Master's degree programme is a research-oriented degree programme that qualifies students in various areas concerning the adoption of information and communication technologies in the public sector. Building on competencies obtained in undergraduate computer science courses, such as information systems, information management, computer science or similar courses, this Master's degree specialises in the design and use of information systems as well as IT management for governments and public administrations.

During their studies, students will learn methods and techniques for a holistic design of information systems for IT applications in the public sector, for e-government and for public participation and the use of IT in strategic decision-making and public governance.

The E-Government Master's programme focuses on the transfer of skills and knowledge of methods and techniques to support the design, implementation and economic use of information and communication systems in government and administration applications as well as the changes resulting thereof in the organisational structures. Graduates receive an education that is characterised by designing multidisciplinary and holistic information systems.

Three key areas are:

• Decision-making and decision-finding (policy formulation): How can ICT make political processes more transparent and comprehensible, make citizens' participation more effective and equip policy with instruments to make well-informed decisions?
• Service production and task of performance (policy implementation): How can ICT make administrative tasks more effective and efficient? How can cross-departmental cooperation be structured organisationally, technically and legally to improve service production?
• Monitoring, control, impact and management (monitoring and governance function): How can ICT help to effectively and efficiently collect, aggregate and evaluate background information and basic data necessary for decision-making and service production? How can correlations of effects and technological impacts such as the "digital divide" be recognised, analysed and evaluated?

The courses in the E-Government Master of Science programme are mostly lectures, seminars and exercises, and students should be able to take an active part during courses as well as learn and study independently. Apart from the mandatory courses offered in the first two semesters, the interdisciplinary curriculum allows students to choose from subject-related electives nearly without restrictions. The interdisciplinary curriculum consists of courses in e-government, information systems, studies of the law and computer science. The curriculum of the E-Government Master's programme is organised into six module groups:

1. E-Government (24 ECTS): This module teaches a holistic understanding of design, implementation and use of information systems in governments and administrations, knowledge and instruments in public governance and open government as well as e-participation, policy analysis and modelling.
2. Information Systems (24 ECTS): This module teaches the understanding of the concept of enterprise architecture as well as knowledge principles and different frameworks. Students obtain a broader view in analysis and decision-making regarding the selection, evaluation and use of business software in a company. Students learn how to understand and apply research methods as well as workflow management and IT risk management.
3. Elective courses in information systems and computer science (24 ECTS): A wide range of elective courses can be chosen from topics in the field of information systems and computer science, e.g. Business Process Management, Business Collaboration, Policy Analysis and Modelling, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Social Science, Java EE Web-Applications, Introduction to Web Science, Process Mining and more (there are 42 choices in total).
4. Jurisprudence (6 ECTS): This module introduces E-Government and the most important laws, strategies and regulations for the digitalisation of the public sector in Germany and the European Union.
5. Research lab and soft skills (12 ECTS): Topics for the research lab usually address recent research topics in the field of e-government from current research projects of the e-government work group. This module contains scientific working and writing, social skills and leadership training.
6. Master's thesis in e-government (30 ECTS): Students can choose a topic of their choice on e-government that is theoretically focused, conceptual, an implementation or empirical research.

Bachelor’s degree in

• Information systems
• Information management
• Public Management/Administration
• Computer Science or an equivalent degree with a final grade of “good” (at least 2.5) or better

For successful admission, it is necessary to demonstrate specific skills through relevant modules taken in information systems, such as analysis of information systems, foundations of business (or enterprise) application systems, as well as computer science skills (in case of a Bachelor's in Information Management or Public Management/Administration). Furthermore, it is necessary to demonstrate scientific writing skills and completion of a Bachelor’s thesis. All these subjects must be listed in the transcript of the Bachelor’s degree.

Currently approx. 350 EUR per semester, covering contributions to the student services, the student union, and the local public transport ticket

We estimate that students require 992 EUR per month to cover the costs of living (including housing, bills, Internet, food, clothes, study materials, etc.). However, this depends on the individual style of living, the type of housing, etc.

To apply for a study visa, it is often mandatory to show proof of a blocked account of around 11,900 EUR.

There are a number of jobs available at the university (e.g. as student assistants). Students can also find part-time jobs outside the university, e.g. in companies in Koblenz and the surrounding area. A basic knowledge of German is helpful when looking for a job.

Preparation of international Master's students for the German job market in the context of the university's DAAD-funded project "FIT4SukCESS", e.g. in the form of workshops on application practices and CV checks

Accommodation is available in student halls of residence or on the private housing market. A certain number of rooms in halls of residence are reserved for incoming international students. Students can contact the International Relations Office for further information on the application process or regarding the search for private housing.

E-mail: accommodation@uni-koblenz.de or international@uni-koblenz.de

The University of Koblenz is one of the youngest universities in Germany – and yet rests on a long-established scholarly tradition. Four profile areas are linked in a unique way: “Education”, “Computer Sciences”, “Culture and Mediation” and “Material and Environment”. These profile areas also provide important impulses for teacher education, which plays a pivotal part at our university. Interdisciplinary cooperation and short distances on campus characterise everyday university life and enable vivid interdisciplinarity and continuous innovation in science.

The University of Koblenz offers a broad range of high-quality study programmes to its over 9,700 students, including around 1,300 international students.

The university sees itself as a driving force in developing a vivid economic and scientific region and is internationally visible and connected at the same time. Its great emphasis on internationalisation is also reflected in the academic and professional as well as intercultural and linguistic support it offers to its international students throughout the entire duration of their studies. With its new DAAD-funded "FIT4SukCESS" project, the university provides international students with tailor-made offers in the four topic areas: "Preparation for Studies", "Study Success", "Employability" and "Labour Market Integration", in order to lead them to academic success and subsequently to a career in Germany.

The university has given itself the motto “continue discovering”. This reflects the incentive and aspiration of all members of the university to constantly question the familiar and the customary in order to arrive at new insights and findings. To this end, the university offers its members the required resources to further develop their studies, teaching and research and to break new ground in transferring ideas, knowledge and technology.

Koblenz is a city with a rich, 2,000-year history. With currently more than 113,000 inhabitants with more than 130 different nationalities, Koblenz is located in one of the most attractive regions in Germany. Its surrounding landscape, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, is honoured as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Together with the metropolitan areas of Frankfurt and Cologne, which are close by, it features many cultural attractions and recreational facilities in combination with moderate living costs, all making Koblenz an ideal place to study.