JOINT POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMME

Digital Innovation and Startup Entrepreneurship

In collaboration with the National Technical University of Athens

Starting Date: October 2023

Duration: 4 semesters (part time: up to 8 semesters)

ECTS: 120

Joint MSc in Digital Innovation and Startup Entrepreneurship: University of the Aegean and the National Technical University of Athens

The objective of the joint MSc in Digital Innovation and Startup Entrepreneurship is to provide specialized training in startup firms management through both theoretical and applied topics in contemporary e-commerce: digital marketing techniques and strategies, business models, the role of information systems in modern businesses, digital startups and digital services. The graduates of the joint MSc programme will gain important and essential knowledge and skills for their professional development. They will be able to think outside-the-box and embark on business activitiesthat will target an international audience and will be able to grow rapidly. Honours graduates will have the opportunity to discuss possible collaboration with affiliated companies and organisations in Greece and abroad.

This postgraduate programme is in accordance to the clauses of Law 4485/17, in combination with Law 4009/11, and is subject to the Regulations of Studies for the postgraduate programmes of studies, effective after their validation from the University’s Special Configuration Senate. Greek Government Gazette issue for the establishment of the postgraduate programme: 2857/B/17.07.2018.

Entry Requirements

  • Degree or diploma holders in informatics and communications, engineering, sciences, technology, economy or administration, or equivalent fields of study, from Greek universities or Technical Educational Institutions, or international institutions that are officially recognized by the Greek state
  • Graduates from Greek military higher education institutions

Candidates evaluation

Undergraduate studies: candidates are evaluated based on the grade of their first degree or, if the candidates have not graduated yet, based on the average grade of the courses they have completed so far.

Background and specialized knowledge: candidates are evaluated based on the average number of successfully completed undergraduate courses which are related to the topic of the MSc.

General evaluation: candidates are also evaluated based on any additional information, including their interview with the Department’s committee, their references, peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals and international conference proceedings, participation in research and development projects, etc.

Candidates evaluation goes through two stages. During the first stage, candidates are evaluated based on information included in their online application form and attached documents. During the second stage, candidates who meet the standard requirements are called for an interview (in-person or online). Candidate evaluation takes place in June for first-period applicants and in September for second-period applicants.

The evaluation is carried out by a committee made up of the Department’s professors and adheres to the evaluation criteria that are specified in Article 8 of the Department’s Regulations of Studies.

The names of the successful candidates are posted on the MSc webpage in July for first-period applicants and in September for second-period applicants. Successful candidates are notified by phone or email.

Syllabus

Course ID Course Press ECTS
7001 Startup Business Management Compulsory 7,5
7002 Financial Administration Compulsory 7,5
7003 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Compulsory 7,5
7004 Digital Innovation: Special Issues and Case Studies Compulsory 7,5
Course ID Course Type ECTS
7005 Startup Simulator Optional 7,5
7006 Digital Marketing Compulsory 7,5
7007 Information Systems for Enterprise Resource Planning Compulsory 7,5
7008 Big, Open and Linked Data Management Optional 5
7009 Digital Technologies and Web Services Optional 5
7010 Electronic Supply Chain Optional 2,5
7011 Project Management for Information Systems Development Optional 2,5
Course IDCourseTypeECTS
7012Digital Product Development Methods and PracticesOptional7,5
7013Emerging Information and Communication TechnologiesOptional7,5
7014Business AnalyticsOptional7,5
7015eBusiness Summer SchoolOptional7,5
7016Participation in Business Plan Development ContestOptional7,5
7017Internship in a Startup or IncubatorOptional7,5
Course ID Course Type ECTS
7000 Msc Thesis Compulsory 30

Courses Description

7001Startup Business Management

The objective of the course is to familiarize students with business and organisations management, with the main financial, production and marketing functions of enterprises, as well as with information systems and smart organisation tools. The course includes the following modules:

  • Management functions
  • Outer and inner environment for enterprises and organisations
  • Enterprise organisation and analysis tools (SWOT, PEST, etc.)
  • Business strategy and planning, and analysis tools (BCG matrix, strategy clock, portfolio cube, etc.)
  • Marketing and research (4P mix, break-even analysis, budgeting, etc.)
  • Digital/virtual companies and Internet business models
  • Students project: making a business/master plan for a company or organisation and analysing it using the tools taught in the course

Students are evaluated based on attendance and active participation in both class discussions and decisions concerning the weekly content of the course. For their final assessment, students are evaluated based on their performance in the final exam and in individual or group projects.

7002Financial Administration

The purpose of the course is to provide students with the necessary knowledge regarding the financial operations of modern enterprises. The following subjects are discussed:

  • Financial accounting: basic principles, financial statements, accounts and accounting events recording
  • Financial analysis: evaluation of the financial performance of enterprises, analysis of accounting statements via financial ratios
  • Cost accounting & budgets: basic principles and main techniques for cost accounting and budgeting
  • Financial decisions: financing decisions and methods for economic evaluation of investments. Laboratory exercise on the evaluation of the financial operations of real enterprises.

Students are evaluated based on attendance and active participation in both class discussions and decisions concerning the weekly content of the course. For their final assessment, students are evaluated based on their performance in the final exam and in individual or group projects.

7003Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The course focuses on the need to persistently innovate for the sustainable and robust business development in an international and rapidly changing technological environment. Topics of the course mainly cover knowledge management, patents and diversification strategy, innovation models and international business expansion. Particular emphasis is given to the concept of entrepreneurship and its role in the economic development and growth of the company, while simultaneously recognizing the key mechanisms of generating new knowledge and the typical phases in the development process of new ICT products and services.

Students are evaluated based on attendance and active participation in both class discussions and decisions concerning the weekly content of the course. For their final assessment, students are evaluated based on their performance in the final exam and in individual or group projects.

7004Digital Innovation: Special Issues and Case Studies

The aim of the course is to present real cases of digital innovation and their management. Studies include cases of success and failure of digital innovations. The reasons for the failure or success of each case are analysed. The course also includes presentations and interviews by market executives, creating an interactive communication with students on subjects chosen by the latter and the professor.

Students are evaluated based on attendance and active participation in both class discussions and decisions concerning the weekly content of the course. For their final assessment, students are evaluated based on their performance in the final exam and in individual or group projects.

7006Digital Marketing

This course provides students with the relevant theoretical background, but mainly practical approaches to contemporary issues in the field of digital marketing. Emphasis is given on: a) communication strategy and promotion via various digital channels (web, mobile, social networks, etc.), b) consumer digital behaviour process and models, c) customization and personalization of digital content, d) usability of websites, e) CRM information systems and f) advanced digital marketing analytics.

Students are evaluated based on attendance and active participation in both class discussions and decisions concerning the weekly content of the course. For their final assessment, students are evaluated based on their performance in the final exam and in individual or group projects.

7007Digital Business Resources Management

In the last decade there have been extensive developments in the area of ‘Digital Management of Enterprise Resources’, which currently constitutes a major worldwide tool for innovation and new enterpreneurship, as well as for the efficiency and competitiveness of existing firms. Numerous software applications – digital tools have been developed, which support a wide range of methodologies/algorithms that perform various forms of management of different types of enterprise resources. Furthermore, they become easily and directly accesible and usable by firms of all sizes, at low cost, without having to make big investments, though Cloud/SaaS services.

Objective of this course is to provide basic knowledge and familiarization with the digital management of enterprise resources, using digital tools that implement various methodologies/algorithms/approaches for managing various types of enterprise resources, e.g. financial, human, technological (equipment), materials (and in general inventory), and also relational and knowledge resources, business networks, etc. We focus on the basic forms of digital management of enterprise resources, which are implemented by the main modules of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, which can however be implemented/provided by autonomous information systems/software packages. The course consists of the following:

  • Introduction
  • General Accounting (Ledger) module
  • Sales module
  • Procurement module
  • Inventory warehouse management module
  • Production module
  • Fixed assets module
  • ERP systems implementation
  • Exploitation for supporting innovation and enterpreneurship research

This course also includes gaining direct hands-on experiences concerning the above modules. For each of them there is initially a description of the structure of its main files (both master and transaction files) as well as its functionality, and then follows a presentation and analysis of the latter in a real ERP environment, the Microsoft Navision ERP, implementation of a series of business scenarios in it, and then relevant assignments/small projects.

The asssessment of students in this course will be based on performance in the final exam, as well as in the above assignments/small projects.

7000MSc Thesis
The goal of the MSc thesis is to promote individual research and develop research skills and abilities. In writing their thesis, students can be assisted by a member of the faculty.
7005Startup Simulator

The objective of this course is to provide students with a realistic view of key management issues in the real world by applying the principles of management and decision-making to a modern simulation environment. Participants, in teams, undertake the management of a newly created PC manufacturing and marketing company and assign themselves administrative roles that correspond to the company’s operations (general management, production, sales, marketing, financial administration). In this context, they try to draw up and implement a complete business plan in order to understand the way that a company’s operations are combined and interact; they also become aware of the impact of competition, which requires constant analysis of the circumstances, as well as decision-making at a tactical and operational level. Additionally, the course includes lectures that focus on important issues of strategic management and business planning, as well as the management of a company’s individual operations. Particular emphasis is placed on providing and discussing representative, real-life examples from well-known companies and organizations.

Students are evaluated based on attendance and active participation in both class discussions and decisions concerning the weekly content of the course. For their final assessment, students are evaluated based on their performance in the final exam and in individual or group projects.

7008Big, Open and Linked Data Management

The aim of this course is to familiarise students with the management of different data from various sources. The course will present the different types of data (big, linked, ledger), as well as tools for their management (R, Linda). Sources of open data from around the world will also be presented with regards to their utilisation and the production of value-added services. The course will include assignments concerning tools used for managing different types of data, as well as methods for their analysis. Students of the course will be able to work as data analysts.

Students are evaluated based on attendance and active participation in both class discussions and decisions concerning the weekly content of the course. For their final assessment, students are evaluated based on their performance in the final exam and in individual or group projects.

7009Digital Technologies and Web Services

The aim of the course is to show students the added value and new opportunities that digital technologies bring to modern organizations, the economy and society. Starting with digital infrastructure technologies, such as the Internet and the World Wide Web, the course goes into modern B2C, B2B, G2C and C2C systems that enhance existing business models. In latter stages of the course emphasis is given on the importance of web services, cloud services, enterprise data intelligence and enterprise intelligence, as well as the challenge of interoperability when implementing digital technologies. Moreover, students will undertake optional work presenting modern digital technologies and analysing them in business terms. Real business analysis is also part of the course’s material.

Students are evaluated based on attendance and active participation in both class discussions and decisions concerning the weekly content of the course. For their final assessment, students are evaluated based on their performance in the final exam and in individual or group projects.

7010Electronic Supply Chain

The module is designed for increasing the efficiency of the main supply chain processes (e.g. procurement, warehousing and freight transport) and for minimizing the operational cost via the use of the Internet and advanced information systems (IS). The module drills down into IS such as warehouse management systems, vehicle routing systems, fleet management systems, etc. that are mainly used for the optimization of the key supply chain processes as well as for the increase of the customer service level.

Students are evaluated based on attendance and active participation in both class discussions and decisions concerning the weekly content of the course. For their final assessment, students are evaluated based on their performance in the final exam and in individual or group projects.

7011Project Management for Information Systems Development

The aim of the course is to familiarise students with modern techniques and methods of ICT project management and development of information systems. The course starts by introducing the basic concepts of project management, such as a project’s lifecycle (design, organisation, programming, and evaluation of results), as well as related tools and methodologies (Gantt, PERT, CPM, CPM-Cost, PRINCE2, project management, etc.). Following that, these concepts will be linked to the specific problem of ICT project management (software, infrastructures, integrated information systems, etc.). In this context, the implementation of relevant methodologies such as serial (e.g. Waterfall) and iterative techniques (Agile, Spiral etc.) will be presented, as well as relevant case studies. Finally, the correlation of the above with the wider context of an information system’s lifecycle will be analysed.

Students are evaluated based on attendance and active participation in both class discussions and decisions concerning the weekly content of the course. For their final assessment, students are evaluated based on their performance in the final exam and in individual or group projects.

7012Digital Product Development Methods and Practices

The aim of the course is to familiarise students with the methods of designing/ developing digital products. Based on modern management methods and procedures, students will learn to perceive business needs, understand customer needs, design prototypes, record development requirements, develop verification and validation documents, as well as track success through the use of metrics. The course will introduce the principles of design thinking, lean startup and flexible product development (e.g. Scrum, Kanban, eXtreme Programming). For their course assignment, students will be divided into groups and undertake the development and testing of an idea for a digital product (with or without the use of coding), which will be presented in the classroom.

Students are evaluated based on attendance and active participation in both class discussions and decisions concerning the weekly content of the course. For their final assessment, students are evaluated based on their performance in the final exam and in individual or group projects.

7013Emerging Information and Communication Technologies

The course’s objective is to investigate the impact of the 4th Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) on sustainable urban development. Specifically, the course’s aim is to analyse methodologies and models that can support the utilisation of new/innovative technologies in an urban environment to provide the necessary services and infrastructure that will maximize social, economic and environmental benefits. The course will present models for composition of multidimensional data, as well as integrated assessment frameworks pertaining to cities and organisations with regard to the effective integration of intelligence into their functions in every dimension of sustainable development. In addition, one of the course’s objectives is to assess systems that can support the design of new models of economic development at a local or regional level, by exploiting intelligent technologies, as well as natural resources and human/social capital. Individual applications of such systems at a city and building level will be presented extensively, along with the results they produced concerning specific economic, social and environmental indicators.

Students are evaluated based on attendance and active participation in both class discussions and decisions concerning the weekly content of the course. For their final assessment, students are evaluated based on their performance in the final exam and in individual or group projects.

7014Business Analytics

The course’s aim is to introduce social media data analysis in order to draw conclusions for the development of business strategies and marketing plans. The course will present:

  • Social media analytics lifecycle (tracking, mining, analysis, visualisation)
  • Tools for extracting, managing and analysing various data (texts such as tweets and comments, network data such as Facebook friendship networks and follow-following networks on the Twitter network, actions such as likes, shares, views, location data, etc.) offered on social networks
  • Marketing and business intelligence applications

Students are evaluated based on attendance and active participation in both class discussions and decisions concerning the weekly content of the course. For their final assessment, students are evaluated based on their performance in the final exam and in individual or group projects.

7015eBusiness Summer School
The eBiz Summer School (eBSS) is designed to introduce participants to the world of multi-channel marketing and provide them with the advanced technical skills needed to identify, engage in and develop customer relationships in a digital environment. The Summer School is targeted at marketing managers who want to improve their skills and learn about the latest developments through their co-operation with professionals who are willing to share their knowledge and experience. Participants will learn how to increase their business visibility through proper marketing strategies that exploit search engines, social networks and online advertising. Students are evaluated based on attendance and active participation in both class discussions and decisions concerning the content of the course, as well as on their performance in the final individual project.
7016Participation in Business Plan Development Contest
The course’s aim is the practical application of knowledge and abilities acquired from the postgraduate programme through students’ participation in a real-life entrepreneurship competition, with the assistance and guidance of a faculty member. The proof of participation and business plan submitted in the competition are the course’s deliverables, according to which student performance will be evaluated. Students may submit proposals to the Aegean Start-ups Entrepreneurial Competition.
7017Internship in a Startup or Incubator
The course’s aim is the practical application of knowledge and abilities acquired from the postgraduate programme through participation in a business incubator for the development of a business idea. Proof of participation, the report of the activities and the implemented business idea are the course’s deliverables, according to which student performance will be evaluated.

Part-Time Students

The distribution of courses per semester is indicative. It is possible to complete the studies in less than the planned time.

1st semester
  • 7001: Startup Business Management
  • 7003: Innovation and Entrepreneurship
2nd semester
  • 7006: Digital Marketing
  • 7007: Information Systems for Enterprise Resource Planning
3rd semester
  • 7002: Financial Administration
  • 7004: Digital Innovation: Special Issues and Case Studies
4th semester
  • 7005: Startup Simulator
  • 7008: Big, Open and Linked Data Management
  • 7010: Electronic Supply Chain
5th semester
  • 7012: Digital Product Development Methods and Practices
  • 7015: eBusiness Summer School
6th semester
  • 7016: Participation in Business Plan Development Contest
7th semester
  • 7017: Internship in a Startup or Incubator
8th semester
  • 7000: Msc Thesis

Academic Personnel

Teaching Personnel
CourseSemesterInstructorWebpage
Digital Innovation: Special Issues and Case Studies1Professor Ioannis Charalampidis (Univ. of the Aegean)URL
Startup Business Management1Dr. Charis Alexopoulos (Univ. of the Aegean)URL
Innovation and Entrepreneurship1Dr. Ioanna Kasteli (NTUA)URL
Financial Administration1Professor Ioannis Psaras (NTUA)URL
Digital Marketing2

Assistant Professor Dimitrios Drosos (AUEB)

Assistant Professor Peggy Papadopoulou (Univ. of the Aegean)

URL

URL

Startup Simulator2Professor Dimitrios Askounis (NTUA)URL
Electronic Supply Chain2Dr. Gerasimos Kontos (Univ. of the Aegean)URL
Information Systems for Enterprise Resource Planning2Professor Euripidis Loukis (Univ. of the Aegean)URL
Big, Open and Linked Data Management2

Professor Dimitrios Askounis (NTUA)

Dr. Charis Alexopoulos (Univ. of the Aegean)

URL

URL

Digital Product Development Methods and Practices3Professor Elias Carayannis (George Washington University)URL
 
 
Guest Speakers
NamePositionProfileOrganization
Dr. Dimitris StamoulisFinancial Technologies Expert | Business Consultant | Lecturer, NTUALinkedInURL
Apostolos ConstantinidisInvestment Manager – Business Analyst at Reset Consultants SALinkedInURL
Dr. Dimitrios TsigkosFounder at Starttech VenturesLinkedInURL
Dr. Efthimios KonstantinidisAssociate Professor of Digital Marketing at the University of TwenteLinkedInURL
Dr. Dimitrios SalampasisDirector, FinTech Thinker & Researcher | Lecturer, Swinburne University of TechnologyLinkedInURL
Dr Alex EleftheriadisChief Scientist at EnghouseLinkedInURL
Georgios KaramanolisCo-Founder & CTO/CIO at CrowdpolicyLinkedInURL
Fay OrfanouCo-founder and managing partner of AELIALinkedInURL
Marcel CremerAthens Lawyer, managing partner of Cremer & PartnersLinkedInURL
Spyros KapetanakisBusiness Analyst at GRNETLinkedInURL
Fotis DraganidisSenior ISV Partner Development Manager for Greece and Malta/CEE HQLinkedInURL
Ioanna SamprakouDIMERA GROUP Development DirectorLinkedInURL
Dimitrios TsigkosFounder at Starttech VenturesLinkedInURL
Dr. Enrico FerroDirector of Blockchain Innovation Observatory @ Links FoundationLinkedInURL

Fees and Funding

The tuition fees amount to €4,500 and can be paid in four installments as follows: (a) €500 upon the student’s admission to the 1st semester of studies (early October), (b) €1,000 at the end of the 1st semester (February), (c) €1,500 at the end of the 2nd semester (June), and (d) €1,500 at the beginning of the 3rd semester (October of the following year). No refunds can be given for fees or part of fees that have already been paid.

The postgraduate studies programme may offer a number of grants, conditional on academic performance, to full-time students. The amount of funding, requirements, method of funding, as well as the rights and responsibilities of grant-holders are decided by the Department’s Assembly (par. 4, Article 35 of Law 4485/2017).

Financial Report

The financial report of the programme can be found here.

Full-time/part-time study

The full-time study programme is completed in four academic semesters and combines blended and model types of learning, including: [a] a five-day intensive lecture cycle held at the Department’s premises at the beginning or the end of every academic semester (October, January, June), [b] an online learning environment that supports the learning process during the first three semesters. The fourth semester is reserved for the completion of the MSc thesis. Class attendance and participation in any educational activity, such as projects, assignments, etc., is compulsory.

Students can receive their MSc title upon completion of the MSc programme in four academic semesters or in three academic semesters if they have collected the required ECTS points.

Face-to-face classes and the final graduation ceremony are held in the National Technical University of Athens.

Working students may choose to study part-time. Working students have to prove that they work at least 20 hours per week and provide a work contract or certificate. Part-time study is also suitable for non-working students who cannot meet the demands of studying full-time, due to health or family issues, military service, or other personal reasons. In such cases, a Special Interinstitutional Committee decides whether a student is eligible for part-time study. The duration of the part-time study programme must be no longer than eight academic semesters.

How to Apply

Applicants are required to fill in a candidacy application form, attaching the following documents:

  • A copy of their ID or passport
  • A CV
  • A copy of their degree/diploma or a certificate of studies completion
  • Peer-reviewed publications, if there are any
  • Certificates of professional or research activities, if there are any
  • Two references
  • A copy of the candidate’s undergraduate dissertation or its title and abstract if it has not been completed; in case the candidate was not required to write a dissertation during their undergraduate studies, they should mention so in writing
  • Proof of English language competency equivalent to or higher than B2 level (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)
  • Any other document that the candidate believes it might support their application

The application and all digital copies of documents must be submitted online on the “Nautilus” platform (https://nautilus.aegean.gr/). Hard copies can be submitted in person during admission.

Regulations of Studies

Below you will find all the relevant documents regarding the Regulations of Studies for the postgraduate programme of studies (in Greek):

Interviews

Download articles for the postgraduate programme’s interviews:

Articles – MSc in Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Theses

Please follow the link for the suggested master’s thesis subjects.

You can find information about the authoring of the master’s thesis here, as well as a template here.

Academic Calendar

Academic Calendar

Hours: 18:00 – 21:00

Monday 14/6: Digital Μάρκετινγκ
Wednesday 16/6: Startup Simulator
Friday 18/6: Information Systems for Enterprise Resource Planning

The exams of the 3 courses will take place online.

Day Hours Course Instructor
Monday 18:00 – 21:00 Information Systems for Enterprise Resource Planning E. Loukis
S. Arvanitis
Tuesday 18:00 – 21:00 Digital Marketing (until 5-9/4) P. Papadopoulou
Wednesday 18:00 – 21:00 Digital Marketing (από 19-23/4) D. Drosos
Wednesday 18:00 – 21:00 Electronic Supply Chain (for 5 3-hour lectures, until 2/4) G. Kontos
Thursday 18:00 – 21:00 Big, Open and Linked Data Management (from 5-9/4) D. Askounis
Ch. Alexopoulos
Friday 18:00 – 21:00 Startup Simulator D. Askounis
1 15-19/2/2021 No classes
2 22-26/2/2021 1st Lecture: Remote
3 1-5/3/2021 2nd Lecture: Remote
4 8-12/3/2021 3rd Lecture: Remote
5 15-19/3/2021 No classes
6 22-26/3/2021 4th Lecture: Remote
7 29/3 – 2/4/2021 5th Lecture: Remote
8 5-9/4/2021 6th Lecture: Remote
9 12-16/4/2021 7th Lecture: Remote
10 19-23/4/2021 8th Lecture: Remote
11 26-30/4/2021 No classes
12 3-7/5/2021 No classes
13 10-14/5/2021 9th Lecture: Remote
14 17-21/5/2021 10th Lecture: Remote
15 24-28/5/2021 11th Lecture: Remote
16 31/5 – 4/6/2021 12th Lecture: Remote
17 7-11/6/2021 No classes
Spring Semester Exams
Public holiday 15/3/2021
Public holiday 25/3/2021
Easter Holidays 26/4 – 7/5/2021
Public holiday 1/5/2021