Wintersemester 2025/2026

During this course students will be introduced to key concepts, theories, and qualitative and mixed-method research approaches in digital studies. Drawing on media studies, sociology, political science, and digital entrepreneurship, students will explore how digital technologies shape society, culture, and innovation. Students will engage critically with topics such as technological determinism, the meaning of data, innovation, and surveillance capitalism, debating their implications for our digital age. Active seminar participation and multiple activities will help students to develop practical research skills, including research design, conducting interviews, and concept mapping. By the end of the course students will be equipped to apply these insights and methods when crafting a strong theoretical chapter for their Master’s thesis. The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, we will work together on your research endeavor. We will review different perspectives related to digital societies and elaborate on key areas such as innovation and network society. The aim of this part is to explore different perspectives and the theoretical scope of key areas. The second part is devoted to qualitative research methods. Here we will develop your excellence in the methodological aspects of your research.

This course is an introduction to the range of issues that are important to Human Resource Management (HRM) and contemporary organisations. Today, HRM plays a vital role in developing and supporting employees and ensuring a positive working environment. It is even more important due to digital transformation, which has reshaped relationships within organisations. This course is divided into two parts: Human Resource Management and Theory of Organisation. First, we will learn and discuss together the basics of organisations and focus on the design of organisational structures. In the second part, we will explore the fundamental concepts of Human Resource Management (HRM), during which we will extensively discuss the key elements of human resources.

Emerging technologies, like social media, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Everything (IoE), have changed the way we communicate, interact, and live. These technologies, however, not only create novel opportunities. As is becoming increasingly apparent, they raise specific challenges for many legal fields. This seminar puts a spotlight on data protection issues generated by the rise of the IoE and the advent of AI. Throughout, we will not only analyze the GDPR and comment on recent jurisprudence by the CJEU but also discuss novel policy strategies to square such technologies with data protection and human autonomy.