Course Program

6 Credits
Teacher: Enrico Macii

This course offers the basic concepts of data representation and logic operation in computers and digital devices, the fundamental principles of computer architecture, including both hardware and software components, the background of computer networking and distributed systems. In addition, it provides a comprehensive overview of the key technologies in modern ICT, including heterogeneous digital systems, cloud, IoT, databases, data analytics, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
The contents presented here are preparatory to the courses of the MSc in “Digital Skills for Sustainable Societal Transitions” that will address specific topics of the ICT domain (e.g., Computer programming in Python, Database systems, Artificial intelligence and machine learning, IoT and cloud computing for sustainable communities.

6 Credits
Teacher: Gianvito Urgese

This course has a twofold objective: a) to introduce students to the 'cultural' and technological issues related to computer science; b) training students in the use of a computer programming language as a way to solve real problems.
Students will acquire two fundamental types of knowledge: a) the ability to solve concrete problems through programs implemented using a programming language and executed on a computer; b) the understanding of the quantitative aspects of computer science such as performance, computational power, representation of information, computer architecture.

6 Credits
Teacher: Andrea Ajmar

Geomatics’ techniques and tools allow to manage georeferenced spatial data and to generate added value information and can be applied in multiple areas (i.e., decarbonization processes, industry 4.0, cultural heritage, etc.) and in response to various challenges (i.e., sustainable mobility, optimization of industrial processes, predictive maintenance, digital twins, innovative dissemination tools). In particular, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play a key role, allowing to acquire data, to position them with respect to a reference coordinate system (georeferencing), to structure them effectively, to analyze them, to share them and to generate innovative and effective dissemination products.
Since geomatics’ techniques and tools are applicable in a vast domain of different applications, they represent an ideal environment where to apply data-driven approaches and to develop problem-solving skills in complex cases and by integrating different specific competences.
This course aims to: describe GIS systems peculiarities and GIS different data types; describe how spatial data can be navigated, queried, visualized and combined into mapping products; showcase methods and tools for creating new data and analysing existing ones; demonstrate the application of these techniques in different areas through practical examples, presented during lessons, and the production of a final report by the students on a topic of their choice.

6 Credits
Teacher: Sara Bonini Baraldi

This course aims to introduce students to the current challenges of working in business and organizations. Within the Master degree program in “Digital skills for Sustainable Societal Transition”, the course’s purpose is to develop the "human skills" of students and future workers in organizations. Students will be introduced to the broad theoretical apparatus derived from theories of organization and organizational behavior and to understand their implications in terms of management. The course will be divided into three parts. The first part will introduce the topic of "people management," inclusive of concepts fundamental to the Master degree program, including diversity management and motivation. The second part will focus on the group dimension ("group management") to understand the fundamentals of group behavior and leadership. In the third part, we will focus on "organizational structure," with emphasis on the topics of organizational culture, change management, conflict, and negotiation. Throughout the course, and particularly through group work, students will be challenged to think about the challenges that technological and digital development poses to work within an organizational context. They will be confronted to think about the consequences of digital transformation in the workplace and reflect on social responsibility issues.

6 Credits

6 Credits
Teacher: Silvia Anna Chiusano

This course presents database management systems and introduces the methodologies for the design, querying, and management of databases, introduction to business intelligence and the creation of interactive dashboards for data reporting. Laboratory sessions allow experimental activities on the most widespread commercial and open-source products. In this course students will acquire knowledge about: main features of a database management system; the structure and properties of the SQL language; interaction techniques between SQL statements and reporting tools; fundamentals behind spatial databases.

6 Credits
Teacher: Gianvito Urgese

This course has a twofold objective: a) to introduce the students to the basic concepts (theory and models) of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML); b) to train the students in the use of interactive frameworks and SW libraries. Students will gain practice implementing AI and ML algorithm and getting them to work in empirical fields of application. They will also learn how to modify and adapt template ML algorithms for new purposes.

6 Credits
Teacher: Sara Monaci

The spread of Internet and digital media has transformed the processes of communication, socialization, production and consumption around the world. Social media platforms have increasingly modified and somehow disrupted the ways in which individuals and groups get together in urban areas, debate, participate in civic life and promote themselves and their business. Through the perspective of media sociology, this course will provide students with the theoretical and analytical frameworks useful to understand the major transitions of contemporary digital societies. The main focus will be on social media platforms and their role in marketing communication, in the civic public sphere and in the processes of urban heritage valorization.
Along with the theoretical knowledge, students will learn how to elaborate a digital communication strategy in collaboration with companies and no-profit organizations. Thye will learn how to apply digital marketing methodologies in a specif case history and with a particular attention to social media platfforms communication.

6 Credits
Teacher: TDB

This course addresses the multi-faceted regulatory challenges of the data economy in the context of societal transitions. It aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the risks and perils of a data-driven society, as well as with awareness of the legal and regulatory options to mitigate those risks. Students will acquire knowledge of the applicable legal framework (with particular reference to informational privacy, consumer protection and data protection) and will be introduced to the challenges of applying legal principles to factual scenarios emerging from societal transitions, such as smart cities, self-driving vehicles, mobility-on-demand, e-government and digital citizenship. In this connection, the course will pay particular attention to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the way in which Courts and Data Protection Authorities have interpreted legal principles in relation to Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. As an in-depth study, a section of the course will be devoted to the change in modeling formal ontologies for legal knowledge. The emergence of autonomous artificial agents is challenging the modes and the structure of the legal discourse on topics like legal personhood, contractual and tortious responsibility, and even creativeness. While waiting for new policies to be adopted by national and international institutions, the inadequacy of legal orders to govern the phenomenon of artificial agents is embarrassing policy makers and courts.

6 Credits
Teacher: Fabrizio Di Mascio

Digital government transformation has a central role to play to tackle societal challenges and make use of the emerging digital opportunities. By increasing transparency, responsiveness, reliability, and integrity of public governance, the digital transformation of public administration can strengthen trust in government that is necessary for public policies to have effect. Digital government transformation is also significant for the development of the data economy as it ensures the movement of public sector information, which represents a key enabler for business innovation.
This course explores the potential of digital technologies in the public sector. It also addresses the patterns of implementation of innovation projects in the public sector focusing on the public management rather than the technical aspects of the digital transformation. This implies analyzing the strategies that the promoters of digital innovation employ in order to define appropriate modes of public governance, shaping new technologies socially given the specific context in which they are embedded.

6 Credits
Teacher: Lorenzo Bottaccioli

Internet of Things (IoT) indicates a variety of devices connected via the Internet, including wearable devices, sensors deployed on buildings, industrial plants, production and distribution energy systems and in general on cyber-physical systems. IoT technology is widely adopted in many application domains, such as smart factories, buildings and districts for energy monitoring or surveillance, environment monitoring and control of natural phenomena, within transport systems for traffic management and finally within industrial and manufacturing devices. In this context, the aim of this course is to give the student ability to use IoT devices and platforms connected to the network using programming paradigms for distributed, parallel and object oriented systems. The ultimate goal will be the ability of programming in the Internet-of-Things and Cyber-Physical-Systems world.
The student will also acquire the ability to program according paradigms publish / subscribe. The student will explore the concepts and tools for interoperability between heterogeneous devices, protocols, Machine-to-Machine, operating systems-oriented smart objects and programming with real-time constraints and energy consumption. Finally, it will be handled aspects related to IoT integration in the cloud and the development of platforms for end users.

12 Credits
Teachers: Sara Torabi Moghadam; Guglielmina Mutani

This course includes two modules with a focus on Energy Transitions and Energy Modeling (6 credits) and Evaluation Methods and Decision Making Approaches (6 credits). Overall, it focuses on the decision-making process in the context of energy societal transition. It introduces the challenge for post-carbon sustainable communities posed by United Nations Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 11) and it illustrates from a theoretical and practical viewpoint the main assessment and management methods and tools in support of complex and 'wicked' problems related to energy transition. Specific attention is paid to systemic and multidisciplinary approaches. All theoretical topics are intertwined with workshops and interactive sessions carried out within smaller groups of students. The urban districts will be used as demonstrators and virtual laboratories, to visualize the practical impact of the decision-making processes studied at the urban district level.

6 Credits

An optional course in each of the three specialization pathways:

Transport innovation for a sustainable, inclusive and smart mobility

Industry 4.0: Methodologies and case studies

Digital Urban Heritage

6 Credits

Alternatively:

• 10 credits training internship
• Or 7 credits training internship + 3 credits workshop in each of the three specialization pathways

20 credits