MSc in Governance of Sustainability

Leiden University

In the Governance of Sustainability programme you will be educated to be a future ‘broker’ or ‘change maker’ to improve the quality of governance solutions to major sustainability challenges.

What does this master’s programme entail?

In this new programme you will obtain in-depth knowledge of both the governance perspective (social science) and the natural sciences. You will learn how to integrate these perspectives in order to develop and improve the quality of governance solutions to major sustainability challenges such as climate change, loss of biodiversity and the transition to a circular economy. In addition, you will learn a variety of skills required to cope with wicked sustainability problems and to develop oneself into a future ‘change agent’ in a governance context.

Why study Governance of Sustainability at Leiden University?

• You will design and execute integrative research projects, combining concepts, theories and research methods of both governance and natural sciences.
• You will be confronted with real-life sustainability challenges to make the appropriate connections between the mechanisms and the governance thereof.
• Our teaching is aimed at creating a transdisciplinary environment in which you are constantly challenged to combine perspectives, reflect on those and take ownership of your learning process.
• Be inspired by co-teaching professors from two leading institutes, who are at the forefront of the field of sustainability and public administration.

Governance of Sustainability: the right master’s programme for you?

Do you want to be an intermediary between the scientific experts, policy makers and politicians in the domain of sustainability? Do you want to tackle sustainability problems by combining your knowledge on natural sciences with your understanding of governance? Are you keen on contributing to the development of governance solutions needed to achieve a sustainable society and contribute to the implementation of these solutions? Then our Governance of Sustainability programme is designed for you.

Career prospects

With a degree in Governance of Sustainability you are well prepared for broad array of career prospects in the field of sustainability, both inside and outside academia.

Acquired skills and competence

After completing the programme, you are able to analyse complex issues from both natural sciences perspectives and governance perspectives and know how to integrate these perspectives in order to implement solutions in the public domain for a sustainable society. You have acquired a wide variety of skills, including technical tools, governance tools and transferable skills.

Career

The programme prepares you for governance and strategic positions at (semi-) government institutions or private sector on sustainability issues and to take leading broker-roles connecting different actors. You can be a change agent on sustainability, through the synthesis of different scientific fields and non-scientific knowledge and insights. Thus, graduates will contribute to the development of integrated solutions needed to achieve a sustainable society and contribute to the implementation of these solutions.