The creation of an MSc. course in Digital Society is a very interesting aspect of looking at the connectivity between digital science and society.  

Dr. K. Kasturirangan
Chancellor, JNU & Former Chairman, ISRO
(At the 15th Annual Convocation, July 5th, 2015)

  A programme like MSc. in Digital Society is pathbreaking and an innovative move. It is the need of the hour.  

Samiran Gupta
India Head, ICANN

Learn More About The Programme

What is Digital Society Programme?

The Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are permeating and shaping every sphere of our public and personal experience. ICTs have opened up immense possibilities for economic and social change.

However, more often than not, the process of technology development is skewed as it is limited by the worldview of the technology developers. Technology development has to be made a democratic process wherein multiple stakeholders - end users in particular and the society in general come together.

The 2-year MSc program in Digital Society is the outcome of the suggestions by government agencies, corporates, non-profit organisations etc. about the need to leverage technology to achieve progress.

It intends to impart interdisciplinary skills combining an appreciation of technological possibilities along with a nuanced understanding of the economic, political,and socio-cultural context.

Who is it meant for?

If you want to play a vital role in aligning future technologies to the real needs of the society, this program is right for you.

While MSc in Digital Society is primarily suitable for those with some background in the social sciences, it is intended for anyone who wants to understand, as well as learn to study, analyse, and critique digital technologies and the complex ways in which they shape society, social institutions, and culture.

Ideal candidates to apply:

  • Graduates from social sciences, humanities, commerce, science or engineering streams

  • Sociologists/social scientists with a deep understanding of the problems of technology users in particular or the society in general

  • Public servants passionate about the adoption ICT in the welfare and developmental programs of the government

  • Technology professionals who believe in the power of technology to change the world for the better

Opportunities & Industry Fitment

This programme opens a wave of career opportunities for the graduates who act as an interface between the technical team and the end users of the technology.

Some of the job functions are:

  • A product/solution designer who understands the technological possibilities and visualises their potential applications to address specific challenges facing the society
  • A product manager in organisations where user experience is a key driver in designing technologies
  • An intelligent user who can analyse ICTs from the perspectives of users in multiple contexts - demographic, economic, cultural and social
  • An expert consultant who helps organisations develop right products and solutions for the society or enterprises, leveraging the expertise at the intersection of technical design, policy frameworks, and ethics

Any industry sector that serves end users with ICT products and solutions need experts with a multi-disciplinary approach to solving problems.

  • Healthcare, especially concerned with public health, electronic health records, assistive technologies
  • Banking and Finance, especially products and solutions related to digital financial inclusion and transactions
  • Energy, especially aspects involving responsible/sustainable consumption and production
  • Agriculture and Livelihoods, especially products and services of relevance to small farmers, collectives and producer organisations
  • Transport/Traffic, Urban Planning and Governance, Smart Cities
  • eCommerce and electronic marketplaces

Any organisation that builds user-facing technologies to solve specific problems of the society or an enterprise would need the expertise of Digital Society (DS) graduates.

The programme opens up job avenues in:

  • Information Technology companies
  • Research organisations
  • Non-profit organisations
  • Government departments
  • Consulting firms

About IIIT-Bangalore

IIIT-B is a frontrunner in research-driven technology education in India; seeking to contribute to the IT industry and the society, nurturing innovations and entrepreneurship. The institute is a not-for-profit and a joint initiative of the government and industry.