Ανοικτό Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου - Open University of Cyprus
Open University of Cyprus
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During the second part of the master dissertation (4th semester of study), the research and writing phases of the dissertation are completed.
One month before the end of the semester, the student submits the full and final text of the dissertation to the three-member committee.
The supervisor and the two members of the committee consider whether the research has been completed in accordance with the required scientific criteria. As is the case for the writing and assessment of written assignments of the MA Programme "Cultural Policy and Development", the text of the dissertation has to meet four criteria, namely the quality of ideas, (i.e. the critical analysis of the theory and the connection between the theory and the research questions), the bibliographic support of the research with primary and secondary sources, the quality of writing, and the structure and presentation of the text. The committee members suggest the according improvements and corrections.
At that point, the three-member committee checks whether the dissertation has also followed the OUC "Guidelines on writing Postgraduate Dissertations", and the OUC regulations, as described in the "Internal Regulations of Studies" form.
At the same time, the three-member committee decides whether the student is ready to go through the process of supporting their dissertation, and thus complete their studies.
The committee’s decision (defend or not the thesis), along with their comments on the final text must be communicated to the student within fifteen days. The student is required to adopt and implement immediately (before the defense) the improvement suggestions indicated by the committee members.
At the same time, the date of defending the dissertation is set. The whole process takes about one hour during which the student presents the research and receives new questions from the committee. Upon completion of the questions, the student leaves the room and the three-member committee evaluates the student's performance.
During the second year of their studies (on full-time enrolment), students can prepare a Masters Dissertation.
The Masters Dissertation involves writing a text of 12,000-15,000 words.
The dissertation consists of two modules, ΠΠΑ701A and ΠΠΑ701B, over the 3rd and 4th semesters, with a value of 15 + 15 ECTS, respectively.
Each research subject focuses mainly on Cyprus and Greece, it relates to a topic that emerged from the modules taught during the previous semesters, it is original (not elaborated in previous or concurrent master thesis), and, thus, contributes to the originality of research in the cultural field. The final result (the text of the dissertation) also serves as examination to the two modules it consists of (ΠΠΑ701A and ΠΠΑ701B).
The subject proposed by the student must be accepted by the Academic Coordinator of the programme, who appoints a three-member committee for each student. The three-member committee is approved by the relevant Faculty (in this case by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences), and consists of the supervisor of the dissertation plus two members. All three members, especially the supervisor, have research and scientific experience and expertise in topics related to the proposed subject.
During the first part of the Master Dissertation (3rd semester of study), the student, in co-operation with the supervisor, finalizes the main points of the framework and the particular research outcomes of the dissertation’s subject. The detailed description of the subject, the framework of research, its purpose, necessity and originality, the methodology and the basic research questions, along with an indicative bibliography and work schedule, are documented in the a specific document, the ΑΠΚΥ63.
This form is signed both by the student and the supervisor of the dissertation. The student then posts it on the dissertation platform of the MA "Cultural Policy and Development".
Although it is only signed by the supervisor, the form is communicated in time (by the supervisor) and discussed with the two other members of the committee, so that all three can agree on the above-mentioned points of the proposed research.
At the end of the 3rd semester, the student is invited to complete the document ΑΠΚΥ157. This form constitutes the intermediate progress report of the dissertation. Within approximately 5,000-6,000 words it describes the objectives, as listed in the document APKY63; the development of the research and the objectives achieved until that time (by the end of the first part of the dissertation). It provides feedback to the research questions, as well as the estimated time schedule and further research steps to follow until the completion of the dissertation during the next academic semester.
Same as with document ΑΠΚΥ63, even though the ΑΠΚΥ157 form is only signed by the supervisor of the dissertation, it is communicated to the other two members of the committee (by the supervisor), and together the three members suggest improvements and draw attention to weaknesses in the development of the research. The student is required to take into account these suggestions, and proceed to the according necessary corrections.
After reviewing the final text of the form, the supervisor signs it and the student posts it on the dissertation platform of the MA "Cultural Policy and Development". The form is also signed by the student.
The Module ΠΠΑ621, "Art and Society", consists of four (4) sub-units, corresponding to groups of weeks:
The first sub-unit (4 weeks) analyses the relationship between cultural institutions and their historical and social context. It examines the influence of cultural context in the perception of arts, as well as the role of aesthetics in cementing collective perceptions and beliefs.
The second sub-unit (3 weeks) deals with the importance and the role of the official, state management and promotion of the cultural past in the present through institutions and projection of values. This subunit uses the knowledge of the previous section in a way that the students understand more specifically how visual semiology creates collective memory and identity, and - for that very reason – how it determines cultural policy decisions and arts management.
The third sub-unit (3 weeks) focuses on the institutions of Cultural Capital, Cultural Olympiads, and the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games. It examines, using very specific case studies, the conditions that shaped the identity of these institutions; their differentiations over time; and their relationship with broader political, social and economic contexts.
The fourth sub-unit (3 weeks) discusses the history of the art market, and its social impact as an economic and symbolic value. It acquaints students with the main factors that mobilize art markets today, as well as the institution of sponsorship, and describes the ways in which ideologies, symbolic values, cultural institutions and cultural policies interact and interlink.
The Module focuses in particular on:
The Module ΠΠΑ616, "Cultural and Creative Industries", consists of seven (7) sub-units. The course is a continuation of ΠΠΑ521 "Cultural Economics and Management" (one of the three compulsory modules of the MA programme), with a focus on social entrepreneurship, and especially on the financing, budgeting, planning and sustainability of a cultural industries. It deals with conceptual, methodological and historical issues concerning the identification of cultural and creative industries, and examines how the term emerged, and what it means today.
The course investigates the cultural and creative industries in Cyprus and Greece, and studies the creative value chains, i.e. what happens on each "production" stage in each creative sector, taking into account their peculiarities. It analyses issues of applied entrepreneurship in the European context, and ways of drafting business plans and strategies that will lead to sustainable proposals.
The Module focuses in particular on:
The Module, ΠΠΑ615, "Cultural Tourism, Urban Regeneration and City Branding", discusses the emerging issues on the use of culture for social and economic development on a local and national level.
In particular, it refers to the planning, prospects and evaluation of cultural tourism (cultural, religious, ecotouristic), and the assessment of its influence on local economies. It also covers the most prominent theoretical approaches of urban revival and regeneration, the planning implementation in specific cities or urban areas, the prediction of their viability, and the evaluation of that implementation. Finally, it covers key issues of city and nation marketing and branding, principles, rules, evaluation, and implementation methods. The module highlights the importance of assessing local particularities, in connection to cultural tourism. It explores the overall plan for tourism development, as well as proposals for urban regeneration. The applied part of the Module deals with real life examples and case studies from Cyprus, Greece, and the world.
The Module focuses in particular on:
The Module ΠΠΑ614, "Museum Studies – Museology”, covers issues including the concept of the modern museum, museology, museum studies, the development of museums in their historical course, the operation of the modern museum, the care of museum collections, the exhibition of museum objects, the organization and administration of the modern museum, the relationship between the museum and education (museum education – museum educational activities), the role of new/digital technologies in the modern museum, and issues on communication of the modern museum with the public and audiences.
The Module ΠΠΑ614, "Museum Studies – Museology”, is divided in three (3) subunits.
The Module focuses in particular on:
The Module ΠΠΑ523, "Cultural Law and Law of Intellectual Property", includes two thematic sub-units, the Law of Culture (Cultural Law) and the Intellectual Property Law (Law of Literary and Artistic Property).
The Law of Culture covers the legal status of monuments, as well as the research, protection, exhibition and use of monuments. The Module also examines the Law of Museums and the legal status of protection of cultural goods, with an emphasis on measures to tackle crimes of the Law of Culture. Particularly focus is given to the legal measures against the illicit trafficking in cultural goods, with emphasis on Cyprus and Greece.
The Intellectual Property Law examines the concept of intellectual property, intellectual property rights, especially author copyright, and the special parameters concerning IT and Creative Commons licenses (CC).
The Module focuses in particular on:
The Module ΠΠΑ522, "Cultural Communication", focuses on the communication of cultural organisations and, in particular, the marketing of the arts, i.e. the field of analysis, research and design of the communication strategy of a cultural organization.
It examines the contemporary landscape of cultural consumption, the factors shaping the cultural habits and preferences of the public, as well as the ways of detecting the latter through audience research. It studies different approaches, techniques and tools of strategic communication of cultural organisations, as well as ways of using the media, with particular emphasis on digital / online media and social media. Emphasis is also given on the methodology of segmenting audiences, with references to ACORN and MOSAIC systems. Some main categories of cultural organisations are examined in order to study their communication particularities in detail.
The Module focuses in particular on:
The Module ΠΠΑ521, "Cultural Economics and Management", consists of seven (7) sub-units corresponding to weeks.
The Module examines the definitions of the cultural and creative economy and explains why it is necessary to study separately the cultural and creative industries. The particular contribution of cultural industries to the economy is understood through a specific study of the structure of cultural industries and their contribution to critical areas such as employment, exports and national products.
The module examines as well the economies of culture within the EU and the importance of shaping a sustainable development strategy. It analyses cultural capital management policies that play a key role in the development of the creative sector of the economy, and comments on the importance of public or private initiatives such as urban regenerations or festivals. The Module analyses ways in which cultural organisations and businesses broaden their reach whether they are active in the public or private sectors. It analyses the financial results and financial position of a cultural enterprise, presents financial analysis tools and makes special mention of the impact of technological change and, in particular, the role of the Internet in the finances of cultural organizations and businesses.
The Module focuses in particular on: