The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is launching a new programme line that connects the bachelor’s in Information Science with the master’s in Information Studies, training students to develop digital technology and to steer its impact on society. The programme line, housed at the Faculty of Science (FNWI) at Amsterdam Science Park, starts in the 2026-2027 academic year.
Artificial intelligence and data-driven systems increasingly shape how we live, learn and work. As it becomes clear that digital systems are not neutral, but influence access, behaviour and opportunity, demand is growing for professionals who can build technology and critically assess it. How can companies use AI responsibly in recruitment without unintentionally excluding people? How can technology relieve pressure on healthcare while protecting privacy and preventing bias in algorithms?
The new programme line responds to these questions by combining technical knowledge with critical thinking about people, technology and society. Where programmes such as Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence focus primarily on systems and algorithms, this line centres on how information and data are used, and what impact that has.
‘Technology is developing faster than our ability to understand its consequences,’ says Sennay Ghebreab, programme director of the master’s in Information Studies and closely involved in the new programme line. ‘We need professionals who can not only build systems, but also question, anticipate and shape their impact.’
Sennay Ghebreab, Programme Director Information Studies “Many students want to do something with AI, but above all something that matters. We give them a solid technical foundation and the tools to steer technology in the right direction. ”
The programme line builds on years of UvA research into the relationship between people, technology and society. That knowledge feeds directly into the curriculum: students will work on current challenges such as the use of algorithms in public services, the reliability of generative AI, digital exclusion, and designing technology that is more transparent and human-centred.
For the research and innovation community at Amsterdam Science Park, the initiative strengthens the pipeline of talent equipped for responsible AI development, a capability that matters to research institutes and companies alike as AI systems move from lab to application.
Source: University of Amsterdam
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