Aud Bakken

Digital Infrastructure and Cyber Security (Master's Programme)

Yuming Jiang

Three priories were set in the 2020/2021 program evaluation: &nbsp;<ol><li>Remove specializations </li><li>Accordingly update the LUB (learning outcome descriptions: previously the two specializations have different LUB descriptions).&nbsp;</li><li>Update the study components and plan.&nbsp;</li></ol> Actions have been taken, according to these priorities. Specifically, the specialisations have been removed, and accordingly the LUB has been updated. In addition, the study plan and components have been updated such that students have increased flexibility in choosing courses in the 3rd semester to fulfil the LUB.

The name change, from MSc in Communication Technology to MSc in Digital Infrastructure and Cyber Security (MDIGSEC), and the change of entrance requirements for Norwegian applicants have resulted in significant increase (400% increase in 1st priority) in the number of Norwegian / Nordic applicants. Another result of the changes is that all the allocated seats for 2022-intake are filled. The learning environment remains similar as previous years, i.e. a dynamic environment with both Norwegian and international students. Different from 2020/2021, when due to COVID-19, no international student was offered, about half of the 2021-intake students have international background. All students who started in 2020 successfully completed their study. In addition, 2 students in the 2021 class have been recommended and selected by the IIK Department to do integrated PhD. This is also a clear indication of the relevance and quality of the study programme. The MSTCNNS programme is an international Master study programme. In addition, it is also the holder of a double-degree agreement with University of Bologna, Italy. For 2022-intake, about 120 international applications were received, competing for a very limited number of seats. As a result, about 40% of the 2022-class are international students. In addition, there are 2 double-degree students from U. Bologna.

Digital infrastructure and cyber security is a highly relevant area with extreme importance and hence critically demanded to the society and national. The COVID lockdown, the Russia - Ukraine war, and what have happened (e.g. home office, North Stream gas leaks, cyber attacks) in connection with the lockdown and the war are clear indictions of the relevance and importance of the programme. In addition, Target 9.1 of the UN' Sustainable Development Goal 9 is "Develop sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructures", which is a central theme of the MSTCNNS study programme. Another indication of the relevance of the programme is that two 2021-intake students have been selected as integrated PhD students. It is expected that the programme will attract more interest and applications in the coming years.

2022-intake students are the first batch of students under the new admission requirements change. It is important to monitor their progression in following the study plan to check if the requirements change is proper or needs to be updated to ensure good quality of the study programme.

Tiltak

Monitoring the progression of 2022-intake students

Update study plan to provide a good coverage of central topics in digital infrastructure and cyber security, so as to better match with the name of the study programme and the learning outcomes.

Topic coverage and study plan update

Periodic evaluation

Continue monitoring of the progression of 2022-intake students

Communication Technology (Master's Programme)

NTNU:TIA:REST

Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering

Fakultet for informasjonsteknologi og elektroteknikk

The highest priority set for 2022/2023 was to closely monitor the progress of the 2022-intake students, because they were the first batch of students admitted under several changes. These changes include (1) programme's name change, (2) removal of specialisations,&nbsp;(3) updated learning outcome descriptions (LUB) and study plan, and (4) admission requirements change. To ensure that these changes do not weaken the high quality of the study programme, close monitoring of the progress of 2022-intake students has been performed in 2022/2023. The measures include having regular meetings with the whole classes in addition to with student representatives, and being responsible for a compulsory course in the 1st semester enabling direct interactions with students throughout the whole semester. Based on surveys conducted by the study programme, the 2022-intake students have made smooth progression in their study according to the plan.

The effect of name change, from MSc in Communication Technology to MSc in Digital Infrastructure and Cyber Security (MDIGSEC), and the change of entrance requirements for Norwegian applicants, continues for 2023 admission: The number of 1st priority applications from Norway keeps at the same (slightly higher) level as for 2022 admission. As a result, all the allocated seats, which are increased from 2022, are filled. The learning environment remains similar as previous years, i.e. a dynamic environment with both Norwegian and international students, but the percentage of international students is relatively decreased with much increased number of Norwegian students after the admission requirements change taking effect for 2022-intakes. Most students who started in 2021 successfully completed their study. As an indication of the relevance and quality of the programme, two 2021-intake students started in 2022 as integrated PhD students. For students who started in 2022 after the admission requirements change, they have progressed well in their first year of study, i.e. 2022/2023. This is encouraging for the study programme, indicating that the new admission requirements are adequate with a good balance between the required background / pre-knowledge for following the study programme and the potential pool of candidates. The MSTCNNS programme is an international Master study programme. For 2022-intake, even though a lot of international applications were received, only 4 accepted the offer, with a significant drop from 2021. In 2022/2023, the double-degree agreement with University of Bologna, Italy was still in effect. In addition, there were 2022-intake students who took exchange in spring 2023.

Digital infrastructure and cyber security is a highly relevant area with extreme importance and hence critically demanded to the society and national. The COVID lockdown, the Russia - Ukraine war, and what happened (e.g. home office, North Stream gas leaks, cyber attacks) in connection with the lockdown and the war are clear indictions of the relevance and importance of the programme. In addition, Target 9.1 of the UN' Sustainable Development Goal 9 is "Develop sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructures", which is a central theme of the MSTCNNS study programme. It is expected that the programme will attract more interest and applications in the coming years.&nbsp;

Digital Infrastructure and Cyber Security (Master's Programme) - MSTCNNS