Syllabus
Registration via LPIS
Cyber risks are not further restricted to the cyberspace. They threaten the existence and autonomy of societies and the functioning of their key institutions and organizations. Government's capacity to act and critical services such as food, energy and water supply are endangered, putting communities sharing the same values such as human dignity and safety under serious threat. A cyber-resilient society has the capacity to act independently and sovereign in cyberspace and withstand, adapt to, and recover from cyber threats and attacks.
The possibility of effective and universal cyberwarfare has become an alarming reality. Personal health data aggregated from smart health devices may have the potential to expose a meaningful health status of patients to employers, and the government infringing their privacy. In these technology-driven ecosystems fostering sustainable human development is challenging and requires novel approaches and methods.
This research seminar examines contemporary challenges for building cyber-resilient societies, strengthening digital sovereignty, and developing sustainable and human-friendly digital technologies. Students will formulate a focused research question and complete a systematic literature review on a relevant topic, synthesizing existing literature, identifying gaps, and positioning an original research contribution.
After attending this course, students will have the following skills.
Subject-related skills
- Know about current challenges and research problems in the cyber-resilient society and responsible management information systems.
- Know about the impact digital technologies have on human safety, privacy, freedom and autonomy as well as on the security of connected ICT systems.
- Understand the the individual, organizational, institutional and societal dimension of the research agendandividual, organizational, institutional and societal dimension of the research agenda in cyber-resilience.
- Understand research issues in the regulatory context of the cyberspace within the European Union.
Knowing relevant academic publication outlets, journals and conferences in the field
Transferable skills
- Develop and deconceptualize a relevant research question.
- Apply methods for structuring and addressing a relevant research problem.
- Conduct a rigorous literature review.
- Apply scientific research and academic writing.
- Discuss and professionally present research-oriented topics related to the design, security, privacy, resilience, ethical and legal foundations of information technology in the cyber-resilient society.
Standard FS (=”Forschungsseminar”) attendance policy applies. Attendance in the first unit and overall for 80% of the time is required. Attendance in the first unit is mandatory (unqualified absence will result in deregistration from the course).
Extract of the WU FS attendance policy:
The following provisions apply for research seminars:
Instructors can reduce the student attendance requirement and the contact hours in class because a significant part of the students’ workload is done outside the classroom
See below for mandatory attendance policy in the first unit.
In the research seminar, students are expected to conduct academic research on a specific, theory-driven research question in the field and write a literature review paper (min. 25 norm pages á 1.800 characters incl. spaces per page (= min. 45.000 characters incl. spaces); this corresponds to approx. 15 DIN A4 pages depending on font size and spacing) applying the method of Webster & Watson (2002). Students are expected to deconceptualize a research question, read and present academic research, write an individual seminar paper and present the results to their peers. During this process, students will be intensively and individually coached. The seminar is complemented by interactive teaching and discussions. The research-driven seminar is guided by current research results.
Grading involves independent components, including:
20% Research proposal and presentation
20% Literature review results and presentation
10% Seminar presentation and accompanying materials (e.g., slides)
50% Seminar paper
Grading system
87.5% - 100% = "Sehr gut" (Excellent)
75% - 87.49% = "Gut" (Good)
62.5% - 74.99% = "Befriedigend" (Satisfactory)
50% - 62.49% = "Genügend" (Sufficient)
Below 50% = "Nicht Genügend" (Fail)
Successful completion of course 1 (“Basics of ICT & AI” / “Grundzüge der IKT & AI”) of the specialization "Responsible Management of Information Systems".
It is strongly recommended to also have completed course 2 to 4 of the specialization before commencing with this course.
If you hold a valid registration for the course but are unable to participate, please deregister during the open registration period in LPIS. Your spot can be granted to other fellow students.
Spots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis during the registration period.
After completion of the registration period, available spots will be allocated to students on the waiting list who have no valid registration for the relevant curricula's point. Students will be ranked by their study progress as determined by the vice rectorat for teaching ("hardship principle"), not by their rank on the waiting list.
Important Note: The participation in the first unit is mandatory; students who fail to come forfeit their place to students on the waiting list (in the sequence of the waiting list). Students can excuse themselves if the reason for missing the first unit is serious and will concern only the first unit.
Selecting a seminar paper topic counts as participation and will lead to the course being graded. If you do not plan to participate please deregister before end of the registration period!
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