Expected learning outcome

A candidate who has successfully completed a 3-year PhD programme in information security and communication technology is expected to possess the following total learning outcome defined in the form of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

• Upon the completion of the PhD education, the candidate is at the forefront of knowledge in the dissertations subject area.
• The candidate has advanced knowledge in the subject area related to his or her area of research and is fully appraised of the state of the art.
• The candidate has extensive knowledge of the information security or communications subject area, respectively, as a whole.
• The candidate can identify and has command of suitable research methods, and can assess the appropriateness of these methods in research and professional development within the field.

Skills

• Upon completion of the PhD degree, the candidate can formulate questions and plan research and academic development.
• The candidate can use and expand upon applicable subject area research methods to generate new knowledge, new theories, and methods in an ethical manner.
• The candidate can conduct research and development in the chosen field at a competitive, international level and is able to publish research outcomes in recognised and reputable channels including conference proceedings, relevant academic journals, or open access equivalents.
• The candidate can deal with complex scientific and technical questions, and can challenge established knowledge and practices in the chosen field of specialisation.

General Competence

• Upon completion of the PhD degree, the candidate is able to identify new problems arising from recent developments in and related to the chosen research domain within the discipline of Information Security or Communications, and the ability to assess the likely impact of such developments on society.
• The candidate is able to conduct ethically and scientifically sound research in the chosen specialisation domain of Information Security or Communications, within the bounds of the law and given due consideration of ethical and moral constraints.
• The candidate is able to successfully conduct and manage research undertakings, which may include aspects not only from the chosen research domain but also from other domains within the discipline of Information Security or Communications, and may also be able to conduct elements of interdisciplinary research involving diverse groups of individuals as appropriate.
• The candidate is able to organise and participate in research and development through established national and international research frameworks.
• The candidate is able to argue the merits, limitations, and possibilities of new developments in the chosen research domain within the discipline of Information Security or Communications, respectively, at a level commensurate to the international state of the art such as in internationally recognised fora.
• The candidate is able to apply current abstract research and methods within the chosen research domain to specific problems in creative and innovative ways.