This module follows a flipped classroom approach with a strong practical focus, enabling students to develop and apply AI security skills through hands-on exercises, while foundational concepts are acquired through guided self-study. The amount of powerpoint and text is kept low, and the amount of hands-on experience is maximized. Leading principles in cybersecurity are not adressed in this course, but are a fundamental part of the underlying theory that enables the concepts shown in this course.

This module examines how payment systems connect economies, businesses, and individuals across different geographical regions. It shows the evolution of payment systems from traditional bank-ing infrastructures to mobile money ecosystems and crypto-based networks, each with distinct security, regulatory, and adoption challenges.

This module gives students a practical introduction to the world of blockchain technologies. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical exercises, the central concepts are explained in an understandable and application-oriented way. Playful discovery with Bloxxgame and practical exercises with real wallets and decentralised applications are a major part of the program.

Cyber resilience is crucial for organizations as it extends beyond cybersecurity and its prevention view. Cyber resilience focuses on the ability to continue operating during and recover from cyber threats. It involves preparing staff to handle potential cyber disruptions and maintaining system operations under attack, ensuring both organizational continuity and the protection of sensitive data. By embedding resilience strategies, organizations safeguard their assets, sustain customer trust, and mitigate financial losses, making resilience a fundamental aspect of comprehensive cybersecurity.

Digitalization creates new requirements for protecting digital assets against evolving threats. While IT security encompasses a broad spectrum of protection measures, cybersecurity specifically focuses on defending systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, the need for specialized knowledge in this area is critical across all industries.

In this module, participants acquire knowledge about cyber threat landscapes, attack vectors, and defensive approaches. Advanced concepts for protecting against targeted attacks as well as selected techniques for practical implementation of cyber defense mechanisms are taug

In this course, we derive key challenges of cybersecurity and how effectively address them by adopting relevant frameworks, best practices as well as governance mechanisms claimed as “cyber resilience”. Where appropriate, we also touch on areas of information or information security.

Special emphasis will be placed on ´Data Privacy and Protection´ and ´Technical Insights´. The course does not focus on very technical aspects but on the systemic, governance and management level in dealing with cyber risks.

This course examines the critical importance of cybersecurity in health, focusing on the multifaceted challenges and strategies for safeguarding health systems, devices, and data. Students explore the foundational principles at the intersection of cyber security and the health industry. Topics covered blend both management and hands-on skills as essential basics for IT professionals pursuing a career in the health industry with a scoop of cybersecurity. The course aims for students willing to learn both managerial and practical aspects of cybersecurity at an entry-level, but with technical or professional experience in health settings.

Data is the foundation of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The quality, integrity, and responsible use of data determine the success or failure of AI-driven business models. Weak data governance or insufficient privacy protection can not only slow down innovation but also erode trust in AI among customers, partners, and society at large.

In this module, students will learn the fundamentals of Data Governance and the relevant data privacy regulations in the context of AI. They will explore organizational, technical, and ethical dimensions and understand how companies can establish governance structures to ensure trustworthy and compliant AI systems.

In this module, students learn the essentials of data privacy regulation in Switzerland and the European Union. We approach the topic from an individual, organizational, technical as well as ethical perspective. Based on the core concepts of data privacy, we will elaborate a data management roadmap that helps to achieve data protection compliance.

Digital change is driving disruption in society and the economy. In a digitalized, integrated, networked and dynamic world, basic knowledge of the terms, concepts and methods of digital business is becoming increasingly important.

In this module, relevant terms, concepts and methods of business informatics are taught in a science- and practice-oriented manner. Students are introduced to the basics of business informatics and its role in organizations by means of application examples of information systems, data structure, IT-supported processes, information security and computer-aided collaboration. Furthermore, possible effects of the digital transformation on companies, organizations and society are pointed out and discussed. The goal is to support students’ ability to act responsibly in the innovative environment of a digital economy.

The Digital Ethics module equips students to identify, analyse, and responsibly manage ethical dilemmas within data-driven organizations. Combining classical ethical theory with current applications in AI, automation, and digital platforms, the course enables students to turn ethical reflection into responsible action.

Students develop decision-making competence, argumentation skills, and a critical understanding of accountability and trust in digital ecosystems. These competencies prepare them to lead responsibly in technology-oriented roles, balance innovation with ethical integrity, and build verifiable digital trust in international business environments.

The Digital Trust Day is an annual event bringing together practitioners, students and academia to dive into the fascinating world of digital trust.

Visit our event website www.tri-dt.ch to get more insights.

Ethics: The students know about the basic ethical concerns and dilemmas within digital information and related technologies and the importance of dealing with such issues within a business context with relevant stakeholders.

Law: The students know the basic legal rules which apply to information technology and why legal issues matter in the practice of the enterprises.

Digitization places new demands on the management of information technology (IT). Since IT is of central importance in all sectors and industries, the security of IT and the associated systems and data is of utmost relevance. IT security risks must be identified, evaluated and mitigated. There are numerous solutions for this.

In this module, students acquire knowledge about potential risks and associated approaches to manage these risks. Basic concepts for the protection of IT systems and data as well as selected techniques for practical implementation are taught.

Organizations have an accountability towards their stakeholders. With the ever-ongoing digitalization, Information Systems (IS) Auditing is becoming crucial for organizations to ascertain this accountability.

In this module an introductory understanding of the content, context and purpose of ‘audit’ is established. Embedded in a theoretical setting of relevant frameworks and guiding principles, students will gain insights by means of, e.g., real-life examples of various companies in various industries and workshops.

Quantum computing (QC) is no longer a distant breakthrough it is rapidly transforming industries and redefining the rules of business. As this cutting-edge technology advances, new opportunities and challenges emerge across key sectors, including finance, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and cybersecurity. Companies are already leveraging QC-powered algorithms to optimize complex financial models, revolutionize drug discovery, streamline global supply chains, and enhance digital security.   

Our interactive course is designed specifically for business and business informatics students, equipping you with the insights needed to navigate and capitalize on the quantum-driven economy. How will quantum technology disrupt markets, reshape industries, and influence strategic decision-making? Will it be a force for security and trust or an unprecedented challenge? 

Designed as an interactive Audit Lab, the course immerses students in real-world scenarios through case-based exercises and simulated audits. Students actively apply concepts and gain practical insight into how governance, risk, and compliance are implemented and monitored.

The module is structured around four interconnected pillars:

• Governance – designing and evaluating decision structures
• Risk Management – identifying and mitigating organizational risks
• Compliance – operationalizing legal and regulatory requirements
• Audit – performing assurance and monitoring activities

A dedicated focus is placed on cybersecurity, AI security, data privacy and GDPR, addressing its impact on business processes and responsible data governance.

Here, we offer a highly valuable combination of: a) getting a deep-dive into the field of social engineering and b) exchanging virtually with students from Africa.
The structure of the course is as follows:

1) we start with an introduction to the African culture 2) in following weeks, you learn about social engineering and work on adapting/collecting learning material in order to contextualize it to the African context. You organize and conduct weekly virtual mentoring sessions with your African peers; 3) we close with a wrap-up, reflection, and a certification ceremony for your African peers.

Module Description

For more information about the course, check the module description on the FHNW platform using the following link:: Module description

Associated Publication

Hermann, G., Schneider, B., Ebai, F., & Carlson Ngwa, E. (2024, Juni 12). A Case Study on Teaching Social Engineering to Swiss and Cameroonian University Students in a Virtual and Cross-Cultural Setting. Conference Society 5.0 – Innovation for Sustainable and Inclusive Social Good, University of Technology, Mauritius. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11619371

With increasing digitalization and internationalization, the development of innovative business models and sustainable business processes is gaining in importance. In this specialization, students will learn and experience how to build digital business models and value creation networks with customers, suppliers, and business partners, and which digital technologies might be suitable for this purpose.

The course is currently available in German.

AI is transforming business, but success depends on trust, transparency and traceability. This module equips future leaders to establish AI responsibly, balancing innovation with ethical and regulatory requirements.

In this module, students will develop strategic AI competencies from governance and compliance to risk management and ethical decision-making. No technical background is needed; instead, students learn how to bridge AI’s potential with real-world business needs.

Our seminar provides an introduction to planning and implementing the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG). Instead of lengthy theoretical blocks, we offer targeted practical exercises in which concrete results for use in your own company are developed and discussed. Theoretical input is deliberately kept concise and is provided as a reference in the seminar materials.

Project managers, members of the executive board, and members of the supervisory board will gain the tools to recognize data protection as a new risk factor in corporate management and to implement it in compliance with the law. They will learn to leverage the provisions of the BDSG and GDPR as a competitive advantage for their company.

The course is currently available in German, but translation to English is planned for the nearest future.

Module Description

For more information about the course, check the module description on the FHNW platform using the following link: Module Description

Learn Blockchain – Block by Block

Bloxxgame is a web-based simulation game with a wide variety of teaching scenarios. It is a simulation of a public blockchain, like Bitcoin, where each player acts as a node with all possibilities of creating coin transactions and blocks as well as the capability to experience the consensus algorithm by checking those transactions and blocks.

Cybersecurity is of growing importance in a globalized and digitalized world. Attacks against well-known Swiss companies show that anyone can be affected. However, a representative study by ICT Switzerland (2019) shows that the danger is generally underestimated.
We brought the topic of cybersecurity out of the abstract ‘cyberspace’ into the classroom and made it tangible. This was achieved by developing a Virtual Escape Room game for managers. Instead of dry theory, participants can team-up and actively learn the basic concepts of cybersecurity and test attacks and protection procedures in a playful way. The Escape Room Game aims at a low-threshold but sustainable increase of awareness for the importance of cybersecurity and offers an introduction to the basics of this topic.

The tool serves as a self-evaluation of the the data processing procedure “Data Protection Impact Assessment” (DPIA). The objective of the tool is to assess whether the data processing could result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals when personal data is involved. The assessment with the DPIA Tool will help you identify and minimise data protection risks for the affected individuals. The DPIA Tool is intended for SMEs, especially for small- and microenterprises with less than 50 employees in Switzerland and without profound knowledge and skills regarding data protection and privacy.