New Academic Directors for IT Department

The St. Pölten UAS has gained Michael Morten Steurer as the Academic Director for the innovative new master degree programme Applied Research and Innovation in Computer Science.

The new master degree programme Cyber Security and Resilience¹ which starts in autumn 2020 will be headed by Simon Tjoa who has been active for the St. Pölten UAS in various teaching and research positions since 2009.

Both programmes are taught entirely in English to reflect the internationality of the IT sector.

Combination of Innovative IT Research and Practice-Oriented Teaching

The master degree programme Applied Research and Innovation in Computer Science, which was launched in 2019, will be headed by Michael Morten Steurer from September 2020. “This combination of innovative IT research and a practice-oriented education in the form of a dual master degree programme is unique in Austria. Our students receive the ideal preparation for a professional activity at the interface of research and industry”, emphasises Steurer. “Over the next couple of years, we will strive to promote the international orientation of the study programme in particular, thus further increasing its attractiveness for international students.”

Mr Steurer is a physicist with a doctorate in zoology. He used to work within the framework of research projects and as a lecturer at the University of Vienna for many years. His special areas of expertise include electronics and software development as well as the analysis and modelling of complex systems. Furthermore, he is a partner and the CTO of the start-up Dynafox IT GmbH in Brunn am Gebirge. He takes over the position of Academic Director from Simon Tjoa.

The English-language master degree programme Applied Research constitutes a link between the industry and the research realm. By gaining applied informatics knowledge and experience in IT research in a highly interdisciplinary context, the students learn to actively participate in shaping the digital change. Designed as a dual study programme, it brings together education and profession in the best possible way. Graduates of the programme know how to develop and implement research projects, they recognise potentials for research and innovation, and promote the exchange between industry and research.

Future-Oriented Education

Simon Tjoa, who has already been active in teaching and research at the Department of Computer Science and Security of the St. Pölten UAS since 2009, took over the position of Academic Director of the new master degree programme Cyber Security and Resilience on 1 July 2020. Previously, Mr Tjoa used to work as a security consultant and research associate in the field of IT security. At the St. Pölten UAS, he is also active as the International Coordinator of the Department of Computer Science and Security and is responsible for the promotion and further development of international exchange in this function.

“This increasingly digitalised world needs experts who are able to comprehensively secure digital services. Our new study programme is an important contribution to the education of persons who can guarantee the cyber security of national and international companies and institutions”, explains Mr Tjoa.

The English-language master degree programme conveys extensive competencies in the area of protecting software, operating systems and networks. It imparts to the students the necessary legal and ethical foundations for dealing with new technologies (such as artificial intelligence).

¹subject to accreditation by the Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria)

Further Information

Detailed information concerning the study programmes can be found here:

• Applied Research and Innovation in Computer Science
• Cyber Security and Resilience