MSc in Security & Defence

Objectives | Learning Outcomes | Student Candidates | Curriculum | Program Structure | Quality Policy | Regulations | Accreditation

Objectives of the Program

The Joint Master Degree Program “Security and Defence” aims to provide high quality education and specialization to national and foreign students. The establishment, organization and operation of the above-mentioned Joint Master Degree Program will serve the purpose of promoting research and science in Greece, Cyprus and the wider Balkan, Mediterranean and European area, developing cooperation between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Higher Military Educational Institutions (ASEI), developing collaborations with higher education institutions and research centers abroad, as well as the preparation and training of specialized and competent scientists, researchers and professionals. With the achievement of the objectives of this Joint Master Degree Program, there are expected to be multiple benefits in the scientific and research field for the academic community, the Hellenic Air Force, the National Guard of Cyprus and the two countries in general. The objectives of the MSc include:

• The provision of high quality training in fields related to security and defense in a global, constantly evolving environment, full of geopolitical challenges.
• The deepening of knowledge on current technological and asymmetric threats in security and defence.
• To promote research and scientific excellence in the fields of security and defence at pan-European level.
• The creation of executives with a strong theoretical and technological background on threats to defense and security, capable of managing challenges and crises in the modern geopolitical environment.
• The production of scientists capable of deepening in security and defence related technological issues and pursuing doctoral studies.
• To familiarize students with the dangers of using technology and to equip them with the appropriate knowledge for the safe use of technology and communications.
• The investigation of regulatory frameworks related to security and defence issues.
• The promotion of Greece and Cyprus abroad as countries for the development and export of technology, know-how and products of high added value.
• The promotion of scientific, research, educational and administrative cooperation between OUC and HAFA.

The successful attendance of the Program leads to the acquisition of experience and scientific knowledge in an interdisciplinary research environment and allows the possible continuation of studies in a third cycle of studies.

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes – qualifications that students will acquire from the successful attendance of the Joint Master Degree Program are summarized as follows:

• Solid scientific training and ability to adapt to current technological and asymmetric security and defence threats.
• Appropriate skills and competences for managing challenges and crises in the fields of security and defence in the modern international technological context.
• Analytical and synthetic skills, which allow the assimilation and synthesis of scientific knowledge from various scientific fields, to solve the problems that graduates who will deal with the fields of security and defense will face during their professional life.
• Competence in developing innovation and design of systems and services requiring security and defence-related areas.
• Ability to develop initiatives, but also ability to operate in working groups in the Greek, Cypriot and International environment.

Student Candidates

Graduates of at least the first cycle of studies of Higher Education Institutions and Higher Military Educational Institutions of Greece, or equivalent recognized institutions abroad, of relevant disciplines with the subjects of the collaborating Departments, as a matter of priority, as well as graduates of other specialties who wish to be active in the field of knowledge of the Joint Master Degree Program, are admitted to the Joint Master Degree Program. The evaluation and selection procedures of the students of the Joint Master Degree Program follow the procedures and regulations of the accelerated institution, i.e. the OUC, according to which candidate students through the electronic platform of OUC fill in the online application, attach the requested certificates and submit the application. Applications are checked by the advancing institution for the completeness of the admission criteria. The admission criteria require that candidates (a) hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant scientific field from an accredited higher education institution, (b) have proven proficiency in English: All candidates must prove that they meet the English language requirements by submitting the relevant certificates with their application (minimum IELTS score 5.5 or any other equivalent) and (c) have sufficient computer knowledge to be able to meet the educational requirements of the program. The process of admitting students to the Joint Postgraduate Program begins with the announcement of the preliminary ranking order of candidate students who have applied and attached electronically the necessary certificates. This is followed by a check of the attached certificates to verify whether the candidates meet the minimum formal qualifications for admission to the Program of Study. A place is then offered to prospective students who meet the minimum qualifications based on the ranking order and the number of places offered. Students are informed both about their registration and about the relevant schedules of the Joint Postgraduate Program via email.

Duration of Studies

The duration of the Joint Postgraduate Program, which leads to a Master’s degree in “Security & Defence”, will be three (3) semesters, of which the third (3rd) semester will be available for the preparation of the Master’s Thesis.

Curriculum

The Joint Master Degree Program adopts the modular system of studies on which open and distance education is based and is structured on the basis of Thematic Units (modules). The Module is the basic functional unit of the Joint Master Degree Program, which fully covers a specific subject at postgraduate level and lasts six months. In order to obtain the Postgraduate Diploma, the successful completion of ninety (90) credits of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is required. Specifically, the graduate must attend and be successfully examined in:

• Six (6) Modules, sixty (60) total credits. The modules correspond to thirty (30) credits per semester of study, which are broken down into two (2) compulsory modules of ten (10) credits each and one (1) thematic unit of ten (10) credits selected from the offered modules in the current semester.
• Diploma thesis, part A and B thirty (30) total credits, which is delivered at the end of the 3rd semester of study. In order to enroll in module A of the Thesis, the successful completion of the module SEC202 Research Methods of the 2nd semester is a prerequisite. In cases where this is not possible, then A is a prerequisite of B, i.e. enrollment in B requires the completion of A or simultaneous enrollment in A during the same semester. The student is obliged to submit the general outline of the Dissertation during Part A of the Dissertation. Part A is graded as “Passed”/”Failed”. This score does not count towards the Weighted Average. In case the student does not successfully complete Part A of the Dissertation, he/she is re-enrolled in it, paying 25% of the tuition fees. In Part B, a grade (0-10) or “I” is entered for “Incomplete”, in case the student for serious reasons does not successfully complete the Dissertation in the time period for which he/she is registered. At the end of Part B of the Dissertation, there is public oral support and examination of the Dissertation by the Evaluation Committee.

Program Structure

The structure of the teaching program of the Joint Postgraduate Program is as follows:

The detailed descriptions of the courses can be found in the webpage of the program at Open University of Cyprus

Quality Policy

The purpose of the Hellenic Air Force Academy (HAFA) is to provide the Hellenic Air Force with officers with appropriate training and education, to generate knowledge and promote research on aviationscience and technology, and to support the operational work of the Hellenic Air Force. In this context, in addition to the development and upgrading of its undergraduate program, HAFA aims to design and organize Postgraduate Programs (MSc) and conduct Research Programs on Aviation Science and Technology. For that purpose, HAFA organizes the Joint Master’s Program in “Security and Defence” in collaboration with the Open University of Cyprus. The purpose of this program is to provide high-level education and specialization to domestic and foreign students. With the establishment, organization and operation of the above-mentioned Joint MSc Program, the purpose of promoting research and science in Greece and the wider Balkan, Mediterranean and European areas, the development of cooperation between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Higher Military Educational Institutions (ASEI) and research centers will be served.Another target is the development of collaborations with higher education institutions and research centers abroad, as well as the preparation and training of specialized and competent scientists, researchers and professionals in the subject matter of the program. With the success of the objectives of this Joint MSc, it is expected that there will be multiple benefits in the scientific and research field for the academic community, the Air Force, the National Defense and the country in general. HAFA is responsible for ensuring and continuously improving the quality of its educational and research work, military education and specialization, as well as for the effective operation and performance, in accordance with international practices, especially those of the European Higher Education Area, and the principles and guidelines of the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE). In order to carry out its mission and achieve its objectives, HAFA implements a Quality Policy, which defines the basic principles of operation of the Internal Quality Assurance System (INQS), with the aim of continuously improving HAFA’s operation. The quality policy of the Joint MSc “Security & Defence” is part of the Strategic Planning of the Hellenic Air Force Academy and an integral part of the overall quality policy that it implements and monitors through the Certified Quality Assurance and is based on the following general Strategic Objectives of the School, which are specified with the corresponding Quality Objectives that concern the Joint Postgraduate Studies Program:

• Production, application and expansion of aviation science and continuous adaptation of the curricula to the scientific developments and the needs of the Armed Forces and especially the Air Force (S.S.1) through the Enhancement and Upgrading of the Educational Work with individual quality objectives for the Increase of Applications for Enrollment in the Postgraduate Program (S.P.1.1) and the Upgrade of the Educational Work of the Postgraduate Program (S.P.1.2).
• Promotion of research activity (S.P.2) by Promoting the Conduct of Model Research in the MSc (S.P.2.1).
• Enhancement of the Institution’s Extroversion (S.S.3) through the Enhancement of Teaching Faculty Members from other Universities (S.P.3.1) and the Enhancement of the Recognition of Study Programs (S.P.3.2).

This policy aims to create and strengthen a spirit of quality, with the aim of achieving the mission of the vision and objectives of the SI. Therefore, the main axes of the quality policy are:

• The implementation of the certified Internal Quality Assurance System (EDP) for the Joint Postgraduate Studies Program in “Security and Defence”.
• The safeguarding of academic principles, ethics, as well as the prevention of discrimination.
• The continuous improvement of learning and teaching, research and innovation.
• The allocation of the necessary resources for its implementation.
• The further development of quality strategy and targeting.
• The internal evaluation of the new Joint MSc program.
• The measurement and analysis of quality data in order to improve the Common MSc.
• The transparency and disclosure of the relevant information of the Joint MSc.
• The periodic external evaluation of the Joint MSc by the CYQAA and the HAHE if required.

The responsibility and responsibilities for the quality assurance of HAFA lies with the Quality Assurance Unit (QAU), which is responsible for the development of the Internal Quality Assurance System (IQAS) of HAFA, which aims at a systematic, structured and continuous commitment to quality.

Regulations

The Open University of Cyprus has been designated as the coordinating institution of the Joint Master Programme and therefore its respective study regulations have been adopted as follows:

• Internal Study Regulations (OUC)
• Student Complaints Procedure (OUC)
• Regulation of the Institution of Academic Counsellors (OUC)
• Code of Conduct (OUC)
• Research Guide (OUC)
• Specific regulation for e-learning

Accreditation

The Joint MSc “Security and Defence” has been accredited by The Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA) of the Republic of Cyprus and the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE) of the Hellenic Republic.

• Decision of CYQAA
• Decision of HAHE