Illya van Knippenberg

Illya van Knippenberg
No matter which specialisation track you choose, you will be able to make an impact with your future career.
Name
Illya van Knippenberg
Programme
Information Sciences
Study start date
Study end date
Previous education
BSc Computing Science (Radboud University)

Master's student Illya van Knippenberg is studying Information Sciences at Radboud University.

What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?

The information science field is still quite broad and you can specialise in several distinct directions, and the curriculum of the Master's Information Sciences reflects this. You'll be introduced to many guest speakers from many different backgrounds to get an idea of what is possible for your future career.

What do you think about the atmosphere in class?

It is a small Master's (few students), so there's a good chance your teachers will know you by name early on and you'll know every student in your Master's after a few weeks. I'm happy with the positive and informal relationship between the teaching staff and students.

What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?

Since it is a one-year programme, you'll need to be proactive to not fall behind if you want to finish your degree in one year. You'll need to figure out a Master's thesis topic rather early on in the academic year so that you can get off to a good start when the second semester starts. I would recommend that you start thinking about a topic and speaking to potential supervisors in advance.

Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?

I view information security and business continuity in organisations as a socio-technical endeavour. To ensure continuity, security should be part of the corporate culture -- my Master's thesis explores a novel methodology to foster such a security-minded culture in the organisation.

Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree? What are your plans once you have received your Master's degree?

No matter which specialisation track you choose, you will be able to make an impact with your future career. Personally, I would like to work in information security, to help safeguard organisations critical to our society.