Michael Georg Schmidt has been working since 1987 – today as an IT security and data protection officer. After previously studying in person to obtain a degree in administration, he consciously decided to study online at the TH Lübeck. His starting point at the TH Lübeck was the course Media informatics. Thanks to the recognition of the modules he had already taken, Schmidt switched to IT security online and states: Exactly my thing.
Why online? Flexible and effective
He can combine work and studies perfectly thanks to flexible times. Schmidt invests around 10 to 20 hours a week – a snail student
as he says about himself with a wink. I study because it benefits me personally, not because I need it professionally.
What is important to him is the freedom to set his own pace and times without having to constantly be at the place of study or having to write exams under pressure.
Understand and apply IT security
In the IT Security Online course, prospective students can expect a lot of practice: programming languages, networks, databases, math and self-organization. It’s about understanding, application and developing your own tools that improve security. Communication and collaboration are an important part. I would recommend studying online again to anyone who is interested in the topic – it is an enormous enrichment.
Community despite distance
Although everyone is studying online, there is a lot of cohesion in his course. Schmidt makes contacts in video conferences, chats and at the few face-to-face events. I met really nice people here, even though it’s an online course.
Signal groups help exchange modules. Friendships have developed – and close cooperation with lecturers through involvement in specialist groups. Things were completely different in my face-to-face studies at a much larger university. More of a side-by-side feeling than a familial feeling. At the TH Lübeck it’s about togetherness – we approach each other.
Commitment: IT security for everyone
Schmidt founded the company almost four years ago student group ITS Us. The goal: explain IT security in a low-threshold way – for everyone who is new to the topic. Workshops like Away from Windows show how you can protect yourself better, free of charge and simply. I think this is extremely important for our democracy and the continued existence of our democracy, because otherwise too much data that we generate on the internet would end up in the wrong place.
Study barrier-free
Schmidt is severely visually impaired, with four percent in one eye and five percent in the other. The TH Lübeck creates fair conditions: extended examination times or oral examinations are possible. This support makes studying possible – online and on site.
Learning out of curiosity
Schmidt studies out of curiosity: I want to know how it works.
Studying keeps you mentally flexible, broadens your horizons and has a direct impact on your understanding of everyday situations. But not everything is rosy. You have to have a lot of patience and tenacity.
That doesn’t stop him from continuing. In the future, Schmidt would like to complete his bachelor’s degree and then pursue his master’s degree – perhaps a dissertation.
Prospects in the professional field
IT security remains socially relevant. The growing attack surface in networked systems ensures a sustained need for skilled workers. Two years ago it was still the case that there were 1,000 applicants for every 100,000 vacancies. This means that if you study IT security, you can basically choose your job
says Schmidt.
The online study podcast. Fits!
Michael Georg Schmidt was a guest on the online studies podcast. Fits! Online study. Fits! is a podcast from TH Lübeck in which students tell their stories from their studies – authentic, honest, and something to imitate. The podcast is moderated by communications expert Vivian Upmann. Anyone interested can find all information about online studies at: https://www.th-luebeck.de/onlinestudium-passt/
Directly to Podcast with Michael Georg Schmidt it’s here: https://onlinestudium-passt.podigee.io/
The application deadlines for the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs at TH Lübeck can be found here HERE.