Technical standardization gains importance in Luxembourg’s higher education with the Master MTECH

After several experiments, and with the continuous support of the European Standardization Organizations (ESOs) CEN, CENELEC and ETSI, the Master MTECH "Technopreneurship: mastering smart ICT, standardization and digital trust for enabling the next generation of ICT solutions" was finally born in February 2020. Also involving the Chamber of Employees of Luxembourg, the second edition of the master’s program is now running until February 2025.

The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector is one of the most vibrant of Luxembourg’s economy. Hence, ILNAS logically decided to focus on a program designed in this context, and specifically dedicated for Smart ICT professionals. The master’s program is a two-year training with 11 modules representing a total of 327 hours of teaching. Lectures cover a large spectrum of ICT topics, studied from different perspectives: technical, innovation, standardization and digital trust. Students participating in this program are expected to develop a technical background and an entrepreneurial mindset to engage in innovative projects.

The success of this master’s program relies on a joint effort from the academic, research and standardization communities. It involves university professors, standardization experts from ILNAS and the ESOs, as well as industry professionals, some of whom are experts in CEN and CENELEC committees or other standards development organizations.

Within the master’s program, ILNAS is in charge of a module of 27 hours dedicated to standardization. Lecturers from the National Standards Body provide students the keys to understanding technical standardization, its mechanisms and its importance for defining a common technical language, building trust, and fostering effectiveness, particularly in the ICT domain. CEN and CENELEC are also directly involved, providing lectures on the European standardization system and its strategic dimension.

Students can immediately use the skills acquired from the lessons during a company internship in the fourth semester, wherein they put their knowledge to the test through a concrete use case for which they are encouraged to consider standards and standardization projects. In this frame, ILNAS notably provides them access to technical committees and encourages their participation as national standardization delegates. The outcome of the internship can take many forms, such as a new service, product or company process, and students are required to present it in a final thesis, in particular showcasing the standardization component.

ILNAS and its partners are now focusing on the second edition of the master’s program, which started in February 2023. ILNAS particularly welcomes the support offered by the ESOs, notably CEN and CENELEC, which strongly contribute to the success of the Master MTECH.