CDT Fort Cohort 2 Complete Final Block Module at Queen’s University Belfast

The week before Easter marked a significant milestone for CDT Fort Cohort 2, who successfully completed their third and final block module, Data Privacy and Law, delivered at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). Hosted by The School of Law, the module was led by Dr Ciaran O’Kelly and offered students a valuable opportunity to step beyond purely technical perspectives and engage deeply with the legal and societal dimensions of data and privacy.

Throughout the week, students explored how concepts of privacy have evolved alongside technological innovation, examining how expansive data‑gathering practices have transformed both our understanding of privacy and the legal responses designed to protect it. The module focused on the privacy‑driven legal regulation of data and the data‑driven private regulation of privacy, while also encouraging broader reflection on what law is, how it operates, and the role it plays within society. This interdisciplinary emphasis proved a refreshing and thought‑provoking contrast to the cohort’s more technically focused modules.

Beyond the classroom, the week also provided valuable opportunities for community building. The cohort enjoyed a group dinner at Holohan’s Pantry, sampling traditional Irish cuisine, before taking part in a Capture the Flag session at CSIT’s Cyber Range. The session was delivered by CSIT engineers in collaboration with Cyber‑AI DTP students, offering an engaging and hands‑on experience that complemented the week’s academic content.

Overall, the week was a great success—strengthening relationships within the cohort, broadening perspectives, and bringing the block‑teaching phase of the programme to a close. With their remaining modules to be completed this semester, Cohort 2 now looks ahead to embarking on their summer research projects, equipped with a richer understanding of the legal, ethical, and societal contexts surrounding their work.