How DIG Deeper connects master’s students, research, and industry
Each semester, DIG welcomes a new group of DIG master’s students. This fall, two participants share how the DIG Deeper program shaped their master’s thesis work.
About the DIG Deeper program
DIG Deeper is a master’s program for students interested in digital innovation, artificial intelligence, and sustainable growth. Participants work closely with DIG researchers and industry partners while developing their master’s thesis.
Students gain access to academic support, research resources, and a professional network. With supervisor approval, financial support of up to NOK 10,000 per thesis may be granted for travel and other expenses. Theses can be written in English or Norwegian.
Two of the master’s students who participated in the DIG Deeper program this fall are Thomas Nguyen and Jonas Guttormsen. They describe the experience as rewarding academically, professionally, and on a personal level.
“We chose to join the DIG Deeper program because it offered valuable insights relevant to our project, as well as access to a supportive professional and academic network. Given the program’s close connection to multiple researchers, it provided an ideal environment for receiving high-quality feedback and methodological guidance.”
“The researchers associated with the program possess extensive experience in academic writing, which we viewed as a significant asset throughout the development of our thesis,” they add.
Strategic competence development
Nguyen and Guttormsen’s master’s project focuses on competence strategies, with the aim of examining how Norwegian firms within the technology sector adapt these strategies in response to emerging market demands. Both established theoretical frameworks and a quantitative study were applied to identify how organizations actively adjust and operationalize their competence strategies.
Some of the key insights from the project concerned how such adaptations manifest in practice and the challenges firms encounter throughout this process. Furthermore, the two master’s students developed a conceptual model that captures these dynamics. Throughout this process, Nguyen and Guttormsen found support in the DIG Deeper program.
“Academically, the program encouraged us to engage in more critical and independent thinking than we had previously been required to do. Through this process, we developed a deeper methodological understanding and strengthened our ability to translate theoretical constructs into practical, research-based insights.”
“On a personal level, the experience has been both demanding and highly rewarding. We have gained greater confidence in our academic and analytical abilities, enhanced our communication skills, and learned to navigate the uncertainty inherent in conducting complex research”, they add.
Industry interaction
The DIG Deeper program also connected the master’s students with both industry and academia. One of the highlights of the program was the DIG seminar in November, where Nguyen and Guttormsen had the opportunity to present their project in a poster session and receive feedback from industry stakeholders.
“This interaction not only strengthened our motivation, particularly due to the positive responses we received, but also created opportunities for further discussion of our findings upon completion of the thesis”, they explain.
In this way, the DIG Deeper program provided valuable opportunities for the master’s students, including potential collaborations with industry partners and feedback from practitioners with direct experience in their research area. According to Nguyen and Guttormsen, this input contributed to shaping the project in a more applied and impactful direction.
Nguyen and Guttormsen advise future DIG Deeper master’s students to embrace the openness of the program. This implies being proactive in shaping the project, reaching out to partners early, and not being afraid to iterate on ideas.
“The more you engage with the resources, supervisors, and network around you, the more rewarding the experience will be. Also, be prepared for a demanding but highly enriching process: one that will push you to grow academically, professionally, and personally.”