Εξάμηνο: 6th semester

In the 6th semester, students shall choose also (apart from the 4 core courses) one (1) compulsory course (CC) of the major that they have chosen and one (1) optional course(Opt) through the list of the available courses of all majors.

Structured Representation of Information

Learning Outcomes

The course’s material includes standard technologies and languages of modeling/representation of data/metadata used on the web and web services and how they are implemented in practice with code development in XML, XSL, and XML Schema.

Upon successful completion of the course, the students will be in position to:

  • Explain the basic technologies and languages of data modeling/ representation of data/metadata used on the web and web services.
  • Design and develop programs using XML, XSL and XML Schema.
  • Evaluate metadata modeling and decide whether they follow the given requirements.

Course Contents

  • Introduction to markup languages and semantic web
  • Introduction to XML, basic structure of XML documents
  • Valid XML documents / Use of Document Type Definition (DTD)
  • Presentation of XML documents using CSS
  • XML namespaces
  • Presentation of XML documents using data binding
  • Presentation of XML documents using scripts of Document Object Model (DOM)
  • Transformation and presentation of XML documents using XSLΤ/XSL
  • Modelling of XML documents using XML Schema
  • XML applications

Recommended Readings

  • “XML Guide”, Edition: 1st, Author: S. Holzner, Publisher: M. Gkiourdas, 2009 (1st Book)
  • “XML step by step”, Author: M. J. Young, Publisher: Kleidarithmos Ltd, 2011 (2nd Book)
  • Notes and course slides

Business Process Management

Learning Outcomes

The objective of this course is to present fundamental principles of Business Process Management (BPM) and to study various methods and techniques for analyzing, modeling, automating, executing and optimizing business processes. The course will incorporate a laboratory component with well-known BPM software tools that allow students to practice some of the principles addressed.

Upon successful completion of this course student will be able to:

  • Create business process models by using BPMN based modelling tools
  • Execute business processes by using Business Process Management Systems
  • Analyze the performance of existing business processes and improve business processes that are not sufficient according to certain criteria
  • Create business process management strategies and business processes implementation plans within organizations

Course Content

  1. Business process definition, intra- and inter-organizational processes. Process-oriented organizations. Build processes’ business models. Virtual enterprises. Business processes and workflows.
  2. Process analysis techniques. Qualitative process analysis (e.g. Pareto analysis, value-added analysis, root-cause analysis). Quantitative process analysis (e.g. queuing analysis, simulation). Performance metrics (time, cost, quality).
  3. BPM life cycle. Discover, analyze, model, monitor, map, simulate, deploy. Business Process Reengineering-BPR and Business Process Improvement- BPI methodologies. Business Process modeling tools.
  4. The BPMN standard for business process modelling.
  5. Business process automation. Conceptual and executable process models.
  6. Business Processes Management Systems-BPMS (e.g. structure, architecture, standards).
  7. Process and activity life cycles. Workflow-based applications.
  8. Business processes and workflows, workflow categories, workflow dimensions, workflow management, workflow functional requirements, workflow specifications and execution languages.
  9. Workflow management using a specific BPMS software tool.
  10. Process Analytics. Metrics for evaluating business processes’ performance. Monitoring of standard metrics and process specific, user dined metrics.
  11. BPM methodologies (e.g. Six Sigma, Lean).
  12. Service-oriented and process-oriented information systems.

Suggested Bibliography

  • John Jeston and Johan Nelis (2008): Business Process Management, Second Edition: Practical Guidelines to Successful Implementations, Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, ISBN: 0750669217.
  • Artie Mahal (2010): How Work Gets Done: Business Process Management, Basics and Beyond, Technics Publications, New Jersey, ISBN: 193550407.
  • Matias Weske, (2010): Business Process Management: Concepts, Languages, Architectures, Springer, New York, ISBN: 3642092640.
  • Simha Magal and Jeffry Word (2009): Essentials of Business Processes and Information Systems, Wiley, New York, ISBN: 0470418540.
  • Howard Smith and Peter Fingar (2003): Business Process Management: The third wave. Meghan Kiffer, ISBN: 0929652339.
  • Mark McDonald, (2010): Improving Business Processes, Harvard Business Review Press, Boston, ISBN: 142212973.
  • Business process management Journal, Emerald.
  • International Journal of Business Process Integration and management, Inderscience Publishers.

Web Information Systems

Learning Outcomes

This course addresses concepts and technologies concerning the development of web-based information systems and applications. It presents the principles and techniques for developing both static and dynamic web systems through modern programming practices.

The course aims to analyse the technologies involved in developing internet systems and applications. It covers theoretical and practical topics, including: web server technologies, client-side application development (using HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript), server-side programming (PHP, Node.js), and database integration.

With the completion of the course, the student will be in position to:

  • Understand the core theory, design principles, and implementation of web applications.
  • Utilize technologies for programming and operating web applications (e.g., HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript).
  • Apply design and development principles for web applications, with an emphasis on user experience (UX) and accessibility.
  • Build client-side and server-side applications (client-server model) using modern methods and best practices.
  • Develop full-stack web information systems that integrate databases and connect to web services and APIs.
  • Use modern frameworks for web application development, such as React, Angular, and Vue.js.
  • Be able to implement web applications by using HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript for client-side programming, as well as approaches for server-side programming and use of data stores (including PHP and Node.JS technologies).

General Competences

  • Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information by the use of appropriate technologies.
  • Adapting to new situations.
  • Individual/Independent work.
  • Working in an international environment.
  • Working in an interdisciplinary environment.
  • Critical thinking.
  • Development of free, creative and inductive thinking.

Course Contents

  • Web server technologies
  • Programming principles of client-side & server-side systems
  • Design principles of web applications with an emphasis on user experience and accessibility
  • Client-side development: Hyper Text Markup Language 5 (HTML5), Cascading Style Sheets 3 (CSS3), JavaScript
  • Server-side development: PHP and MySQL
  • Use of web services and interfaces (APIs)
  • Modern web application frameworks (React, Angular, Vue.js)
  • Server deployment/ applications: Node.js

Suggested Bibliography

  • Colburn Rafe, Jennifer Kyrnin, Laura Lemay, “Πλήρες Εγχειρίδιο HTML 5, CSS και JavaScript 7η Έκδ.”, 2016, Εκδόσεις Γκιούρδα
  • Harvey Deitel, Paul Deitel, «Internet & World Wide Web Programming», 2015
  • Jennifer Kyrnin, Julie C. Meloni, “Μάθετε HTML 5, CSS και JavaScript Όλα σε Ένα”, 3η ‘Εκδοση, 2021
  • Retalis, G. Tselios, «HTML lessons: From simple to complex», 2012

Related scientific journals

Information Systems Security

Learning Outcomes

Within the framework of the course, students will be able:

  • To understand information security issues, especially regarding usable security)
  • To recognize basic characteristics of modern authentication methods
  • To select the appropriate access control methods regarding the application environments
  • To understand Public Key Infrastructure characteristics, especially regarding electronic signatures
  • To understand laws and regulations regarding cybersecurity
  • To design and develop strategies that support business continuity management systems
  • To understand the challenges posed by the evolving dynamics of the combination of the cognitive fields of cyber security, privacy protection, and Artificial Intelligence and the way they create social, cultural, political, and financial issues, as well as ethical issues in modern societies
  • To possess state-of-the-art specialized scientific knowledge in the subjects of the course as a basis for original thinking and research activities.

Course Contents

  • Information systems security. Socio-technical systems theory. Usable security
  • Identification and authentication. Passwords: password management and good practices. Password cracking tools: Cain and Abel. Biometrics
  • Access control and authorization: MAC – Mandatory Access Control, DAC – Discretionary Access Control, RRBAC – Role-Based Access Control, Access Control Matrix Model – ACM, Access Control List – ACL, Wildcards, Revoking access rights, Capability List – C-List
  • Introduction to Applied cryptography: Symmetric and asymmetric cryptosystems, hash functions, Public Key Infrastructure, Trust Service Providers, Electronic signatures, eIDAS 2014/910, Digital Identity Regulation 2024/1183
  • Cybersecurity regulatory issues: EU NIS2 2022/2555 Network and Information Security Directive, EU DORA 2022/2554 Digital Operational Resilience for the financial sector, EU Cyber Resilience Act, EU ePrivacy 2002/58, EU Data Retention 2006/24
  • BCMS Business Continuity Management Systems and ISO 22301:2019: security and resilience requirements. Guidelines according to ISO 22313:2020 and ISO 22331:2018
  • Privacy protection and personal data protection according to General Data Protection Regulation GDPR and ISO 29100:2024. Privacy Enhancing Technologies

Suggested Bibliography

  • C. Pfleeger, Security in Computing, Addison Wesley, 2023
  • R. Anderson, Security Engineering, J. Wiley & Sons, 3rd edition, 2020
  • D. Gollmann, Computer Security, J. Wiley & Sons, 3rd edition, 2011

Scientific Journals

Wireless Communications

Learning Outcomes

The aim of the course is to enable students to understand the basic principles of electromagnetic systems for wireless communications. By concluding the course, students are able to

  • identify, describe and distinguish the basic characteristics of electromagnetic systems describe physical laws of electromagnetism using appropriate mathematical tools
  • distinguish the type of antenna and examine its characteristics
  • compute metrics which are extensively used in wireless systems and design basic wireless links
  • analyze and design more complicated wireless systems

By concluding the lab sessions students are able to

  • understand physical phenomenon by using mathematical tools
  • identify and apply theory in real world problems
  • use professional antenna design tools for the first time

Course Contents

Initially, introductory concepts of the Theory of Electromagnetic Fields are provided (Sources of Electromagnetic Fields, Electrostatic Fields, Dielectric Modes and Boundary Conditions, Permanent Magnetic Fields, Biot-Savart Law, Magnetic Flow Density, Gauss Law, Lorenz Power). Subsequently, electromagnetic waves in space are described (Maxwell equations, sinusoidal time variations, free space conditions and wave equation, uniform plane waves in lossless media, wave polarization). Thereafter, the students are introduced to antenna theory and the fields of radiation (potential functions, wave radiation areas, far field assumption, generic calculation methodology of radiation fields by antennas, basic key antenna features, antenna as a circuit element, antenna effective length). Examples of antennas are then studied (Hertz dipole, linear dipole antenna of arbitrary length, dipole λ/2, small circular loop antenna). Finally, the fundamental elements of electromagnetic wave propagation are examined (frequency bands & services/applications, wave classification, Friis’ equation and Free Space Loss, reflection & transmission, plane-earth model).

Papers, lectures, case-studies, examples and web pages with valuable information are uploaded at the course web page (Evdoxos).

Recommended Readings

  • “Wireless Communications” in Greek language, Book code in www.eudoxus.gr: 68393538, Edition: 2nd edition/2017, Authors: Kanatas Athanasios, Pantos Georgios, ISBN: 978-960-491-112-7, Publisher: A.Papasotiriou & Sia I.K.E (1st Book)
  • “Antennas – Wireless Links”, Book code in www.eudoxus.gr: 18548842, Edition: 1st edition/2018, Writers: Kapsalis C., Kottis P., ISBN: 960-8050-96-0, Publisher: A. Tziola & Sons S.A. (2nd Book)

Associated scientific Journals

  • ΙΕΕΕ Transactions on Antennas & Propagation
  • IEEE Communications Magazine
  • IEEE Antennas & Wireless Propagation Letters