On July 1, 2025, Marc Aurel Schubert successfully defended his doctoral dissertation titled “Secure Software Development of Cloud Applications —Identification and Validation of Success Factors from a Strategic and Operational Perspective, with Special Emphasis on Systems, Processes, and Tools” at the University of Koblenz. As of July 18, 2025, he is now officially authorized to use the title of Doctor.
Dr. Schubert defended his dissertation before his primary advisor, Prof. Dr. Harald F.O. von Korflesch (University of Koblenz), his secondary advisor, Prof. Dr. Sven Pagel (Mainz University of Applied Sciences), and the external reviewer, Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Grimm (University of Koblenz).
Dr. Schubert conducted research in the fields of cloud computing, information security, and secure software development. His work focused on the question of how companies in Germany can safely use cloud applications despite growing threats to information security—particularly for processing sensitive and critical business data. In doing so, he identified and validated success factors for secure software development from both strategic and operational perspectives. The results culminated in a conceptual model that was validated both scientifically and in practice.
In collaboration with sapite GmbH, a consulting firm based in Klein-Winternheim that specializes in security-critical IT architectures and processes, the practical implementation of the research was supported. Sapite GmbH offers professional IT consulting, software development, and information security management, particularly for organizations in the public sector and healthcare, and is certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001 and DIN ISO/IEC 27001.
Dr. Schubert brings many years of practical IT experience to his academic work. Before earning his doctorate, he worked as an IT Service Manager and University Relationship Manager at PwC IT Services Europe GmbH. There, among other responsibilities, he oversaw the service management of 16 IT services in Germany and Europe, led near-shore development teams in Romania and Bulgaria, and played a key role in the transition of web platforms to cloud environments. In addition, he established strategic partnerships with colleges and universities.
As part of his doctoral studies, Dr. Marc Aurel Schubert also gained international political experience: In the fall of 2018, he completed a research fellowship at the European Parliament in Brussels with Thomas Mann, MEP. There, he served on the Committees on Employment and Social Affairs and on Economic and Monetary Affairs. Of particular note is his technical contribution to cybersecurity during the deliberations on the Banking Union report. Drawing on his expertise in secure software development and IT security architectures, he was able to provide insights aimed at strengthening the digital resilience of European financial infrastructures. In addition to preparing speeches and press releases, he gained deep insights into European legislation and the strategic importance of IT security for the EU’s economic stability.
Prof. Dr. Sven Pagel emphasizes that this doctoral research, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (EU ERDF) and the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health, enabled the creation and publication of both scientific and practice-oriented knowledge. “Dr. Marc Aurel Schubert’s work demonstrates the appeal of collaborative doctoral programs at the intersection of a research university and a university of applied sciences.”
Prof. Dr. Harald F.O. von Korflesch also praises the renewed successful collaboration between the University of Koblenz and Mainz University of Applied Sciences. He is pleased that he was able to
Dr. Schubert throughout the entire doctoral process and to have accompanied him on his path to becoming an independent researcher.
Prof. Dr. Sven Pagel is pleased about the sixth doctoral dissertation he had the privilege of supervising as a co-advisor: “With the successful completion of Dr. Marc Aurel Schubert’s dissertation, we have now concluded more than 20 doctoral dissertations in the Department of Economics over the past few years. This confirms that the path toward achieving the goal of independent doctoral supervision rights is both the right course of action and an important one, even in Rhineland-Palatinate.”