This thesis presents the Cybersecurity-driven Digital Trust Maturity Assessment Model (CDT-MAM), a tailored framework designed to help HEIs evaluate and improve their Digital Trust posture. The model covers five core domains: cybersecurity, data privacy and protection, governance and compliance, ethical technology use, and institutional culture and awareness. It is structured to reflect the unique needs of HEIs while aligning with globally recognised standards, including ISO/IEC 27001, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISACA’s Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework, the World Economic Forum’s Digital Trust Principles and GDPR.

The model was developed using a Design Science methodology and validated through expert interviews and a simulated case study. Experts confirmed its relevance, structure, and strategic value, while the case study demonstrated that it effectively differentiates maturity levels and supports decision-making through visual dashboards and risk categorisation. By enabling institutions to assess their current state, prioritise improvements, and benchmark progress, CDT-MAM offers a concrete foundation for enhancing Digital Trust. Although currently implemented as an Excel-based tool, it is suitable for future development into a scalable, digital platform.

This work contributes a novel, context-sensitive framework to the field of Digital Trust in Higher Education, offering institutions a structured pathway to strengthen Digital Trust and cybersecurity resilience and stakeholder confidence.