Vocational Education recources to develop cyber security skills
âThe context of the project is explained by several data and actions carried out at the European and international level. According to a recent report released by Intel Security, called “Hacking the Skills Shortage”, there will be 1 million to 2 million unfilled cyber-security jobs worldwide by 2019.
It is in the EU's strategic interest to ensure that the technological tools of cybersecurity are developed in a way that allows the digital economy to flourish, while also protecting our security, society and democracy. This includes the protection of critical hardware and software. To reinforce the EU's cybersecurity capacity, the Commission and the High Representative are proposing, among other priorities and actions to address the skills gap in cyber defence. With this objective, the EU will create a cyber-defence training and education platform in 2018.
Our project therefore lies within the different initiatives carried out to build a cybersecurity capacity in Europe, at national and international level, and feeds from the momentum cybersecurity is having in the European agenda by addressing these detected needs:
- Lack of skills related to security operations among workers in general
- Lack of qualified profiles in cybersecurity and as consequence a gap between qualifications and job demands
- Increased risks related with a more digitalised world (financial operations, internet of things...)
- Low awareness and knowledge about digital risks and how to protect oneself and one´s organisation
- Low capacity of response in front of cyber attacks, at all levels (personal and professional).
With this project we intend to achieve the following aims:
- Increase the level of awareness of digital perils and the importance of adopting preventing measures among VET students.
- Define a joint VET curriculum in cybersecurity, built upon a modular basis.
- Increase the level of qualification related to cybersecurity among VET students and workers.
- Improve the capacity of people and companies to prevent, protect and react in front of cyberattacks and other digital perils.
- Reinforce cooperation between VET and business/technical experts to ensure an adequate training and qualification of workers.
- Contribute to create a saver digital Europe.
In order to achieve the mentioned aims, the target groups of the project will be:
- VET teachers, who will increase their knowledge on cybersecurity and will improve their ability to teach this topic.
- VET students, who will be able to develop their skills related to cybersecurity, especially those demanded by companies.