Susan O'Rourke | August 24, 2022
As cyber-attacks have risen in recent years, targeting healthcare companies, colleges, and governments across the globe, schools are rising to the challenge by training students to become the next leaders in cybersecurity.
Research has shown that administrators, educators, and students are invested in achieving greater data security, both personally and professionally. In their reporting for EDUCAUSE, Jasmine Park and Amelia Vance explained that surveys, including a 2018 Gallup poll, indicate that “college/university students are wary of privacy risks and value privacy protections.” There are great opportunities to help students understand this global issue and enter into careers to counteract cybersecurity threats.
Maryville University reports on the importance of cybersecurity programs at colleges, explaining that:
“According to the ISACA report, a global skills shortage is impacting the progress of global cybersecurity measures. Eighty-six percent of respondents to ISACA’s survey believe a global cybersecurity skills gap exists. This skills gap impacts business owners who plan to hire cybersecurity professionals, with 92 percent who predict that finding skilled candidates will be difficult.
However, more universities have begun incorporating cybersecurity topics into their coursework. According to Kirk Carapezza, writing for the PBS “Newshour,” cybersecurity topics appear in such diverse areas as digital design, programming, and computer operations.”
UNC World View is committed to helping educators and administrators train students for these impactful careers and invites you to the upcoming UNC World View Community College Symposium: Information Security in an Interconnected World. Held on November 4, 2022 at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill, NC, the symposium will feature speakers Dr. Dave Chatterjee (University of Georgia/Duke University), Brian Penders (UNC School of Medicine), and Heather Singmaster (Digital Promise) and discuss how to align the learning goals of technical programs and international workforce needs and integrate global content into what is already being taught in courses.
Click here to learn more and to register!
Additional Resources:
- “Multidisciplinary and Integrative Approach to Cybersecurity Education” (The Cybersecurity Readiness Podcast from Dr. Dave Chatterjee, featuring Dr. Jimmie Lenz)
- “Cybersecurity risks are global. We must address them with a coordinated, collaborative approach” (World Bank Blog)
- Cybersecurity: A Global Priority and Career Opportunity (University of North Georgia)
- National Cryptologic Foundation
- High School Cybersecurity Curriculum Guidelines
- Cybersecurity Booklet Helps Students, Teachers, & Parents to Embrace Data Care
- Cyber Game (K-12, specifically middle school) Amanita Whitehat and the Curious Case of the Compromised Computers
- Teach Cyber Cybersecurity Course Materials
- Assured Quality Cybersecurity Curriculum Repository – CLARK (Cybersecurity Labs & Resources Knowledgebase)
- PBS Nova Labs: Cybersecurity Lab
- NOVA Cybersecurity Lab Game (6-12)
- NOVA Cybersecurity Lab Lesson Plan (6-12)
- Cybersecurity 101 Video (6-12)
- Cyber Codes and Data Encryption Video (6-12)
- A Cyber Privacy Parable Video (6-12)
- The Secret Lives of Hackers Video (6-12)
- Media Smarts: Canada’s Centre for Digital and Media Literacy: Resources for Teachers
- Cybersecurity Hub: Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services of South Africa
- “Cybersecurity education in a developing nation: the Ecuadorian environment”(Journal of Cybersecurity)
- National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies: Cybersecurity for Teachers Resources
- Project REACH: “Project REACH (Realizing Equitable Access to Cybersecurity in High School) is a feeder program that connects K12 schools to HBCU cybersecurity and computer science programs in an effort to close the diversity gap in cybersecurity. CYBER.ORG facilitates the relationship between high school classrooms and their local HBCU through cybersecurity activities, classroom support, campus visits, and more.”
- Project Access: “While the nation faces a growing need to fill a gap in cyber-workforce shortages, there is a greater need for the nation to address the lack of diversity seen in cyber professions. Project Access aims to support programming options of local and state agencies by offering cyber education opportunities for blind and visually impaired students through immersive experiences that are fully compatible with assistive technology such as screen readers or magnification software. This gives blind and visually impaired students the confidence and knowledge necessary to pursue higher education and technology careers.”
- K12 Cybersecurity Learning Standards: “Released in 2021, the K12 Cybersecurity Learning Standards aim to ensure that students not only have a foundational understanding of cybersecurity, but also the skills and knowledge needed to pursue cybersecurity careers in greater numbers.”
For further reading, check out Dr. Dave Chatterjee’s book, Cybersecurity Readiness: A Holistic and High-Performance Approach 1st Edition.