Programme Description
DIGITAL4Security is an innovative and market-led European Masters Programme in
Cybersecurity Management & Data Sovereignty that will equip European SMEs and Companies
across multiple sectors with the cybersecurity management, regulatory and technical
skills they need to prevent and respond to existing and emerging cybersecurity threats,
helping to safeguard European industries from cyber-attack.
The objective is to reskill and upskill graduates, professionals, managers, and business
leaders to become 'Cyber Confident' and empowered with the cybersecurity management
expertise they need to strengthen their cybersecurity infrastructure and implement
robust incident prevention and management procedures. The global objective of this
project is to design and implement a highly innovative, effective and sustainable
European Cyber-security Masters Programme that will provide a continuous supply of
qualified cybersecurity management experts, helping to address the growing cybersecurity
skills gap that is endangering the stability of many European industries and public
sector institutions.
Lead Partner
UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI
Partners involved (in alphabetical order)
ADECCO FORMAZIONE SRL, ATAYA & PARTNERS, BANCO SANTANDER SA, CONTRADER SRL, CY CERGY
PARIS UNIVERSITE, CYBER RANGES LTD, DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY SKILLS LIMITED, DIGITALEUROPE
AISBL*, EUROPEAN DIGITAL SME ALLIANCE, INDEPENDENT PICTURES LIMITED, IT@CORK ASSOCIATION
LIMITED LBG, MATRIX INTERNET APPLICATIONS LIMITED, MUNSTER TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY,
MYKOLO ROMERIO UNIVERSITETAS, NATIONAL COLLEGE OF IRELAND, NAUKOWA I AKADEMICKA SIEC
KOMPUTEROWA - PANSTWOWY INSTYTUT BADAWCZY, NOKIA NETWORKS FRANCE, POLITECNICO DI MILANO,
POLSKI KLASTER CYBERBEZPIECZENSTWA CYBERMADEINPOLAND SP. Z O. O., PROFIL KLETT D.O.O.,
RED OPEN S.R.L., SCHUMAN ASSOCIATES SCRL, SERVICENOW IRELAND LIMITED, SKILLNET IRELAND
COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE, SVEUCILISTE U RIJECI, TERAWE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED,
UNIVERSIDAD INTERNACIONAL DE LA RIOJA SA, UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI BRESCIA, UNIVERSITAT
KOBLENZ, UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI, UNIVERSITY OF DIGITAL SCIENCE GGMBH,
VYSOKE UCENI TECHNICKE V BRNE, VYTAUTO DIDZIOJO UNIVERSITETAS
Programme Duration
Start: 01 October 2023
Conclusion: 30 September 2027
Programme Funding
This programme is funded under the auspices of the Digital Europe Programme.
Please visit the European Funding & Tenders Portal for more detailed insights
into the DIGITAL4Security Programme.
As part of task 4.4, the team oragnized a guest lecture at the University of Rijeka on the topic of cryptography and mobile app security. The lecture was given by a leading industry expert.
The team began the accreditation process for a cybersecurity microcredential at the University of Rijeka.
Work began on the development of a pilot program. Initial plans were drafted, and
key components were outlined, including potential topics, delivery methods, and
evaluation criteria.
The curriculum was revisited and updated, with particular attention given to
integrating new insights and addressing identified gaps. Adjustments were made to
better align with industry standards and project goals.
The team conducted a detailed review of course modules, assessing their content,
structure, and relevance. Suggestions were made to refine the modules and improve
their alignment with the project objectives.
A budget amendment was prepared to address new financial needs and adjust
allocations based on recent project developments. This amendment ensures that
resources are effectively distributed to support key activities.
The team launched a campaign to increase project awareness and engagement. This
included social media posts, email outreach, and promotional materials designed to
highlight the project's goals and milestones.
A cooperation agreement was drafted and reviewed to formalize collaboration with
external partners. This agreement outlines roles, responsibilities, and shared
objectives for the project.
Efforts were made to advance the accreditation process, including reviewing
necessary requirements, preparing documentation, and ensuring alignment with
institutional and regulatory standards.
The team actively engaged with the learning platform by following its development,
analyzing its functionalities, and asking targeted questions. While they did not add
content or make direct developments, their observations and input helped inform
ongoing improvements.
In an effort to bridge some of the gaps in the content, the team assessed ways in
which they could contribute to the curriculum. A new course was designed and
proposed and accepted at the Brussels workshop, named Automation of security tasks.
Through an analysis of the existing curriculum content, the team identified
potential gaps in its alignment with industry needs. Subsequent consultations with
industry professionals confirmed these gaps.
The UNIRI project website was rewamped, a gallery was added and the overall user
experience was modernised.
The team helped review the steps, needs and pain points int the customer journey for
Payment & Onboarding and short course learning experience.
In an effort to bridge gaps in curriculum contents, the team drafted a new course to
be added to the program, focusing on task automation through scripting.
Within the long term sustainability initiative, team conducted extensive research on
local course pricing, exploring avenues to secure government funding and provided
insights on strategies to maximize enrollment.
The team reviewed the curriculum proposal with a focus on the ENISA role "Cyber
Threat Intelligence Specialist". They carefully examined course descriptions and
learning outcomes to see how well they matched the responsibilities of this role.
Their approach involved deconstructing the ENISA role tasks into finer-grained
topics and assessing the coverage provided by the courses in relation to these
topics. By doing so, they aimed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of
where the curriculum might overlap or fall short in preparing students for the
demands of the Cyber Threat Intelligence Specialist position. This analysis will
help refine the curriculum to better meet the practical needs of aspiring
specialists in the field.
The team attended the consortium meeting in Dublin, actively engaging in workshops
and discussions. Over the course of a two-day consortium meeting, work package leads
provided updates on the current status of their respective areas. Group discussions
and workshops were held to gather feedback design plans out for future steps.
The team contributed to the development of the central project website. The site
will serve as a dynamic platform to host updates and showcase all partners involved.
This digital presence enhances the project's visibility and facilitates seamless
dissemination od data to stakeholders.
The team established a dedicated website on a subdomain of the university domain,
serving as a central hub for disseminating information about the project.
Additionally, they created a LinkedIn showcase page, strategically leveraging the
platform to provide comprehensive details and updates regarding the project's
progress, objectives, and achievements. Through these digital channels, the team
effectively enhances project visibility, fosters stakeholder engagement, and
facilitates communication with interested parties, thereby amplifying the project's
impact and outreach within the academic and professional community.
The team distributed a survey via email and social media platforms to companies,
aiming to gauge their usage and requirement for digital security measures. Following
the distribution, they gauged the reach of the campaign to ascertain its
effectiveness in gathering insights.
The team participated in the review of courses suggested by other reputable
institutions, seeking to broaden the spectrum of potential resources that may align
with the project's needs. With a keen focus on relevance and applicability, each
recommended course undergoes scrutiny to ascertain its potential contribution to the
project's objectives. By leveraging insights from diverse academic sources, the
project endeavors to identify additional avenues for acquiring knowledge, skills,
and perspectives that can enrich its endeavors. This diligent review process
underscores the project's commitment to harnessing a wide array of resources in
pursuit of excellence and innovation.
The team contributed to mapping specific skills and knowledge domains with
corresponding roles outlined in the ENISA ECSF (European Cyber Security Framework).
They reviewed and prioritized knowledge areas and skills, enhancing descriptions
where possible to provide greater context and clarity. They identified knowledge
areas and skills for inclusion in the curriculum and added missing ones as
necessary.
The team has developed a Data Management Plan. Leveraging their expertise, they
crafted a detailed framework outlining strategies for handling, organizing, and
preserving project data. Their focus on regulatory compliance and best practices
ensures data integrity, security, and accessibility.
An exhaustive analysis of the course offerings within the University of Rijeka was
undertaken to discern alignment with the specific needs of the project. The
curriculum was scrutinized, aiming to identify courses pertinent to the project's
requirements. Through this comprehensive review, courses that demonstrated potential
synergies with the project's objectives were highlighted, their content,
methodologies, and learning outcomes carefully considered. Such a systematic
examination ensures that the project can capitalize on the existing resources within
the academic sphere.
A team of experts from the University of Rijeka was on-boarded to the project,
bringing with them a wealth of knowledge and an eagerness to contribute. They delved
into understanding the project intricacies, aligning with its objectives, and
familiarizing themselves with the outlined plans and timelines. Through
collaborative efforts and comprehensive analysis, they have identified areas where
their expertise can be leveraged to enhance project outcomes. With a clear
understanding of their roles and how they fit into the broader picture, they are
poised to make meaningful contributions, propelling the project towards success.