DIGITAL4Security Programme

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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.

For Further Information

Please visit the European Funding & Tenders Portal for more detailed insights into the DIGITAL4Security Programme.

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Project milestones - UNIRI contributions


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.