PROTECT Centre’s VIBRANT approach to cyber security skills
The Higher Education Academy (HEA) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) have awarded a Development Fund grant of £40,000 to LJMU’s PROTECT Research Centre for its VIBRANT project, which will develop learning and teaching in the area of cyber security.
Following a National Audit Office landscape review on the UK cyber security strategy, published in February 2013, which identified a shortage of cyber security skills as a key challenge, the HEA and BIS invited proposals for innovative projects by higher education institutions and College Based Higher Education Providers in the UK that would improve cyber security teaching and learning.
The four institutions funded, which also include Newcastle College, Birmingham City University and Edge Hill University, will use the funding to develop individual projects that will help improve the skills of graduates, address the shortage of cyber security skills and future proof the country’s IT sector, making it more resilient to possible cyber-attacks.
The PROTECT Research Centre provides a range of expertise, solutions, and services that target industries working in the area of critical infrastructures. VIBRANT will develop a platform for simulating real-world security situations and problems, to enhance the practice side of existing teaching at the Centre which is based at the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences .
Dr Kashif Kifayat, project leader for VIBRANT and programme leader for BSc Cyber Security commented:
“At LJMU we have been involved in cyber security research for around 20 years, and this is now focussed through the PROTECT centre. Our research expertise gives us a strong base for teaching in cyber security, but when we talk to companies and practitioners in cyber security it is obvious how the pace of change in real-world problems and responses create tough challenges for teaching and learning – a skills gap. With this project we can narrow that gap.”
Professor Ahmed Al-Shamma'a of the Dean Faculty of Technology and Environment said:
“We are delighted at the Faculty about the success of the bid from such a prestige funding body. The VIBRANT project will be the start in setting up the foundation to be one of the UK leading Cyber Security Learning and Teaching programme.”
The VIBRANT project team is led by Dr Kashif Kifayat alongside Dr Bob Askwith, Subject Leader in Networks and Security and co-investigator Professor Qi Shi (Professor in Computer Security and Head of Research) and Dr. David Llewellyn-John (Reader in Network Security).
“Employers are worried about whether graduates have sufficient cyber security skills to respond to cyber threats”, explains Karen Fraser, Consultant in Academic Practice (Innovative Pedagogies) at the HEA. “If the UK is to be equipped to respond to cyber threats we need to strengthen the pipeline of cyber talent and help prepare students for entry-level security career opportunities.”
Professor Stephanie Marshall, Chief Executive of the HEA, said: “The Higher Education Academy is pleased to be able to offer support to higher education providers to develop innovative projects involving strong partnership with businesses that will improve cyber security teaching and learning across the discipline of computing, institution and the sector beyond. The four projects receiving the grants have the potential to do this, thereby helping to improve the skills of graduates, address the shortage of cyber security skills and future proof the country’s IT sector, making it more resilient to possible cyber-attacks.”
Stephen Robinson, Managing Director at Xyone Cyber Security, who will be working on the VIBRANT project said:
“We are excited to have been approached for our input to the VIBRANT project with LJMU. We strongly believe in partnerships with academic institutions to conduct and utilise education and research to ensure the industry achieves growth, sustainability and closes the current skills gap.
“I think that VIBRANT will add true value to the sector in educating LJMU students in how to tackle the issues affecting businesses, as well as the UK economy on a wider scale - particularly around combatting the vulnerabilities that exist within cloud technology.
“Part of our relationship with LJMU is to ensure that today’s students leave their courses prepared for work in the cyber security industry; it’s vital for businesses and academics to share knowledge and ideas in how to generate the best research and results in cutting-edge services and products to meet rapidly changing demands. I think the VIBRANT project is a great step in this direction and we are very keen to support the team in meeting their objectives.”
The projects are officially launched on 12 December, at a Cabinet Office event for industry, academia and government leaders to highlight how the UK is building skills to boost an increasingly flourishing cyber security sector in the UK. The event, hosted by Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, marks the third anniversary of the UK’s Cyber Security Strategy and follows a report to parliament on progress and forward plans to make the UK one of the safest places to do business online.
Further information about the PROTECT Research Centre: http://www.protect-ci.org/
