Students will have access to specialist laboratories, classes jointly delivered with practitioners, certified training courses and hackathons.
Cybersecurity is now a prerequisite for national security, economic stability and the competitiveness of enterprises. That is why we must educate specialists who are prepared not only theoretically, but above all to operate in a dynamically changing technological environment,
says Professor Krzysztof Jóźwik, Rector of Lodz University of Technology and Project Manager.
Cooperation with business will also be an important element, allowing the curriculum to be adapted to changing market needs. “CyberSkills” will combine the academic potential of Lodz University of Technology with market experience. The project partner is Atos Poland Digital Services sp. z o.o., a company with many years of experience in advanced digital technologies, including cybersecurity. This partnership is intended to be one of the most important elements of the entire initiative.
We observe what is happening in the economy and technology. In cybersecurity, this need has become particularly evident recently. New threats, new tools and new attack models are emerging. The curriculum must respond to this reality,
Professor Krzysztof Jóźwik emphasises.
The project includes two educational pathways:
- a new first-cycle degree programme in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics,
- a modified Cybersecurity specialisation within the second-cycle Computer Science field of study.
The programme is intended to combine IT and analytical knowledge with the ability to respond to incidents and conduct forensic investigations. Students will have access to specialist laboratories, take part in project work and hackathons, and gain experience of working with real problems and professional tools.
The support will be available to students beginning their studies in the 2027/28 and 2028/29 academic years.
Cybersecurity cannot be taught solely in theory. We want to create an environment in which students can experiment, make mistakes, analyse problems and draw conclusions, naturally under safe teaching conditions,
says the Rector of Lodz University of Technology.
The project also provides for the development of the teaching staff’s competences. In total, support will be provided to 110 students enrolled in the modified programmes and 30 members of teaching staff involved in delivering the educational process in the programmes covered by the project.
Companies are digitising their processes, public administration is developing electronic services, enterprises are storing ever more data, while at the same time the scale and complexity of threats are growing. We therefore need specialists who will be able to design systems with security in mind from the very beginning, rather than only after an incident has occurred. This is why it is so important that our teaching staff have access to up-to-date knowledge and can continuously develop their competences,
the Rector of Lodz University of Technology stresses.
The project is in line with the European approach to the development of advanced digital technologies set out in European Commission Communication C/2024/3209 concerning STEP – the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform.
The project is co-financed by European Union funds.
Ewa Chojnacka
Aleksandra Ebenryter, Centre for Teaching and Learning