The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has recently recognised Queen’s University Belfast as one of the UK’s Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACE-CSE) after showing its commitment to on-campus cybersecurity education and promoting community cyber-skills.
NCSC’s ACE-CSE programme – developed alongside the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – seeks to encourage the growth of cybersecurity education. Not only does the award reflect Northern Ireland’s commitment to grow the number of cyber security professionals in the region to 5,000 by 2030, but it reinforces why Queen’s was recognised as one of the first Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research by GCHQ in 2011.
Dr Sandra Scott-Hayward, the University’s ACE-CSE Director, remarked: “We are delighted to have the ACE-CSE recognition of the strength of cyber security education and promotion of cyber security right across Queen’s. This is being delivered by a diverse team of academics and professional services staff supporting multiple disciplines.
“We have exciting plans to further develop awareness and knowledge of cyber security within and beyond Queen’s, which we believe is fundamental to addressing the societal challenge of cyber security.”
Chris Ensor, NCSC Deputy Director for Cyber Growth, added: “I am delighted we can now recognise the first tranche of universities as Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Education, complementing our existing programmes which recognise high quality cyber security research and degree courses.
“It is a testament to the continual efforts of academics, support staff and senior management that cyber security remains high on their agenda. We very much look forward to working with them over the coming years and strongly encourage other universities to work towards achieving similar recognition in the future.”
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