Advancing Cybersecurity Education: Developing a Cybersecurity Higher Education Network in Finnish Universities

Abstract

Cybersecurity is a critical element of national security strategies. European countries have established cybersecurity strategies to enhance their resilience against cyber threats. In Finland, the cybersecurity strategy emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity education and its development as essential components in preparing the nation to address cybersecurity threats. Achieving national cyber self-sufficiency will require a diverse range of skilled cybersecurity experts. However, the global shortage of cybersecurity specialists poses a significant challenge to developing and maintaining cyber sufficiency and resiliency. This shortage is also recognized in Finland. Universities play a crucial role in training cybersecurity experts through their education programs. In Finland, initiatives have been launched to develop cybersecurity higher education to address skills shortages. A key measure identified is developing an educational network for cybersecurity higher education. In early 2023, a three-year national project was launched to develop university-level cybersecurity education in Finland. The project involves nine Finnish universities and aims to strengthen cooperation between universities, industry, and the public sector in cybersecurity education. This collaboration enables the development of cybersecurity education for both degree students and working professionals. This paper describes the process and measures for developing national university-level cybersecurity education in Finland. It also aims to provide an understanding of the opportunities and challenges in developing an educational network in higher education. A key finding is that the educational network provides a solid basis for developing cybersecurity skills and efficiently using resources. Additionally, it enables the coordination of cybersecurity education at the national level, thus supporting the promotion of Finnish cybersecurity strategy objectives.