On Monday 27 February 2023, University of Westminster students had the opportunity to explore the future of Cyber Security and how they can begin a career in the field, at an event hosted by the University’s Cyber Security Research Group. The event also saw the announcement that a new undergraduate course called Cyber Security and Forensics BSc Honours, led by Dr Ayman El Hajjar, will begin in September 2023.
Over 100 students and speakers, including Professor Janet Jones, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the University’s College of Design, Creative and Digital Industries, attended the Cyber Security event.
The event included presentations from experts working in Cyber Security including the Director of Cyber Security at Deloitte Ivelina Koleva; the Deputy Director of Chatham House’s International Security Programme Joyce Hakmeh; Kit Tsoi, a Cyber Security Consultant for RBC Capital Markets; and David Clark, an Information Security Specialist at Roche Diagnostics. The speakers talked about how they started working in Cyber Security, the challenges they have had to overcome and what their day-to-day work looks like. The panel was moderated by Chee Yeung, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science and Engineering at Westminster.
Students also benefitted from a tailored presentation from Cyber Security recruitment agency LT Harper, who detailed the steps students need to take to start a career in Cyber Security. This was followed by a panel discussion which looked at what UK businesses and organisations should do to protect against Cyber Security threats and the soft skills Cyber Security students need to analyse global Cyber Security threats.
Speaking about key takeaways from the event, Dr El Hajjar said: “Students should try to focus on something they enjoy and want to become experts in in a specific field in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics and not to try to know everything in the field. This is a very dynamic field, it changes, and therefore they need to keep on learning even after they graduate. They should not be afraid to get out of their comfort zone.”
At the end of the event, it was announced that the newly validated Cyber Security and Forensics BSc course will start in September 2023. The course is designed to align with the Government’s Cyber Security Strategy 2022-2030 and will enable graduates to be ready to tackle future challenges and threats in this field.
Dr El Hajjar said: “We are very excited about the launch of this new course. Cyber Security and Forensics is such a dynamic and changing landscape that is changing our world at a fast pace. The course will prepare students to work and adapt to this changing environment for many years to come.
“It combines the theoretical aspects needed to understand the fundamentals for dealing with threats and investigating malicious acts, and also the practical skills and soft skills that graduates need to have to work in a challenging and demanding environment where everyone needs to be on their toes. The course also aligns with the UK Government's 2030 strategy to get the readiness needed to deal with cyber threats and reduce their impacts on businesses and organisations.”
Take a look at an Instagram video showing the equipment, resources and laboratories that Westminster’s Cyber Security and Forensics students have access to.
Learn more about and apply for the new Cyber Security and Forensics BSc Honours course.
