Cardiff University recognised as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education

Cardiff University has received a Gold Award as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACE-CSE) from the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ.

The award secures the university a place in the top 13 universities in the UK recognised in this Government programme celebrating excellence in cyber security education. Cardiff is now one of only four of the research-intensive Russell Group Universities in the UK to hold both ACE-CSE status for education and ACE-CSR status for its work in Cyber Security Research.

The ACE-CSE core team is a multi-disciplinary group of world-class researchers from the Cardiff Centre for Cyber Security Research, based within the School of Computer Science & Informatics. The School offers degree programmes including an MSc in Cyber Security and MSc in Cyber Security & Technology. Both MSc programmes are delivered in a designated world-class cyber security and forensics laboratory at the university's state-of-the-art £39m Abacws building. As well as postgraduate qualifications, the School also offers an undergraduate degree in Computer Science which is available with the specialism in Security & Forensics.

Cardiff University’s outreach efforts – acknowledged in the Gold Award – aim to raise public awareness about cyber security and deliver cyber security skills via its events and initiatives. The ACE-CSE team members participate in many notable outreach initiatives in the UK, including Technocamps, TeenTech, UnlockCyber.  And since 2018, Cardiff University has been supporting the CyberFirst programme by delivering regular day events such as CyberFirst Adventurers and Trailblazers to secondary schools in Wales.

Dr Yulia Cherdantseva, the Director of Cardiff University’s ACE-CSE (pictured centre), says her team is delighted by this recognition and is looking forward to further work strengthening and enhancing the quality and provision of cyber security education and training in Wales and globally.

Pete Burnap, Professor of Data Science and Cyber Security at the School (pictured right) added that he welcomes the news, knowing the teaching team work tirelessly developing and refining programmes that ensure companies are securing the graduates who are equipped with the sought-after technical cyber security skills.

"I'm particularly excited about our future plans to upskill local people into careers in cyber through cutting-edge CPD activity tailored to employer needs," says Professor Burnap. "As the university leading the £13.8m Wales Cyber Innovation Hub venture we're aiming to make this region synonymous with a work-ready talent pipeline that attracts businesses into the area and creates highly paid jobs for local people. Its ambition is to upskill and reskill over 1,500 local people with practical cyber security skills."

Chris Ensor, NCSC Deputy Director for Cyber Growth added that “It is a testament to the continual efforts of academics, support staff and senior management that cyber security remains high on Cardiff University’s 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.”

Via its leading role in Cyber Innovation Hub, Cardiff University will continue supporting the growth and maturing of the cyber security education eco-system in Wales working closely with the Welsh Government, industry partners and other educational institutions in the region and globally.