Member Article

Newcastle College partners with industry leaders to support the National Cyber Security Strategy

Newcastle College has teamed up with industry leaders to launch its Foundation Degree in Cyber Security after being award almost £35k from the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS).

Newcastle College is the only college in the UK and the only provider in the North East to secure Government funding to develop higher level training and skills that supports the National Cyber Security Strategy.

The funding will be invested in a project that will help to develop the skills of graduates, address the shortage of cyber security skills and future proof the country’s IT sector, making it more resilient to possible cyber-attacks.

The funding will support a series of student projects with industry partners ContiTech, NCG IT Services and Verrimus.

Verrimus is a provider of Technical Surveillance Counter Measures (TSCM) and were the team who carried out the TSCM work on the Government contract for the London 2012 Olympics.

Working with the Verrimus team, students will be able to develop operational skills at the interface between cyber and physical security.

They will also have the opportunity to take part in live exercise scenarios at Verrimus’ TSCM training facility, the only one of its kind in Europe, used by Government and commercial teams.

Carole Kitching, principal at Newcastle College said: “If the UK is to be equipped to respond to cyber threats, and the cyber security sector is to grow, we need to strengthen the pipeline of cyber talent and help prepare students for entry-level security career opportunities.”

“There is a huge national shortage in cyber security skills and this project will help to put the region on the map in terms of world-class training as well as help to support the National Cyber Security Strategy.”

Sarah Hopkins, managing director of Verrimus, said: “Newcastle College continues to demonstrate that they are proactive and innovative by involving businesses to enhance the student experience and better equip their graduates with useable skills. Verrimus is passionate about promoting the North East as a centre for excellence with regards to all aspects of Information Security. Our dedicated Privacy Protection Training Facility, is the only one in Europe, and we are eager to involve the students from Newcastle College in attaining vocational experiences in real, live scenarios.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .