Edinburgh Napier University in new industry partnership to address cyber security skills gap

Cyber security students will be exposed to real-life industry environments and threats as part of a new partnership agreement signed by Edinburgh Napier University.

Cyber security company F5 Networks (F5) and IT network services provider Hutchinson Networks (HN) have partnered with the higher education institution to provide technology and training licenses.

Through the partnership, students studying modules such as cryptography, network forensics and malware analysis will see the integration of devices provided by F5 and HN throughout their degree courses.

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Students will also be able to access training licences, allowing them to develop the appropriate skills before entering the industry as a graduate.

The agreement comes amid predictions that the shortage of qualified IT security personnel will reach 1.5 million worldwide by the end of this decade.

Bill Buchanan, head of the Cyber Academy based within Edinburgh Napier University, said: “There is a drastic cyber-security skills shortage in the Scottish IT industry and around Europe. For education to make graduates industry-ready, it has to be delivered in modern, dynamic ways that mirror the corporate environment.

“The support of F5 and HN has been integral to providing our students with world-class training infrastructure.

“The partnership sets the bar for how cyber-security businesses can work with academic institutions to tackle the skills gap together, for the benefit of the industry, and ultimately, society as a whole.”