Cybersecurity Seminars: the project that trains young talent and supports local organisations
Cybersecurity is not just for specialists. Today, it means protecting schools, associations, local authorities and all those organisations that manage data, services and relationships with citizens and communities on a daily basis. It means transforming technical skills into practical tools to make our digital ecosystem more secure.
This was the message that emerged from the event “Cybersecurity Seminars. Shape the Future: results, experiences and new challenges”, hosted on 7 July by the University of Milan and organised in partnership with Fondazione Mondo Digitale as part of the programme promoted by Google.org and implemented in collaboration with Virtual Routes [see the news item Cybersecurity in the age of AI].
The event brought together university lecturers, students, schools and experts to share the results of the first two editions of the project, which was launched to train a new generation of cybersecurity professionals and support local organisations in tackling the challenges of digital transformation.
One of the most significant aspects of the project is its ability to connect worlds that rarely engage in structured dialogue: universities, the third sector, schools and local communities.
As explained by Silvia Salini, full professor of Statistics at the University of Milan, the programme has involved students from very diverse backgrounds and regions, promoting multidisciplinary skills and putting them at the service of organisations that often lack specialists in cybersecurity or data protection.
Cybersecurity, the professor pointed out, now represents a genuine ‘democratic risk’: it affects everyone, regardless of age or level of digital literacy, and requires an ever-wider dissemination of a culture of data protection.
According to Pierluigi Perri, associate professor of Cyber Security at the University of Milan, the project has demonstrated the value of a collaboration that bridges the gap between academic training and the practical needs of the local community, offering students an experience that integrates technical, regulatory and organisational skills.
This perspective was complemented by the international contribution of YuYing Mak, project officer at Virtual Routes, who highlighted how the programme provides practical support to help organisations implement the latest European regulations on cybersecurity and data protection.
From theory to impact
Feedback from the schools clearly demonstrated how the project is bringing about tangible change.
The Primo Levi School in Bollate described a process that went far beyond training. Thanks to the project’s support, the school developed a Plan for the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence and new School Regulations, involving around 140 teachers and 12 administrative staff in a shared process of raising awareness and establishing governance around AI.
As headteacher Elisabetta Boselli explained, the contribution of Cristiano Capozzi, a young lawyer trained through the Cybersecurity Seminars, was crucial in translating regulatory obligations into practical tools, helping the school to promote a critical, responsible and informed use of new technologies [read the article From training to AI governance].
The Maggiolini Technical, Economic and Technological Institute in Parabiago (Milan) also shared a significant experience. The deputy headteacher Antonio Cascione described how the project enabled the school to assess the security of its digital infrastructure – from the electronic register to the website, right through to firewalls and servers – helping to foster a new culture of cybersecurity, no longer seen as a mere regulatory compliance exercise, but as a shared responsibility.
The value of the project is also evident from the students’ perspective
Francesco Costanzo, a participant in the first edition with a background in forensic engineering, explained how the experience enabled him to broaden his technical training, developing skills in cybersecurity governance and regulatory aspects, which today represent an increasingly strategic component for organisations.
This development bears witness to the programme’s approach: to train professionals capable of integrating technological, legal and organisational skills, guiding organisations and communities towards a safer and more informed digital transformation.
The Cybersecurity Seminars programme will continue until December 2026 with the aim of strengthening dialogue between the university and the local community and preparing a new generation of professionals capable of tackling the challenges of digital security with competence, responsibility and a spirit of service.
