Cybersecurity Seminars

2 min.

In the Google programme with the University of Milan

Fondazione Mondo Digitale ETS joins the Cybersecurity Seminars programme by Google.org in collaboration with Virtual Routes, to offer more and better learning and work opportunities in the field of cybersecurity to university students in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The global programme aims to create a large community capable of responding to the challenges and opportunities related to cybersecurity and involving local communities. The project is led by the University of Milan, which together with the Fondazione Mondo Digitale is promoting a programme of seminars to train up professionals in the field of data protection, with practical, experience-based training that can then support the fabric of small Italian organisations and communities. Bringing the culture of cybersecurity to the territory through a transversal alliance with local institutions means opening up more learning and career opportunities in the sector, addressing the complex challenges of digital economies and societies.

TARGET AUDIENCE

The project is aimed at students (undergraduate and postgraduate) of the University of Milan, and in particular:

students from minority communities and marginalised contexts, with a view to diversity and inclusion, with particular attention to the female presence
students from non-STEM faculties and degree courses, to promote a transversal culture of IT security and respond to the growing need for skills, not only technical, in the labour market.

OBJECTIVES
The main objective is to develop practical and theoretical cybersecurity skills through multidisciplinary seminars, organising concrete professional pathways in the public and private sectors. Students are trained to take on professional roles in the field of data protection through theoretical lessons, laboratory sessions, group work, hackathons, support and awareness-raising activities for local communities to solve real cases and problems in the field of computer security.

ACTIVITIES

The project includes:

promotion of seminars and student involvement
preparation and realisation of 5 Cybersecurity Seminars, including the different phases (theoretical lessons, laboratory sessions, group work, final hackathons, service learning with local communities)
involvement of local community organisations and networking activities
awareness-raising, support and assistance activities for local community organisations (SMEs, local authorities, third sector organisations, schools, etc.), including through internships and traineeships.

DURATION

25 months, from December 2024 to December 2026. Each Cybersecurity Seminar has a total duration of 135 hours.

MAIN RESULTS TO BE ACHIEVED

140 students trained
175 local organisations involved
5 Cybersecurity Seminars held
675 hours of training, workshop and service learning activities carried out.

Context

Local communities with their territorial fabric made up of small businesses risk being excluded from the opportunities of digital transformation due to a lack of security culture. For small Italian companies, setting up an effective company policy against cyber-attacks is a concern: 74% of companies agree (I-Com, La sfida della cibersicurezza per un'Italia sempre più digitale. Policies, skills, rules, 2024). According to the latest Istat data, among the population aged 16-74 who have used the internet in the last three months, the highest proportion of people with no digital skills, 27.9%, is found in the security domain. This is why it is important to create and support a shared ecosystem for the training of new digital skills, supporting the valorisation of the best experiences, supporting the training of highly specialised technologies to increase the culture of cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity Seminars