GMIT Announces Suite of New Cybersecurity Courses in Response to Skills Shortage

GMIT has announced a suite of new cybersecurity courses developed in close collaboration with industry and in consultation with the Regional Skills Forum West and academic partners over the past two years, in response to a skills shortage in this discipline.

The courses range from ordinary (L7) degree to postgraduate Certificate (L9) and Master of Science (L9), including programmes funded under Springboard and the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) through the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

The five courses are the L7 Certificate in Network Cybersecurity (Springboard funded) and the L7 Certificate in Data Cybersecurity (these L7 Certificates combine to a major L7 Bachelor of Science degree in Network Cybersecurity); the L8 Higher Diploma in Cyber Risk & Compliance (HCI funded); the L9 postgraduate Certificate in Cyber Operations (Springboard funded); and the Master of Science in Cybersecurity Operations (2 year) for graduates of the Certificate who wish to pursue a TU structured masters.

Dr Seamus Dowling, Programme Chair and lecturer in Cybersecurity, GMIT Mayo, says there has been massive interest in these courses since applications first opened a year ago for the Springboard funded L7 Certificate in Network Cybersecurity.

“There have been three intakes already into this L7 certificate and the first intake into the L8 Higher Diploma began in November. The L9 postgraduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Operations is expected to commence in January 2021.”

“The need for cybersecurity skills and upskilling opportunities are well documented in national reports such as the “Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” and “Technology Skills 2022: Ireland’s Third ICT Skills Action Plan”.

These new cybersecurity programmes were developed in close collaboration with HP Enterprises (HPE), Galway, and their Cyber Defense Centre following consultation with the Regional Skills Forum, GMIT and NUIG where stakeholders identified skills shortages and educational opportunities.”

“The courses are designed by lecturers who have over 20 years’ experience delivering IT Support (L6), IT Administration (L7) and IT Services Management (L8) programmes,” explains Dr Dowling.

“We delivered significant security content in these programmes and realised that we could pivot towards cybersecurity. Each staff member has undertaken significant upskilling in cybersecurity, from professional certification to PhD, to ensure that students are exposed to industry-relevant content.

The new programmes allow students to pursue minor awards in cybersecurity and also to amalgamate these minor awards into a major award. This facilitates working professional re/upskilling on a part-time basis using a modular approach. Our graduates and current students come from diverse industries such as Defence Forces, Gardai, Aviation, Journalism, Legal as well as core IT and Cybersecurity roles.“

“Development meetings with HPE highlighted major skills shortages in cybersecurity and identified how GMIT could help address these shortages. These meetings resulted in the development of informed, relevant programmes designed to increase cybersecurity skillsets in the area of network, data, risk, compliance and operations. HPE and GMIT view this upskilling as having a regional remit, to increase the talent pool of dedicated cybersecurity professionals,” adds Dr Dowling.

GMIT are currently accepting applications for January 2021 starts in the following:

—  L7 Certificate in Data Cybersecurity (30 Credits). This award provides a pathway to pursue a BSc degree in Network Cybersecurity. Applicants can visit https://www.gmit.ie/lifelong-learning-mayo/computing/certificate-data-cybersecurity-spa for more information.

—  L9 Certificate in Cybersecurity Operations (30 Credit, Springboard+ funded). This award provides a pathway to pursue a Master degree in Cybersecurity Operations. Applicants can visit https://springboardcourses.ie/details/8679 for more information.

For further information email: Seamus.Dowling@gmit.ie